The Santa Ana City Council, which has been considering revising its Police Oversight Commission’s purview, will give the group that got off to a slow start some time to settle into its role before any major changes are discussed.
Though the commission was established in 2022, it took a while for the council to appoint its members and to staff its director position. Commissioners only recently began carrying out key duties after significant setbacks.
“Let’s see what the commission needs. Let’s see where it takes us,” City Manager Alvaro Nunez said. “Let’s develop a pattern and gain the perspective and practical experience that will guide us.”
Councilmembers were talking this week about changing the scope of the Police Oversight Commission’s authority, including potential legal and budget limitations. Several community members also spoke out against proposed amendments, which they argued would weaken the commission’s investigative powers.
“We want to make sure that we are responsive to the community, and dare I say even the expectation, right? Because nobody wants to limit the expectation,” Nunez said. “We just want to be successful in meeting those expectations because nobody wants to underfill those expectations. That’s the key for us.”
The commission was established through an ordinance that created a seven-member civilian oversight body and an independent oversight director staff position. Under the existing ordinance, the commission can review and investigate citizen complaints of alleged police misconduct and make recommendations on policies and practices within the Santa Ana Police Department.
Nuñez acknowledged concerns from councilmembers and city staff about allocating funds amid competing city priorities and a budget deficit, but said those issues could be addressed over time.
“If the Santa Ana Police Department didn’t cost us $30 million in the last 15 years in liability lawsuits, we probably wouldn’t be facing a budget shortfall,” Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez said, arguing that funding for oversight should be prioritized.
Mayor Valerie Amezcua directed city staff to provide a report in three months with updates and recommendations for future consideration.
The oversight commission plays a role in multiple agenda items the City Council is set to talk about at its next meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 3.
Councilmember Benjamin Vasquez is asking his colleagues to have the commission hold a public hearing on the Police Department’s use of force during protests in July outside the Santa Ana Civic Center in response to increased federal immigration raids and enforcement actions.
The request also calls on the city manager to prepare a comprehensive public report detailing costs, use-of-force tactics, body-worn camera footage, reported injuries, command decisions, interagency coordination, and internal reviews related to the police response. The report would then be reviewed at a public hearing held by the Police Oversight Commission.
The Police Department is also seeking City Council approval on Tuesday for the purchase of patrol drones for use as a first responder system under an agreement with Axon Enterprise Inc.
Previous discussions about adopting a drone program have raised concerns among some residents and have been revisited during past Police Oversight Commission meetings.
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