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ORDINANCE NO. NS-3029 <br />AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF <br />SANTA ANA ADDING DIVISION 16 TO ARTICLE IV OF <br />CHAPTER 2 OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE FOR <br />THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLICE OVERSIGHT <br />COMMISSION <br />r1xyrr_1161 <br />A. The residents of the City of Santa Ana are concerned about public safety and <br />have expressed their concern through various means of civil engagement, <br />including participation in community forums on establishing civilian oversight. <br />B. There have been allegations of excessive force and other types of alleged <br />misconduct committed by Santa Ana Police Officers, which can erode public <br />trust in law enforcement and the community of Santa Ana. The Santa Ana <br />Police Department ("Department' or "Police Department') and the City Council <br />are committed to working together to build trust and improve public safety. <br />C. Historically, the City of Santa Ana has settled several lawsuits involving the <br />Police Department involving incidents prior to 2017. The City Council is <br />committed to exploring ways to reduce liability through improvements in police <br />operations through continued transparency. <br />D. The process for establishing a Police Oversight Commission began in June <br />2020 when the Mayor and Councilmembers directed staff to research police <br />oversight. This resulted in numerous public informational sessions, data - <br />gathering through two community feedback surveys, and reports outlining the <br />various models of police oversight. In October 2021, the Mayor appointed three <br />Councilmembers to the Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee, who met from <br />November 2021 to June 2022. The Ad Hoc Committee studied police oversight <br />in detail, resulting in a working draft of an ordinance to establish a Police <br />Oversight Commission. <br />E. The establishment of the Santa Ana Police Oversight Commission will support <br />democratic governance and lead to an even more professional, well -managed, <br />accountable, and highly functioning Police Department. <br />F. Santa Ana residents and the City Council desire a highly resourced and <br />effective Police Oversight Commission to improve law enforcement operations <br />and sustain community trust. <br />G. The Santa Ana City Council is committed to providing the resources needed to <br />properly investigate allegations of police practices, police misconduct, officer - <br />involved shootings, and other serious uses of force and thereby determines it <br />Ordinance No. NS-3029 <br />Page 1 of 12 <br />