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Santa Paula police chief presents independent audit, outlines reforms after investigation failures
Summary
Chief Aguilar told the City Council an independent review found systemic failures in the police investigations unit dating 2017–2023 and outlined 10 recommendations, including hiring investigators, new case‑management software and a new operations manual. Council praised the department’s transparency and pressed for ongoing oversight.
Santa Paula — Chief of Police Aguilar presented an independent audit of the police department’s investigations unit on Wednesday, telling the City Council the review found “systemic and unacceptable” failures in investigations, supervision and case tracking for the period 2017–2023.
The audit, prepared in collaboration with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, highlighted gaps in training, supervision and case management for felony assault and other investigations. “Investigations did not meet professional standards,” Aguilar said, and the department committed to implementing the audit’s recommendations and to regular updates to council and the community.
Aguilar reviewed 10 recommendations and reported progress on each: a hiring push that added 11 lateral officers since December 2023 (including four with significant investigative experience), expansion of the detective bureau (three detectives and one detective sergeant with plans to add another detective), a drafted operations manual and a departmental training plan, and full implementation of the Mark 43 records-management upgrade in mid‑July 2025 to improve case tracking and notations.
Council members credited the district attorney’s office for flagging problems, pressed Aguilar on safeguards to prevent recurrence, and asked for clear oversight steps. Councilmember Chavez thanked the chief for candor and asked how deficiencies were discovered; Aguilar said an inquiry from the DA’s office about a case revealed that the file remained open and incomplete, prompting a broader case review.
Vice Mayor Crosswhite and others asked for details about supervisory checks and auditing. Aguilar said improvements rest on three pillars — training, supervision and accountability — and described quarterly supervisory meetings, mandatory scenario and investigators’ training led by the DA’s office, and plans for additional supervisory education.
The chief said the department owns the past failures and is working to rebuild trust: “We will continue implementing audit recommendations,” he said, and added the department will provide progress updates to council, with a status update on the investigations bureau anticipated in June.
While no formal action was required, council members expressed unanimous support for the reforms and for continuing transparency as the department carries out the audit’s recommendations. The council directed staff to include future updates on the department’s progress on meeting the audit benchmarks.
