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�e j.1=� I dl, SANTA ANA POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION ~:' t:_,---- *y` 1607 NORTH SYCAMORE • SANTA ANA,CALIFORNIA 92701-3513 ;j�� !1i` [714] 836-1211 FAX[714] 836-6108 K {l.. e P II l•. Th Mite' NL p I. / *Valk AO Ode September 6, 2016 SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL 20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA P.O. BOX 1988, M31 SANTA ANA, CA 92701 Honorable Members of the City Council: The Santa Ana Police Officers Association is not as confident as City Manager Cavazos in that the public safety needs of the citizens of Santa Ana are being met as well as they could be, or as well as they should be. Do not be misled by the fancy charts and displays, a famous tool of the city manager. Please do not get lost in the numbers. Look closely at the data. You will find the holes that are artfully covered up. You will have questions that are not answered. You will find needless blather disguised as relevant information. Most importantly, listen to the men and women who put on the uniform every day. Who is better able to most accurately describe what is really happening in the streets - someone sitting in an office on the 8th floor of city hall, or someone driving a car around the city for twelve and a half hours every day? The question that you have to ask yourselves regarding the city manager's dog and pony show is this: If the police department is doing such a great job, and there is no doubt that it is even if some of the details are in dispute, and that great job is the result of the hard work, effort, and dedication of the department's loyal employees [see the Chief Rojas email to all department employees),then why won't the city manager recommend that you follow the MOU and increase salaries in accordance with the salary study that was bought and paid for by the city? If we are doing such a fantastic job and are above average crime fighters, why does the city manager want to keep us close to the very bottom of the list of survey cities when it comes to salary? Why are you agreeing with him? Is that the reward for a job well done? Let us look at some of the issues raised in the city manager's report. The 74% crime reduction since 1987 is great. The nationwide trend during that period did show a reduction in crime. We are not sure why the names of the police chiefs are included in the chart. The only inference to be drawn from this chart is that Paul Walters must have been a great chief of police; crime took a nosedive during his time in office. The chart does not include the period of time from 2013 to the present - see note 3 on the chart;the real small print. A review of the UCR statistics for the city for 2014 and 2015 shows an increase in crime. This period coincides with the tenure of both Chief Rojas and Mr. Cavazos. Is there an inference to be drawn here also?