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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-13 Regular Police Oversight Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Police Oversight Commission �0V . w'. f Lj March 13, 2025 REGULAR MEETING - 5:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER 22 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 CALL TO ORDER MINUTES: Vice Chair Carpenter called the meeting to order at 5:09 P.M. ATTENDANCE Commission Members Gabriel Castillo Laughton Evangeline Gawronski Amalia Mejia Carlos Perea Nadin Said Vice Chair Keith Carpenter Chair Danny Vega Staff Members Deputy City Manager Sylvia Vazquez Police Commander Jorge Lopez Assistant City Attorney Jonathan Martinez Recording Secretary Abigail Y. Alcala POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 1 MARCH 13, 2025 ROLL CALL MINUTES: Recording Secretary Abigail Y. Alcala conducted roll call. Commissioners Castillo Laughton, Gawronski, Mejia, Perea, Said, and Vice Chair Carpenter were present. Chair Vega was absent. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MINUTES: Vice 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:Recording Secretary Abigail Y. Alcala reported the following email comments received: Two (2) comments regarding non-agenda items. 1. David Pulido spoke regarding the state of the commission, requested the commission appoint an oversight director, and spoke regarding the shooting and death of Noe Rodriguez. 2. Abraham Quintana spoke regarding the state of the commission, requested the implementation of a policy addressing release of information following officer involved shootings, and spoke regarding the shooting and death of Noe Rodriguez. 3. Emma Gottfried requested the release of information following critical incidents and officer involved shootings, and spoke regarding the shooting and death of Noe Rodriguez. 4. Stephanie Durantes requested officer names and video footage be released within 48 hours after police related incidents. 5. Erika Armenta (translation: Spanish) spoke regarding the shooting and death of Noe Rodriguez, requested the release of the incident video to the public, and demanded a response from the police department regarding the incident. POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 2 MARCH 13, 2025 CONSENT CALENDAR RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following Consent Calendar Items: 1 and 2. MINUTES:At 5:20 P.M., the Consent Calendar was considered. MOTION: Commissioner Said moved to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1 and 2, seconded by Vice Chair Carpenter. The motion carried, 6-0-0-1, by the following roll call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONER CASTILLO LAUGHTON, COMMISSIONER GAWRONSKI, COMMISSIONER MEJIA, COMMISSIONER PEREA, COMMISSIONER SAID, VICE CHAIR CARPENTER NONE NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: CHAIR VEGA Status: 6-0 - 0 — 1 — Pass 1. Excused Absences Recommended Action: Excuse the absent members. 2. Minutes from the Regular Meetings of October 10, 2024 and February 13, 2025 Recommended Action: Approve minutes. ***END OF CONSENT CALENDAR*** STAFF PRESENTATIONS 3. Sanctuary Ordinance and Santa Ana Police Department Policy No. 413 MINUTES: Assistant City Attorney Jonathan Martinez and Police Commander Jorge Lopez provided a presentation regarding the Sanctuary Ordinance and Santa Ana Police Department Policy No. 413. Discussion ensued regarding information sharing, finger print data, holding of inmates, immigration status of inmates, federal contracts, and judicial warrants. Commissioner Perea requested city manager staff provide the commission information regarding the 2017 council action passed regarding federal contracts. Assistant City Attorney Martinez, Police Commander Lopez, and Deputy City Manager Sylvia Vazquez provided clarification and answered the Commissioners' questions. POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 3 MARCH 13, 2025 Commissioner Me7a inquired regarding possible policy changes as a result of the current administration, and requested information sharing and mutual agreements between the City and the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Commissioner Gawronski inquired regarding consulates located within the City. Commissioner Castillo Laughton inquired regarding the enforcement of the ordinance and whether it specifies disciplinary action for violations. Assistant City Attorney Martinez spoke regarding consulates within the city limits and stated the ordinance is not an enforcement tool. Commissioner Perea requested clarification on the process for detaining inmates at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and inquired regarding the availability of an annual report detailing the number of ICE detainer request received by Santa Ana Police Department(SAPD). He also asked whether the city's current ordinance language was derived from the Lexipol policy. Discussion ensued regarding the drafting of the ordinance language and the provisions related to ICE requested detainers. Commissioner Perea asked whether the SAPD would decline to help in ICE task force operations and on the frequency and content of immigration policy training for SAPD staff Police Commander Lopez responded that SAPD has not been asked to assist with ICE task force operations and confirmed that SAPD staff are required to receive 24 hours of immigration policy training every two years, however staff exceeds the requirements by completing two trainings a year. Commissioner Perea asked whether a specific SAPD staff member is assigned to process U visa applications and whether the requests are tracked. Police Commander Lopez confirmed the U visa applications are reviewed and assigned by a Sergeant. Deputy City Manager Vazquez stated that a presentation regarding U visas will be provided at a later meeting. Commissioner Castillo Laughton asked whether there has been any violation of the sanctuary ordinance. Police Commander Lopez stated there has not been any violations to his knowledge. Assistant City Attorney Martinez clarified the remedy set forth in section 9 regarding to disciplinary action for violations of the ordinance. POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 4 MARCH 13, 2025 Commissioner Perea requested clarification whether a violation of the policy by SAPD staff would fall under the scope of the commission. Assistant City Attorney Martinez stated he would fake a look into the matter. STUDY SESSION 4. Police Oversight Commission Bylaws Discussion MINUTES: Assistant City Attorney Jonathan Martinez gave a brief presentation regarding potential bylaws for the Commission. Brief discussion ensued regarding the Commission Bylaws. Commissioner Gawronski provided her closing comments and stated that members of the public should aim to work collaboratively with City staff rather than make demands. MOTION: Vice Chair Carpenter moved to continue Commission Bylaws to a Special Meeting, seconded by Commissioner Mejia. The motion carried, 6-0-0-1, by the following roll call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONER CASTILLO LAUGHTON, COMMISSIONER GAWRONSKI, COMMISSIONER MEDIA, COMMISSIONER PEREA, COMMISSIONER SAID, VICE CHAIR CARPENTER NONE NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: CHAIR VEGA Status: 6-0 - 0 — 1 —Pass MINUTES; Assistant City Attorney Martinez stated he will provide additional examples of other City Commission Bylaws for the Commission to review. Discussion ensued regarding the possibility of the City Council amending the Commission Bylaws before they are adopted and on the role of the Independent Oversight Director. Assistant City Attorney answered the Commissioner's questions and provided clarification. POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 5 MARCH 13, 2025 STAFF COMMENTS MINUTES: Deputy City Manager Sylvia Vazquez reported that at the March 4, 2025 City Council Meeting City Manager Alvaro Nunez announced that he is working on scheduling interviews for the Independent Oversight Director within the next 30 days, and a Municipal Code update would follow soon after. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Minutes: Commissioner Perea thanked the City Manager's Office for their attendance and assistance with the commission, requested the commission review the Police Department's Body Worn Camera Policy in the near future, and thanked the public for their participation. Commissioner Said thanked staff for the Bylaws presentation and study session and the public for their attendance and participation, and spoke regarding possible legal restrictions related to the release of information following an officer involved shooting. Commissioner Mejia (translation: Spanish) expressed condolences towards Erika Armenta and thanked her for attending the meeting, echoed Commissioner Perea's comments regarding the Body Worn Camera Policy, and requested clarification regarding the release of information for cases actively being reviewed by the commission. Commissioner Castillo Laughton thanked City staff for their presentation and the public for their comments, and spoke regarding the importance of in-person participation. Vice Chair Keith Carpenter thanked the public for attending. ADJOURNMENT-Adjourn the Police Oversight Commission Meeting. MINUTES: Vice Chair Keith Carpenter adjourned the Police Oversight Commission meeting at 6:38 P.M. The next meeting of the Police Oversight Commission is scheduled for April 10, 2025 at 5:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted: �Ivo(,L i lcala R i g Secretary POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 6 MARCH 13, 2025