Correspondence #29 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ACLUAMEMCAN CIIVIIII..LIBIERITIES UNION FOUINDAT'11014 Southerii (_,,uHfornia January 17, 2023 Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 econinietit . ......................................................................(f Via Email RE: Santa Ana Police Oversight Commission Informational Report,Agenda Item 29 Dear Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers, The ACLU of Southern California wishes to express our strong support for engaging an Independent Oversight Director for the city's Police Oversight Commission, hereinafter Commission, through a professional services agreement with clear guidelines, terms, and conditions for the position. Furthermore, we request the city establish a public selection process for the appointment of the Independent Oversight Director, hereinafter Director. We commend city staff for preparing an implementation plan and bringing forth this item to begin the process of establishing the Commission.Last November,the Council passed a robust ordinance that outlined the powers of the Commission to independently investigate complaints and lawsuits alleging police misconduct. The ordinance includes engaging the Director,who will independently review and investigate complaints and incidents, provide recommendations on police practices, officer involved shootings, and other serious uses of force to the Council and City Manager. We respectfully request the city conducts a public process to select the Director. Specifically, the city must hold a public forum wherein members of the public can meet and pose questions to the candidates for Director. Building trust and confidence in the Commission requires community involvement at all levels of the Commission implementation process. The Director is one of the most important positions for the efficacy of the Commission. The city is not immune to sudden turnovers and termination of key administrative positions,which impacts resident services and support. It is critical the city engages the Director through a professional services agreement that outlines clear terms, duties, and responsibilities according to the ordinance language, while also providing conditions and guardrails for termination. This can help prevent any delays or unexpected changes to the position and Commission. The city and community members cannot risk any setback that impedes the implementation and effectiveness of the commission. If the city hires the Director as an exempt at-will employee, the Director may be at risk of being terminated without cause. Establishing the position as an exempt at-will employee may also allow the Director to leave their position without notice. The Director must be EXECUTIVE D111RECTOR II--lector C.J.Viflagra CHAHRIMIch6eGoodwin VICE HAIR IRolb IIdennig and Stacy ldofthdNuberi: CHAIR IEIMEIRIT11 Mada Stone Shari ILeinwand Stephen Rohde Danny Gddberg Xlan IK.Jonas' BUH:ILancaster' IlrvingplLichitenstein,IMID' Jad IMolhn ILururie Ostrow' Starfley IK.SheinbaLAM' 'Cece,Ic ed .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. OIRA114GIE COU114'11'Y OFFICE- 765 FHF C1 FY DRIVIF, S)IJIFF 360-0RANGF, CA 92868- F 714 450 3962-1 714 583 8046-ACI US)OCA1 ORG