Santa Ana council debates changes to Police Oversight Commission; no vote taken

At a special meeting focused solely on a proposed revision to the Police Oversight Commission ordinance, the Santa Ana City Council heard hours of public comment Monday night from residents, advocacy groups and the oversight director before directing staff to return with options in roughly three months.

Dozens of speakers — including members of Community Service Organization and other local groups — urged the council not to strip the commission of its authority to investigate alleged police misconduct. “We need to keep the power to independently investigate police violence,” said Emma Godfrey, a Ward 4 resident and CSO member, arguing the July draft was written without adequate community input. Several speakers named officers they said were involved in recent lethal encounters and asked the council to preserve subpoena and disciplinary-recommendation authority.

The staff presentation, led by Independent Oversight Director Jack Morris, framed three broad options: retain the current investigatory model, move to a…