Santa Ana council hears pleas to preserve investigatory powers of Police Oversight Commission as staff outlines options

Santa Ana 'A workshop-style City Council meeting Tuesday focused on proposed revisions to the city's Police Oversight Commission ordinance, with community members urging the council to retain independent investigatory powers while staff outlined alternatives to align the ordinance with recent state law.

Members of the public described deaths and alleged police violence that they said require independent review rather than an audit-only model. "Esta comisión necesita el poder para investigar independientemente violencia policial, no puede ser solo una herramienta para auditorias internas de la policía," said Emma Garfrey, a District 4 resident and member of Community Service Organization, Orange County, during public comment. Several other speakers named specific incidents and asked the council not to dilute the commission's authority.

City staff framed the choice before the council as three main models: a primarily investigatory model that allows the commission (through a director) to conduct or parallel administrative investigations; an audit or pattern-and-practice model focused on systemic review of policies and training; and a hybrid or "free" model that combines elements of both. "La comisión de vigilancia policiaca puede obtener acceso a esos récords," Director Morris said while explaining how AB 847 and related Penal Code changes affect what civilian oversight bodies may review and under what confidentiality rules.

Staff emphasized fiscal and capacity limits: a simple civilian investigation was presented as costing roughly $15,000, while more complex inquiries can cost substantially more; the oversight director's office was described as operating on roughly $125,000 per year, which limits the number of in-depth investigations it can complete annually. Councilmembers repeatedly raised realism and capacity concerns, saying the city should avoid over-promising results it cannot deliver.

Several councilmembers supported retaining investigatory authority for high-priority incidents (shootings, deaths, severe uses of force) while using audits to identify systemic problems. Councilmember Fan summarized this approach as a pragmatic hybrid: retain the ability to investigate the most serious incidents while using audits and pattern reviews to stretch limited staff resources.

City attorneys and staff also flagged statutory issues staff says must be reconciled with the ordinance. During the presentation staff cited AB 847 and Penal Code provisions (including references to sections governing what officer personnel records may be accessed and how those records must be kept confidential) and explained that some local language in the earlier ordinance needed revision to avoid conflicts with state law.

No formal ordinance amendment or vote occurred at the workshop. Councilmembers asked staff to return with revised draft language and implementation options and requested an update in roughly three months; council members and staff discussed bringing options to the council at or before the Feb. 3 meeting. As one councilmember put it during the closing exchange, they want a clear set of options (keep the ordinance "as is," adopt a staff-recommended revision, or adopt a revised hybrid) and an honest assessment of the resources required to deliver investigations and audits.

The meeting closed without a final decision; staff will prepare follow-up materials and revised drafts for the council's consideration in the coming months.