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Home My WebLink About2025-12-11 Regular Police Oversight Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Police Oversight Commission Ry�l IL 4 i yr December 11 , 2025 REGULAR MEETING 5:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER 22 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 CALL TO ORDER MINUTE'S: Chair Carpenter called the meeting to order at 5:03 P.M. ATTENDANCE Commission Members Evangeline Gawronski Amalia Mejia Carlos Perea Nadin Said Danny Vega Vice Chair Gabriel Castillo Laughton Chair Keith Carpenter Staff Members Independent Oversight Director T. Jack Morse Jr. Deputy City Manager Sylvia Vazquez Deputy Chief Roland Andrade Police Commander Jorge Lopez Assistant City Attorney Jonathan Martinez Recording Secretary Abigail Y. Alcala POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 1 DECEMBER 11, 2025 ROLL CALL MINUTES: Recording Secretary Abigail Y. Alcala conducted roll call. Commissioners Gawronski, Perea (arrived at 5:22 P.M.), Said, and Vega, and Chair Carpenter were present. Vice Chair Castillo Laughton and Commissioner Mejia were absent. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MINUTES: Chair Carpenter led the Pledge of Allegiance. PUBLIC COMMENTS—Public comments will be held during the beginning of the meeting for all comments on agenda items. Members of the public may provide comments on any agenda or non-agenda items within the subject matter jurisdiction of the commission. MINUTES; The following individual addressed the Commission via teleconference: 1. Manuel Arreguin inquired regarding Commissioner Gawronski reviewing previous meetings transcripts from this past year and thanked the Commission for their work. CONSENT CALENDAR RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following Consent Calendar Items: 'I and 2. MINUTES:At 5:05 P.M., the Consent Calendar was considered. Chair Carpenter spoke regarding an error on page eight of minutes and requested the minutes be updated to reflect the appropriate chair of the commission. MOTION: Commissioner Gawronski moved to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1 and 2, as amended, seconded by Commissioner Vega. The motion carried, 4-0-0-3, by the following roll call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONER GAWRONSKI, COMMISSIONER SAID, COMMISSIONER VEGA, CHAIR CARPENTER NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: COMMISSIONER MEJIA, COMMISSIONER PEREA, VICE CHAIR CASTILLO LAUGHTON Status: 4-0 - 0 — 3 -- Pass 1. Excused Absences Recommended Action: Excuse the absent members. 2. Minutes from the Regular Meetings of November 13, 2025. Recommended Action: Approve minutes. POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 2 DECEMBER 11, 2025 ***END OF CONSENT CALENDAR*** BUSINESS CALENDAR MINUTES:At 5:08 P.M., the Business Calendar was considered. 3. Recommendation to SAPD Procedure 4130 U-Visa Certification Procedures Recommended Action: Receive a presentation and approve the recommended procedure to the City Manager for changes to the Santa Ana Police Department's U-Visa Procedure No. 4130 prepared by the Police Oversight Director. MINUTES: Independent Police Oversight Director T. Jack Morse provided a presentation regarding SAPD Policy 4130 U-Visa Certification Procedures recommended revisions. Commissioner Perea arrived at 5.22 P.M. Commissioner Gawronski asked what CID stood for. Independent Police Oversight Director Morse stated CID stood for Criminal Investigation Division and SAPD is the entity who reviews the U-Visa applications. Commissioner Vega thanked staff and Independent Police Oversight Director Morse for their efforts on the U-Visa policy documents and asked whether the outcome of an investigation affects U-Visa qualifications. Independent Police Oversight Director Morse explained it does not affect U-Visa applications. Commissioner Said asked for clarification regarding page five of the presentation regarding an official consulting the USCIS Resource Guide as a superseding guideline and SAPD's victim-centered and trauma-informed approach to investigations, and spoke in support of limitations of forwarding cases to the DistrictAttorney's(DA) office, appeal process, and annual report. Independent Police Oversight Director Morse spoke regarding the USCIS Resource Guide where SAPD will be trained on with assessing U-Visa applications and those who need clarity on decision making for U-Visas and explained SAPD's victim- centered and trauma informed approach to investigations is to reduce the risk of retraumatizing victims who suffered traumatic experiences during interviews. Commissioner Perea thanked Independent Police Oversight Director Morse for bringing back a revised U-Visa policy, echoed Commissioner Said's comments regarding limiting cases sent to the DA office, explained the importance of USCIC Resource Guide, and stated he looks forward to the implementation of the policy, future reports, and impact on U-Visa applications. He asked whether the policy would be an administrative policy change or codified into the ordinance. POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 3 DECEMBER 11, 2025 Deputy City Manager Sylvia Vazquez stated the policy would be an administrative policy change and explained the process. Commissioner Perea recommended the Commission send the policy to the City Council to be adopted as an ordinance once it has been administratively changed. Commissioner Vega asked whether the policy would be sent to the City Council for approval. Deputy City Manager Vazquez explained the policy process gets reviewed by the City Manager and can be sent for review to the City Council if the Commission is not satisfied with the response provided by the City Manager. Chair Carpenter asked for clarification regarding U-Visa procedures in Section 4130.5, the last paragraph of Section 2, and asked what happens when U-Visas are revoked after approval due to determining the victim is no longer helpful and deadlines are not met by SAPD. Independent Police Oversight Director Morse stated the Chief of Police or designee informs the USCIS of victims no longer being helpful. Deputy Chief Roland Andrade stated violation of policy is subject to review and/or potential discipline with possible termination depending on factors leading to missed deadlines. MOTION: Commissioner Vega moved to approve the recommended action for Item No. 3, seconded by Commissioner Perea. The motion carried, 5-0-0-2, by the following roll call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONER GAWRONSKI, COMMISSIONER PEREA, COMMISSIONER SAID, COMMISSIONER VEGA, CHAiR CARPENTER NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: COMMISSIONER MEJIA, VICE CHAIR CASTiLLO LAUGHTON Status: 5-0 — 0— 2 — Pass ***END OF BUSINESS CALENDAR*** STAFF PRESENTATIONS 4. AB 847 and POC Complaint Process MINUTES. Independent Police Oversight Director T. Jack Morse provided a presentation regarding AB 847: Police Personnel Records and Police Oversight Commission Complaint Process. POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 4 DECEM13ER 11, 2025 Commissioner Gawronski asked for clarification regarding the submitted complaints related to other agencies. Independent Police Oversight Director Morse stated the information presented is strictly informational. Commissioner Vega asked how complaints will be received and processed. Independent Police Oversight Director Morse explained the complaint process and stated the complaints will be sent via email. Deputy City Manager Sylvia Vazquez explained the Police complaint portal is accessible to all via the City website. Commissioner Said asked whether Commissioners may review body-worn camera footage related to complaints, whether such footage is considered part of an officer's personnel file, how decisions are made without disclosing confidential information, and the closed session process for handling complaints. Independent Police Oversight Director Morse stated body-worn camera footage may be requested as part of the investigation and reviewed by the Commission in closed session to determine whether further investigation is warranted, relevant footage is considered part of the officer's personnel file, the Commission may direct the Independent Police Oversight Director to proceed or not proceed with further investigation, and Internal Affairs (IA) is conducting a parallel independent investigation. Deputy City Manager Vazquez explained the process for complaints for the upcoming Closed Session meeting. Commissioner Perea requested a report on complaints from late 2023 and 2024. Independent Police Oversight Director Morse stated complaints must be investigated within the one-year limitation however, a report could be presented to the Commission. Deputy Chief Roland Andrade stated complaints received from 2023 and 2024 were investigation by Santa Ana Police Department(SAPD). Commissioner Perea requested IA outcomes related to the complaints filed prior to 2025. Commissioner Gawronski asked for clarification regarding the voting process for the complaints to be investigated and data related to complaints filed prior to 2025. Independent Police Oversight Director Morse explained the one-year timeframe limitation for complaints prior to 2025. POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 5 DECEMBER 11, 2025 Commissioner Vega asked whether feedback can be relayed to those who filed complaints and whether the public is notified of the results from investigations. Independent Police Oversight Director Morse explained the process for email communications regarding filed complaints, the creation of annual reports summarizing investigation outcomes without disclosing confidential information, and stated investigation outcomes may be requested through a public records request. Chair Carpenter asked what effect AB847 has on the Police Oversight Commission ordinance. Independent Police Oversight Director Morse stated the AB 847 does not affect the ordinance rather clarifies the responsibility of the Commission. Deputy City Manager Vazquez further elaborated on AB 847. ***END OF STAFF PRESENTATIONS*** STAFF COMMENTS MINUTES: Deputy City Manager Sylvia Vazquez wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Deputy Chief Roland Andrade announced Chief Rodriguez swore in three new officers to the department, Pancakes with Santa was successful, and thanked everyone. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS MINUTES: Commissioner Gawronski thanked staff and the Commission for all their hard work and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Commissioner Vega wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Commissioner Said thanked staff and the Commission for all their hard work and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Commissioner Perea thanked staff and the Commission for aiI their hard work and wished everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. Chair Carpenter thanked staff and the Commission for all their hard work and wished everyone Happy Holidays. ADJOURNMENT-Adjourn the Police Oversight Commission Meeting. MINUTES: Chair Carpenter adjourned the Police Oversight Commission meeting at 6:21 P.M. POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 6 DECEMBER 11, 2025 The next meeting of the Police Oversight Commission is scheduled for January 8, 2026 at 5:00 P.M. Respedf,Ily subm"tf ted: b g it IcaIa R c dig Secretary POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 7 DECEMBER 11, 2025