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AHRI <br /> FOR JUSTICE <br /> April 1, 2022 <br /> Santa Ana Mayor and City Council <br /> 20 Civic Center Plaza <br /> Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> ecomment&santa-ana.org <br /> Via Email <br /> RE: Agenda Item 38 "Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee Informational Report" <br /> Dear Mayor and City Council, <br /> I write on behalf of Ahri for Justice to express our strong support for a robust Police Oversight <br /> model in the City of Santa Ana. Our organization serves low-income individuals and families, <br /> undocumented workers, young people, and survivors of domestic violence through our many <br /> programs such as civic engagement, youth organizing, and direct legal services. <br /> The core purposes of civilian-led oversight of law enforcement are to increase transparency, <br /> ensure accountability for misconduct, and expand public safety. Given the nationwide and local <br /> civic engagement for racial justice and the reimagining of the role of police, the City of Santa <br /> Ana's effort to examine police oversight models is an important step forward. Since 2017, Santa <br /> Ana community-based organizations have advocated for a police oversight model that is <br /> independent of law enforcement, community-led, transparent, fully funded, and empowered with <br /> auditing, investigative, and disciplinary authority. We believe the City Council Ad Hoc <br /> Committee's majority recommendation for a hybrid investigation-focused and <br /> auditor/monitor-focused model and the outlined oversight functions' provide the infrastructure <br /> for a meaningful and effective police oversight model. To ensure the full and prompt <br /> implementation of such a model, we urge the Mayor and City Council to direct staff to (1) <br /> prepare an ordinance to establish the oversight model to be considered by City Council before <br /> the end of the 2021-22 Fiscal Year and (2)prepare a Charter amendment to further strengthen the <br /> authority of the police oversight Board/ Commission, to be submitted to voters at the November <br /> 2022 election. <br /> When high-profile police killings occur locally or nationwide, calls for police accountability and <br /> transparency grow louder. In fact, the very origins and advancements of police oversight are <br /> Ridge,K. (2022).Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee Informational Report. Santa.Ana City Manager's Office. <br /> IlUs aHsanta-ana.12rime goy.com/Vortal/viewer?id=2579&tvne=0 <br />