HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - Item 1 Becerra, Alexis
From: Michael Wauschek <
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2026 12:45 PM
To: !City Clerk
Subject: Police oversight committee tonight
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana.Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Goodmorning my name is Michael wauschek I am a concerned citizen.we must get gestope out of our city this isn't ok your
claims that service&protest us but your actions saying otherwise the
time is know.How many murders is needed to get hint it isn't ok free Palestine
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
1
Flores, Dora
From:Erlynne Ballo <erlynne.ballo@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, January
To:eComment
Subject:City Council Meeting 1/26/2026 - Agenda Item 1
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
My name is Erlynne Ballo, and I work as a student support professional at Saddleback College. While my
community college is not in Santa Ana, many of my students are from your city.
In education, we are taught that accountability is not punishment—it’s a pathway to trust. When students know
there is a fair, transparent process for addressing harm, they are more likely to engage, to stay, and to believe in
the system. The same principle applies to public safety.
I work with students who are navigating trauma, fear, and uncertainty—many of whom have had direct or
indirect experiences with law enforcement that shape how safe they feel in our community. When oversight is
weak or symbolic, that fear doesn’t stay abstract. It shows up in classrooms, in mental health, and in whether
people feel protected or targeted by the systems meant to serve them.
A police oversight committee without meaningful authority cannot fulfill its purpose. True oversight requires
access to information, the ability to make binding recommendations, and independence from the very systems it
is meant to review. Without that, we are asking the community to trust a process that lacks real power—and
trust does not grow in that environment.
I ask that the Police Oversight Commission have the authority to conduct investigations of police misconduct
independently from the police department. The Commission must to be able to review, evaluate, and make
recommendations to the Police Chief and City Council.
The audit model and the hybrid model limits scope of investigations, and so limits the integrity and legitimacy
of the Police Oversight Commission.
Educators know that systems improve when they are transparent, accountable, and open to correction.
Strengthening the authority of the police oversight committee is not anti-police. It is pro-community, pro-trust,
and pro-safety.
I urge this council to expand the powers of the oversight committee so it can operate with integrity and
effectiveness. Our residents—and especially our young people—are watching what we choose to prioritize.
Thank you for your time.
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Flores, Dora
From:Bulmaro Vicente <boomer@chispaoc.org>
Sent:Monday, January 26, 2026 2:20 PM
To:eComment
Subject:1/26 SA Public Comment Item 1
Attachments:1.26 Special Meeting Item 1- Chispa Letter.docx.pdf
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Hello,
Please find Chispa's letter attached for Item 1.
In Solidarity,
Boomer
Policy and Political Director | Chispa
e: boomer@chispaoc.org c: 714.747.4271
1505 E 17th Street Suite 117 Santa Ana, CA 92705
Chispa is building a political home for young Latinxs in Orange County! Please consider making a
donation to help us build our casita. Chispa is a project of Tides Advocacy, a 501c4 non-profit
organization.
1
January 26, 2026
Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers
20 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92701
ecomment@santa-ana.org
Via Email
RE: Item 1: Preserving the Authority and Integrity of the Santa Ana Police Oversight
Commission
Dear Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers,
We write to express our strong support for preserving the powers and processes that are essential for the
City of Santa Ana (City) Police Oversight Commission to maintain meaningful oversight and public
trust. Police accountability must remain a priority and a firm commitment to the residents of the City.
The Santa Ana Police Oversight Commission (Commission) was created in 2022 after years of
community advocacy. It was designed to be independent, investigatory, and community-led. It was a
long-overdue response to generations of police violence, secrecy, and impunity.
Diluting the Commission’s powers would undermine its purpose and erode public confidence. For the
Commission to function as a meaningful vehicle for accountability, we urge the City to preserve the
following core powers:
● Retain independent investigative authority, including the ability to investigate serious and
deadly uses of force.
● Maintain the Commission’s authority to make disciplinary recommendations based on the
findings of those investigations.
● Ensure clear and direct pathways for Commission recommendations to reach the City
Council, allowing for transparency, accountability, and public oversight.
● Preserve the Commission’s responsibility to review the Memoranda of Understanding for
both the Santa Ana Police Officers Association and the Santa Ana Police Management
Association, and to provide recommendations as appropriate.
Finally, we urge the City Council to seriously consider increasing the resources allocated to the
Commission so it can fulfill its mandate effectively and provide the level of oversight residents deserve.
We call on the City to preserve the integrity and purpose of the Commission. The people of Santa Ana
deserve real oversight.
Sincerely,
Bulmaro Vicente
Policy and Political Director, Chispa
CC:
vamezcua@santa-ana.org
PBacerra@santa-ana.org
TPhan@santa-ana.org
DPenaloza@santa-ana.org
JessieLopez@santa-ana.org
JRyanHernandez@santa-ana.org
bvazquez@santa-ana.org
Flores, Dora
From:Bruce Senator <brucesenator@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, January
To:eComment
Cc:Carvalho, Sonia R.
Subject:January 26, 2026 City Council Meeting - Police Oversight Commission Ordinance
Work Study Session
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
In reviewing the packet for the Police Oversight Commission Ordinance Work Study Session, in conjunction
with Ordinance No. NS-3029, the following comments are offered.
1. There are 'vagaries' in certain verbiage that should be made more certain, such as;
o At page 1-1; "clean up language"
o At page 1-1; "Modify the existing ordinance to the staff recommended audit model"
o At page 1-1; "regarding the City Manager form of government,"
o At page 1-2; "... staff collectively recommends updating the ordinance and establishing an audit
model."
2. The current ordinance fails to address issues which underlie all operations of Santa Ana Police
Department, and led to a recent civil liability of $2,500,000 (not counting legal costs.)
Instead of providing a 'packet' which in itself is ... convoluted, the City should provide us with actual verbiage
so we can read, compare, evaluate, and respond to (more credibly).
1. \[Proposed\] Ordinance NS-3029, with 'clean up language' highlighted.
2. \[Proposed\] Ordinance incorporating the staff-recommended audit model.
3. Audit Model actual verbiage the City of Santa Ana now utilizes.
NS-3029 (SAMC Chp. 2, Art. IV, Div. 16, Sec. 2-660
Noting from NS-3029, and specifically SAMC Chapter 2, Article IV, Div. 16 - Police Oversight Commission,
Sec. 2-660 Establishment and Purpose, there appears to be grammar issues, as follows;
... "The purpose of the Commission is to act through the Independent Oversight Director to provide the
Chief of Police, City Manager, and City Council independent investigations of, analysis, and
recommendations on police practices, police misconduct, officer-involved shootings, and other serious
uses of force."
It appears the verbiage should be more like the following;
... "The purpose of the Commission is to act through the Independent Oversight Director to provide the
Chief of Police, City Manager, and City Council with independent investigations and analysis, along with
recommendations on police practices, police misconduct, officer-involved shootings, and other serious
uses of force."
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What is Missing From the Ordinance?
What is missing relates to SAPD ... administrative practices. Santa Ana recently lost a civil suit resulting in
damages assessed at $2,500,000, not counting legal fees, costs, etc.
But any study of this litigation reveals DECADES OF ABUSIVE CONDUCT and MISMANAGEMENT AT
THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF SAPD.
Why is SAMC Chapter 2, Art. IV, Div. 16 - Police Oversight Commission seemingly solely focused on ... line
officers, and devoid of oversight of administrative management?
"Shit Rolls Downhill"
There is an old adage, "Shit Rolls Downhill" translating generally to ...
Problems originating at the top of the chain of command or organizational hierarchy tend to
become the responsibilities of those lower down.
Neither the City of Santa Ana, nor its Police Department, will ever be able to get a handle on 'line officer' issues
if it fails to address issues ... at the top.
Santa Ana Police Department ... On A Roll, A Good Roll
Santa Ana Police Department, for all the problems it has gone through over the past decade, is "On a Roll," and
a Good Roll. Granted, SAPD's wanting to rely on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests regarding a
drone program, are insufficient. However, fact remains that compared to 18 months ago, SAPD has gone
through a very beneficial transformation.
SAPD Drone Program and Oversight
We need an effective drone program. However, we also need such a program with solid oversight. Failure of
oversight will lead to failure in practice, civil litigations, and damages paid out ... which we cannot
afford. Better to afford the cost of strong oversight, than the much higher cost of civil litigations ... and civil
liabilities if awarded by a court or jury.
Thank you,
Bruce Senator
Ward 6
2
Becerra, Alexis
From: stephanie dorantes <
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2026 5:02 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Meeting 1/26/2026 Item 1
Attention:This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
My name is Stephanie and I along with CSO OC urge the council to keep good on their duties to uphold democracy in
their chambers. The mass movement that lead to the creation of the police oversight commissions creation will not be
for nothing. It is a bald attempt to neuter the commission under the guise of"avoiding lawsuits"when we well know
that the city already faces several lawsuits due to the actions of unruly police in the city. Please do what is right and
allow the commission to fulfill its originally intended purpose in allowing residents of Santa Ana to get justice when
police harm them instead of continuing to allow them to galavant through the city doing as they please to whomever
they please.
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