HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-12 Regular Police Oversight Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting
of the Police Oversight Commission
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February 12, 2026
REGULAR MEETING - 5:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
22 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701
CALL TO {ORDER
MINUTES: Chair Carpenter called the meeting to order at 5:00 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 FEBRUARY 12, 2026
ROLL CALL
MINUTES: Recording Secretary Abigail Y. Alcala conducted roll call.
Commissioners Gawronski, Mejia, Perea, and Said, Vice Chair Castillo Laughton
(arrived at 5:06 P.M.), and Chair Carpenter were present. Commissioner Vega was
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 individuals addressed the Commission via in-person:
1. Abraham Quintana requested justice for Noe Rodriguez and an independent
investigation, and spoke regarding Noe Rodriguez's incident.
2. David Pulido requested an independent investigation for the Noe Rodriguez incident
and spoke regarding Henry Gonzalez's incident.
Vice Chair Castillo Laughton arrived of 5:06 P.M.
3. Stef requestedjustice for Noe Rodriguez and an independent investigation, and spoke
regarding Noe Rodriguez's incident.
4. Matthew Compton requested an independent investigation into the incident of Noe
Rodriguez and spoke regarding Noe Rodriguez's incident.
5. Bulmaro Vicente spoke in support of Agenda Item No. 4 and requested justice and
accountability for the Noe Rodriguez incident.
Chair Carpenter asked for an update on the list of requested acronyms.
Commander Lopez stated the list is in process.
CONSENT CALENDAR
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following
Consent Calendar Items: 1 and 2.
MINUTES:At 5:15 P.M., the Consent Calendar was considered.
Chair Carpenter requested the minutes be amended to reflect his comments regarding
requests for information or data.
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 2 FEBRUARY 12, 2026
MOTION: Chair Carpenter moved to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1 and
2, as amended, seconded by Commissioner Gawronski.
The motion carried, 6-0-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER GAWRONSKI, COMMISSIONER MEJIA,
COMMISSIONER PEREA, COMMISSIONER SAID, VICE
CHAIR CASTILLO LAUGHTON, CHAIR CARPENTER
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER VEGA
Status: 6-0 - 0 — 1 — Pass
1. Excused Absences
Recommended Action: Excuse the absent members.
2. Minutes from the Regular Meetings of January 8, 2026.
Recommended Action: Approve minutes.
***END OF CONSENT CALENDAR***
RECESS — Police Oversight Commission will recess to Closed Session.
MINUTES: Chair Carpenter recessed to consider the Closed Session item at 5:18 P.M.
BUSINESS CALENDAR
3. CLOSED SESSION — Consistent with California Government Code section
54957 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE COMPLAINTS (review of citizen complaints
submitted to Police Oversight Commission, complaints dated: 1/28125, 218/25,
3/13/25, 5129/25, 6/13/25, 6/20/25, 6/22/25, 9111125, 12/12/25) Government Code
section 54957
RECONVENE -- Police Oversight Commission will reconvene to continue regular City
business,
MINUTES: Chair Carpenter reconvened the Police Oversight Commission meeting to
order at 9:09 P.M.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT-The City Attorney will report on any action(s)from Closed
Session.
MINUTES: Assistant City Attorney Jonathan Martinez stated the Commission reviewed
four complaints and by vote decided to not investigate three of the four complaints
reviewed, and requested by vote that Independent Oversight Director T. Jack Morse
provide additional information regarding one complaint.
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 3 FEBRUARY 12, 2026
4. City Manager Response to U-Visa Certification Procedures
Recommendations
Recommended Action: Accept the City Manager response to the Police Oversight
Commission recommendations for Santa Ana Police Department Procedure 4130,
U-Visa Certification Procedures.
MINUTES:At 5:18 P.M., the Business Calendar was considered.
Independent Oversight Director T. Jack Morse provided a brief summary of the item.
Commissioner Mejia asked for clarification on Section 4130.3.1 regarding qualifying
victims for U-Visas, Section 4120.5 regarding time limit for individuals reporting a
crime, and whether there are issues if an individual files a complaint later in time.
City Attorney Jonathan Martinez explained Section 4130.3.1 stemmed from the City
Manager's Office wanting clarity for an underlying crime that actually occurred in
order to qualify for the U-Visa, individuals to report crimes as quickly as possible so
passage of time and evidence to avoid issues, and there is no statue of limitations
when it pertains to the U-Visa process.
Commissioner Perea thanked staff for their hard work on their collaboration of the
U-Visa policy and requested the Commission receive email notifications when the
Criminal Investigations Division provides the report regarding the number of victims
that requested 1-918 Supplement B certifications.
MOTION: Commissioner Perea moved to approve the recommended action for
Item No. 4, seconded by Vice Chair Castillo Laughton.
The motion carried, 6-0-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER GAWRONSKI, COMMISSIONER MEJIA,
COMMISSIONER PEREA, COMMISSIONER SAID, VICE
CHAIR CASTILLO LAUGHTON, CHAIR CARPENTER
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER VEGA
Status: 6-0 - 0 — 1 — Pass
***END OF BUSINESS CALENDAR***
STAFF COMMENTS
MINUTES: Independent Oveersight Director T. Jack Morse thanked the Commission for
all their hard work.
Deputy Chief Roland Andrade reported the Santa Ana Police Department hired four new
Police Officers who finished the academy and were officially sworn in by the Police Chief
on February 20, 2026.
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 4 FEBRUARY 12, 2026
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
MINUTES: Commissioner Mejia thanked staff for all their hard work and efforts.
Commissioner Gawronski expressed gratitude to staff.
Vice Chair Castillo Laughton thanked staff for all their hard work and efforts.
Chair Carpenter thanked staff for all their hard work and efforts.
ADJOURNMENT-Adjourn the Police Oversight Commission Meeting.
MINUTES: Chair Carpenter adjourned the Police Oversight Commission meeting at
9:22 P.M.
The next meeting of the Police Oversight Commission is scheduled for March 12, 2026
at 5:00 P.M.
Resp ctfulsubmit ed:
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POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 5 FEBRUARY 12, 2026