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Santa Ana City: <br />The City of Santa Ana proposes to use the 2009 Justice Assistance Grant funding as <br />follows: <br />Project Objectives: <br />The City of Santa Ana is the county seat and the largest and most densely populated <br />municipality in Orange County. Its residents are overwhelmingly Latino and its population <br />is the youngest of any city of its size in the nation with a median average age of 26.1 years. <br />Census data reports 14.1% of all families and 16.5% of all individuals are at or below the <br />poverty level as compared to the national averages of 9.8% and 13.3 %. The housing <br />foreclosure rate is 6.52 %, compared to the national average of 1.84% and the State of <br />California's Average of 3.47 %. Unemployment in January 2008 was 7.2 %, and in January <br />2009 it is 12.0 %. During the last decade the City made great strides in reducing crime and <br />disorder in the community through collaborative community partnerships, technological <br />advancements (including crime analysis) and carefully targeted enforcement efforts. <br />However, the City has disproportionally suffered the consequences of the current recession <br />and has been forced to make draconian cuts to its current and future budgets, thus <br />significantly reducing the number of sworn officers. There are fewer officers now than in <br />1985, and budget deficits will further reduce their ranks as early as this year. Due to the <br />current recession and financial crisis the gains from the last decade are in jeopardy and the <br />well being of the community is threatened. The Department employs 1.02 officers per <br />1,000 population which is dramatically below state and national averages. This ratio is <br />based on 42 unfunded sworn officer positions, more than 10% of total strength. Crime, <br />which had been on a steady long -term downward trend, is rising in many categories. <br />Through the use of grant funding the City of Santa Ana will hire two full time sworn police <br />officers. These officers will be deployed directly into front line law enforcement positions <br />and will be funded for the three year grant period. <br />Goals: <br />1. Hire two sworn police officers for direct deployment to front line law enforcement <br />positions <br />2. Focus the unencumbered time activities of the deployed sworn officers on specific areas <br />or hot spots identified through crime analysis and investigative units in the department, <br />as well as allied local, state and federal agencies. <br />3. Ensure that all operational efforts are coordinated with existing taskforces and <br />operational units, including Crime Analysis, Forensics, Firearms and Gang Units. <br />Activities: <br />Upon funding the Santa Ana Police Department will immediately begin the hiring process <br />to fill these positions. The Department currently has a waiting list of 38 candidates that <br />2009- F1801 -CA -SB Page 53 of 61 <br />