Correspondence - #15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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LATINO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII October 31, 2022 Mayor Sarmiento and Santa Ana City Councilmembers 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 ecomment(a,santa-ana.org Via Email RE: Santa Ana Police Oversight Commission Ordinance and Agenda Item 15 Dear Mayor Sarmiento and City Councilmembers: On behalf of the Latino Community Foundation (LCF), California's sole philanthropic organization focused on unleashing the civic and economic power of Latinos in the state, I write to express our strong support for a robust police oversight Commission for the City of Santa Ana. We commend the City Council and the City Attorney for reviewing and incorporating amendments provided by Chispa, ACLU SoCal, and other community-based organizations on Exhibit I to strengthen and create a strong effective police oversight commission. For the past several years,the Latino Community Foundation has invested in local Latino-led nonprofits in Orange County who seek to build stronger communities in the county. The foundation has the largest network of Latino philanthropists in the country, including one in Orange County, and has invested$20 million to build Latino civic and political power and leadership in the state. Between civic engagement,vaccine, and other efforts to improve the condition of Latino youth and families, LCF knows that when local leaders come together to problem solve the issues in their community,we all benefit. That is why we commend the council for adopting much of the community's policy framework into crafting this ordinance. As the Council approaches the first reading of the draft ordinance, we urge the City Council to support this draft ordinance and introduce the following amendments that will clarify and refine the scope and powers of the commission. We urge the City Council to introduce these amendments to establish an effective police oversight commission.Amending the following sections of the ordinance: Establishment and Purpose e Remove the language that provides the commission and independent director"to assist in reviewing the police complaint process, and provide a forum to review, evaluate and make recommendations." Instead, add language that includes the purpose of the commission and independent oversight director to provide investigative authority over police practices,police misconduct, officer-involved shootings, and other serious use of force. The Commission must have a clearly defined purpose: to conduct independent, community-led investigations and deliver recommendations. The purpose of this edit is