POLICE OFFICER HIRING Message From TheChief Of Police

2019 YEAR-END REVIEWS A N T A A N A P O L I C E D E P A R T M E N T

This 2019 Year-End Review for the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) contains information on theorganization's major accomplishments for the year. The report is a snapshot of the Department'ssignificant success. It includes staffing, recruitment, hiring, technological advances, crime rate andcommunity engagement, which are all in alignment with the Department’s Strategic Plan, and madepossible with the continued support of the City Council and City Manager.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The men and women of the Santa AnaPolice Department are proud to continuethe exceptional service we equally provideto everyone in our City.A newly revised Community OrientedPolicing Philosophy, completed withVision, Mission and Values; a five-year2019-2024 Police Department StrategicPlan; the hiring of 50 NEW Police Officers;reduction in Priority 1 emergency calls forservice response times; reduction in gang-related homicides; de-escalation training;enhanced social media imprint andgenuine, positive community engagementare just a few of the significantaccomplishments for 2019. This increase in staffing has and willdirectly continue to support the followingpriorities:

Patrol Operations (core function)Homelessness ResponseProactive Violent Crime Response(Metropolitan Division established inJanuary 2020)Vice Operations

1.2.3.

4.

These priorities are consistent with theDepartment's Strategic Plan, the CityCouncil, City Manager and our Santa Anacommunity.We look forward to 2020, as we continueto serve our Santa Ana community,focusing on our values: transparency,excellence, accountability and making adifference.

In 2019, SAPD increased its social media footprint. One of thegoals of the Department was to utilize social media as an effectivetool to interact with residents and share valuable information.SAPD uses Instagram to share unique photos and videos ofofficers and staff at community events, interacting inneighborhoods, crime information and many other occasions. TheSAPD’s Instagram account saw a significant increase with over31k followers in 2019, maintaining its distinction as the mostfollowed social media site of any law enforcement agency inOrange County. The Department’s Facebook and Twitter socialmedia accounts will continue to be used for everydaycommunications, alerts, advisories, crime prevention tips, wantedsubjects, and more.

The SAPD Human Resources(HR) Division shifted its focuson recruitment strategies withthe implementation of acomprehensive recruitmentand hiring strategic plan. TheDepartment was challengedwith recruitment and hiring 50 new police officers for the calendar year. The recruitment teamidentified target candidates, evaluated and implemented astreamlined hiring process.  In December 2019, the SAPD reachedits goal of hiring 50 new police officers, something that had notoccurred in over 20 years. The HR Division also processed andhired 36 new professional staff personnel and facilitated thepromotion of 17 employees.

DE-ESCALATIONTRAINING

Historically, the TrainingDivision functionedprimarily in ensuringofficers completed state-mandated training.In 2019, the Training Division made several technological accomplishments. The new VirTra Force OptionsSimulator was introduced. This is a state-of-the-art regional training platform. The new system uses video laserand programming to train officers on de-escalation, sensitivity and decision-making during and after aconfrontation. The simulator offers a variety of different scenarios with numerous choices of outcomes. Inaddition to helping officers make sound decisions during high-stress incidents, the simulator strengthensofficers’ communication skills in stressful situations and enhances officer articulation of the force used and why.

Chief of PoliceDAVID VALENTIN

NON-SPECIFIC

PROACTIVE RESPONSE TO CRIME

3 YEAR HOMICIDE COMPARISON

After extensive research, the Training Division discovered there was a decline inthe deployment of the TASER as a force option due to a reduction in itseffectiveness. The Training Division developed a formal proposal, which wasapproved, to upgrade the Department’s TASER inventory. The new TASER 7 ismore effective, easier to use, and it is brighter and louder, which enhances de-escalation.Other notable accomplishments from the Training Division include the completionof Advance Officer Training, transitioned from Glock 22 (40 cal) to Glock 17 (9mm), and published 126 policies/procedures/legal updates.

The Orange County Violent Gang Task Force(OCVGTF) initiated “Operation Black Rhino.” Duringthis investigation, firearms and narcotics wereseized during controlled purchases and searchwarrants. Several of the target subjects had felonyarrests or convictions for firearms offenses andother violent crimes, including attempted murderand murder. After the investigation, the OCVGTFand its task force partners conducted “OperationBlack Rhino” takedown, which includedsimultaneous enforcement operations executed at15 different locations.

2017 2018 2019

7

GANG RELATED

13 9

During the strategic planning process, one of the topcommunity concerns was addressing gang crime.  In 2019,the gang homicide rate was reduced by 44%, year to datefrom 2018-2019 and the overall homicide rate was reducedby over 36%.14 9 5

RESPONSE TIMES/HOMELESSNESS RESPONSECOMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTIn 2019, the Field Operations Bureaufocused its efforts on patrolstaffing, response times, andcommunity engagement.  ThePatrol Division’s core function is theresponse to calls for service. Underthe SAPD Strategic Plan Goal #3 ofIncreasing Operational Excellenceand Efficiency, the Patrol Divisionreduced its Priority 1 responsetimes from 8:10 minutes in Januaryto 6:32 minutes in December, adecrease of over 20%.  The annualaverage for Priority 1 response was7:46 minutes.  Patrol staffing wasincreased due to the continuedhiring success.

Staffing was also enhanced for the Homeless Evaluation AssessmentResponse (HEART) and Quality of Life (QOLT) Teams.  The HEARTprogram focuses on proactive policing and engagement with ourhomeless population through outreach and collaboration with public,private, and nonprofit entities.  Area patrol officers were once againassigned to attend Neighborhood Association Meetings, which directlysupport the Police Department’s Strategic Plan to increase communityengagement.

ANNUAL AVERAGE RESPONSE TIMES

2 0 1 9 Y E A R - E N D R E V I E W SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENTPAGE 2

C H I E F O F P O L I C E D A V I D V A L E N T I N

(TASER 7)

(Corporal Velasquez with residents from The Link Shelter)