Item 29 - Police Oversight Commission

Home Browse Search

Police Oversight Commission January 17, 2023 Page 2 3 1 9 4 •Receive and discuss reports from the Independent Oversight Director on all incidents involving alleged misconduct by Santa Ana Police Officers as specified in Santa Ana Municipal Code Sec. 2-665(b). •Direct the Independent Oversight Director to independently review and investigate citizen complaints, tort claims, or lawsuits alleging the types of police misconduct as identified in section 2-665(b) or when the City Council provides authorization pursuant to Santa Ana City Charter Section 1100. •Authorize the Independent Oversight Director to audit complaint files and review policies to ensure best practices are implemented. •Advise the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and Police Chief on community relations issues involving the Police Department. •Review any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the Santa Ana Police Officers Association or the City and the Santa Ana Police Management Association, and provide suggestions and recommendations concerning negotiations to the City Manager and the City Council. •Conduct public meetings to educate the community on the purpose of the Police Oversight Commission and provide a forum for discussions about police policies, practices, and procedures. •Prepare and submit an annual report to the City Council concerning the Commission’s activities, findings and recommendations. Each member of the City Council will nominate an eligible candidate to serve on the Commission and the City Council will collectively consider appointing each candidate to the Commission. Once a commissioner is appointed, they will be required to take an oath and execute a confidentiality agreement and engage in a series of trainings, and may participate in a ride-along with the Santa Ana Police Department. Once a quorum is established, the Commission will hold its first meeting. At that meeting, the Commission will fix the time and place of regularly scheduled meetings. The Commission will be provided with regular staff support, who, along with the City Manager or their designee and Police Chief or their designee, will attend each Commission meeting. Commissioners will be compensated $50 per meeting, with no more than four compensated meetings per month. About the Independent Oversight Director The City Council is authorized to appoint an Independent Oversight Director who will either be engaged through a professional services agreement or who may be hired as an exempt at-will City employee who will serve at the will and pleasure of the City Council. In addition to staff support that will be provided to the Commission, the Independent Oversight Director will assist the Commission in performing its duties and exercising its powers. This includes the following: •Conduct investigations of allegations of on-duty Santa Ana Police Officers who have engaged in misconduct as specified in Santa Ana Municipal Code Sec. 2- 665(b).