Correspondence- #22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Middleton, Samuel From: Karen Hernandez <karenghernandez@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2022 12:23 PM To: eComment Cc: Sarmiento, Vicente; Bacerra, Phil; Phan, Thai; Penaloza, David; Lopez, Jessie; Hernandez, Johnathan; Mendoza, Nelida; The People's Budget OC Subject: Agenda Item 22: Police Oversight Ordinance Amendments Attachments: PBOC_ Police Oversight Letter of Support .pdf October 17, 2022 Mayor Sarmiento and City Councilmembers 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 cc�.r�.ment c Santa-anasorc� Via Email RE: Santa Ana Police Oversight Commission and Agenda Item 22 Dear Mayor Sarmiento and City Councilmembers, People's Budget Orange County (PBOC) is writing to respond to the October 18, 2022, City Council agenda item 22, "Police Review Commission Draft Ordinance Discussion," and Exhibit 1. Every year the County of Orange undertakes the process of defining a supplemental budget for our County. PBOC's mission is to push for an inclusive, community-led process to define equitable budget values. We want a county budget that centers the well-being of our most impacted community members and prioritizes healthy, safe communities, over law enforcement and jails. We believe this work includes responding to and creating community-led police oversight activities and policies throughout all cities in Orange County. PBOC supports investing in an equitable and community-led police oversight commission as outlined below. We commend the City Attorney's willingness to meet with community-based organizations to discuss our policy recommendations. We also commend the City Council for directing city staff to examine the Police Oversight Ordinance drafted and supported by community-based organizations. We are concerned, however, that the policy language of Exhibit 1 profoundly differs from the model policy that was discussed by the City Council on July 29, 2022, supported, and written by community-based organizations. The Exhibit 1 policy language will establish an oversight model that largely mirrors the City of Anaheim's Police Review Board, which a majority of this council and the community have rightly labeled as insufficient. The Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee previously recommended a hybrid investigation-focused and auditor/monitor-focused model of police oversight. The policy language of Exhibit 1 will fail to accomplish the Ad Hoc Committee's recommendation and the City Council's goal to establish an effective police oversight model. We cannot support the ordinance as written unless the fundamental police oversight provisions, listed herein, are included in the policy. We urge the City Council to introduce pivotal amendments to establish an effective police oversight commission. i