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1 the SAPOA/Serrano as just part of Serrano's desire to fix his pension issue. <br /> 2 CITY MANAGER DISCIPLINARY ACTION <br /> 3 54. In order to try to silence the SAPOA/Serrano, on or about May 18, 2021, <br /> 4 Defendant Ridge issued a disciplinary document entitled "Employee Conduct Warning <br /> 5 Letter" to Serrano for acts he undertook as the "advocate and leader of the SAPDX <br /> 6 which Defendant Ridge argued violated the City Charter and police department policies. <br /> 7 Under the provisions of Government Code §3300, et seq., this document constituted a <br /> 8 written reprimand and punitive actions as that term is used under Government Code <br /> 9 §§3303 and 3304. <br /> 10 55. Under the City Charter Defendant Ridge does not have the ability to <br /> 11 discipline a police sergeant as she is not the appointing authority for the police <br /> 12 department. Therefore, Ridge's actions were outside her official capacity and <br /> 13 demonstrated that she was acting in excess of her authority in order to discriminate, <br /> 14 harass and retaliate against Serrano and the SAPOA. <br /> 15 56. The May 18, 2021, Employee Conduct Warning Letter specifically initiated <br /> 16 punitive action against Serrano, as the President of the SAPOA, for communicating (via <br /> 17 text and e-mail) to elected officials raising issues with the management of the Police <br /> 18 Department. The Warning Letter also directed Serrano, as the President of the SAPOA <br /> 19 not to communicate regarding police management issues with the Santa Ana City <br /> 20 Council. <br /> 21 57. Serrano, on May 20, 2021, invoked his rights under POBRA and <br /> 22 requested all documentation supporting Defendant Ridge's allegations of misconduct, <br /> 23 and all complaints giving rise to the punitive action. Serrano also invoked his right to an <br /> 24 administrative appeal under Government Code §3304. Defendants have failed and <br /> 25 refused to provide Serrano any documents supporting the allegations contained in <br /> 26 Ridge's letter and have refused to afford him any administrative appeal of the punitive <br /> 27 action imposed against him. <br /> 28 INVESTIGATION OF SERRANO <br /> 14 <br /> COMPLAINT <br />