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TB 4.3.2018 ORDINANCE NO. NS -2943 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING SECTION 10-152 TO THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO POLICE CANINES TO EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF THE CODE TO POLICE ANIMALS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines and declares as follows: A. On April 5, 1982, the City Council approved Ordinance No. NS -1625 adding Section 10-152 to Chapter 10 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code for the purpose of regulating willful or malicious acts against police canines in the performance of any duty or function with the Santa Ana Police Department, B. The City's Police Department currently utilizes six (6) police K -9's and one (1) bloodhound. Each day, there are two (2) K-9 units deployed citywide to assist the Police Department and outside agencies, upon request. C. In addition to the police canines serving the City, the City's Police Department will celebrate the 30th year anniversary of its Mounted Enforcement Unit in 2018. The Mounted Enforcement Unit is comprised of a stable of 8-10 horses with access to another 30 horses from the Orange County Regional team to assist with special events, protests and crowd control. The Unit patrols Santa Ana parks, shopping areas, and the Downtown District. The horse teams provide active enforcement assisting with quality of life issues; preventing physical altercations and criminal activity, and dealing with crowd control as their strongest asset. The horses are able to go where officers cannot drive and their calm majestic demeanor allows crowds to be dispersed quickly. D. In 2017, the Unit was deployed on 169 assignments. Each shift lasts up to eight (8) hours with two (2) horses for each deployment that equate to approximately 2700 hours of active service. E. In their service to the City, police personnel have witnessed acts against police service horses including the following: bottles thrown at them; individuals purposely kicking their legs; taunting, screaming, striking the horse on its hind quarters or similar actions in an attempt to spook the horse; extinguishing a burning cigarette on the horse; and punching a police horse in the face causing the horse to try and escape only to slip and fall onto the sidewalk. While these events are not a daily occurrence, a frightened or hurt animal can cause injury Ordinance No. NS -2943 Page 1 of 3