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SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
PUBLIC SAFETY
Minutes of Meeting
May 27, 2008
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was convened at 5:45 p.m. at the Santa Ana Police Department, 60 Civic
Center Plaza, 4th Floor Conference Room, Santa Ana, California.
ATTENDANCE
Council members present: Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides and Sal Tinajero
Staff present: Assistant City Attorney Paula Coleman, Fire Chief Marc Martin, Police
Deputy Director Mike Lewellen, Police Commander Dave Jones, and Recording
Secretary Janet Chop.
Public present: Doug Irving.
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approved Minutes of the April 22,2008 meeting.
2. FIREWORKS DISCUSSION
Chief Martin reviewed the cost of response by the Police and Fire Departments
to illegal fireworks calls as compared to the revenue received, with the amounts
being close to the same. He also reviewed the lottery system for this year stating
that the total booths were now at 80. He presented photos to the committee
depicting Fire Department educational efforts.
3, TOP 15 PROBLEM LOCATIONS
Commander Jones reviewed the five new locations that had been added to the
top 10 problem locations. The committee requested that one of the locations be
looked at for abatement as a nuisance. ACA Coleman will follow up with
Commander Caddell to see what can be done to advise the owner of the
nuisance issues at this location.
4. IMPACT OF GOVERNOR'S PROGRAM TO RELEASE PAROLEES EARLY
Deputy Director Lewellen spoke regarding the overcrowding in prisons and that
the Governor's office was working with the local police agencies to review the
problem of releasing parolees early into the communities.
5. HOW GUNS ARE ADDRESSED IN SANTA ANA
Commander Jones reviewed how firearms are handled in the City. The
Weapons Interdiction Team (WIT) is responsible for the disposition of firearms
seized as evidence or safekeeping, licensing of firearms businesses, and
ensuring that firearms are not sold to individuals prohibited from possessing
firearms.
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All firearms related evidence recovered is processed through the Integrated
Ballistics Identification System (IBIS), which includes microscopic examination of
crime scene bullets and cartridge cases and compares them with other evidence
already entered into IBIS. Links to other cases are significant in that it provides
new information and leads for detectives to investigate.
Committee member Benavides asked about the benefits of a gun buy-back
program. Commander Jones stated that such programs in other jurisdictions
have had minimal positive results.
6. HOW MANY 2008 HOMICIDES ARE GUN RELATED
Commander Jones reviewed the specific 2008 gun-related homicides. He
related the status of each case concerning the arrests that have been made and
the firearms used.
7. HOMICIDE COMPARISON TO OTHER CALIFORNIA CITIES
Commander Jones reviewed the number of homicides as compared to other
cities of similar size. The data showed that Santa Ana was relatively low in the
number of homicides compared to these cities.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
9. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
There were no further comments.
10. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
A. Early Release of Prisoners from Orange County Sheriff's Department
11. NEXT MEETING DATE: Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 5:30 pm, Santa Ana
Police Facility, 60 Civic Center Plaza, 4th floor conference room, Santa Ana,
California.
ADJOURNMENT:
6:30 PM
~
PAUL M. WALTERS
Chief of Police
JC
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