Police Oversight Commission
The purpose of the Commission is to improve transparency, increase the accountability of and public confidence in the Santa Ana Police Department and to provide for an Independent Oversight Director. 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.
Meeting day, time and place
The Police Oversight Commission meets on the second Thursday of every month at 5 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chamber (located at 22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701).
Membership
The Commission consists of the following seven members:
| Commissioner | Nominated by | Term expires |
| Danny Vega | Mayor Amezcua (citywide) |
December 2024 |
| Keith Carpenter | Mayor Pro Tem Phan (Ward 1) |
December 2024 |
| Carlos Perea | Councilmember Vazquez (Ward 2) |
December 2026 |
| Gabriel Castillo Laughton | Councilmember Lopez (Ward 3) |
December 2024 |
| Nadin Said | Councilmember Bacerra (Ward 4) |
December 2026 |
| Amalia Mejia | Councilmember Hernandez (Ward 5) |
December 2024 |
| Evangeline Gawronski | Councilmember Penaloza (Ward 6) |
December 2026 |
Membership requirements
To serve on this commission, you must meet the following requirements:
- All members of the Commission shall reside in the City of Santa Ana.
- Elected or appointed officers and employees serving the City shall not be eligible for appointment to the Commission.
- Retired peace officers or peace officers who have separated from public service shall not be eligible for appointment to the Commission unless at least five (5) years has passed from the date of their separation from the governmental entity with which they were previously employed. Only one former or retired peace officer, who is appointed first in time, may serve on the Commission at any given time. “Peace officer” as used herein shall have the same meaning and definition as set forth in California Penal Code section 830 et seq.
- Practicing attorneys who handle, or are members of firms or entities that currently handle, criminal or civil matters involving the Santa Ana Police Department are ineligible to serve on the Commission.
More information
To learn more about the Police Oversight Commission, read the ordinance.