Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin said his officers have already begun arresting people who are publicly intoxicated after the majority of the City Council encouraged the policy last month.
Pointing to people who they have seen drunk or under the influence of drugs loitering around liquor stores and in public parks, some councilmembers said during Tuesday’s meeting that residents have been wanting to see more proactive measures taken. Councilmembers also said that public intoxication is already a misdemeanor under California law that can result in a fine, jail time or both.
The policy is not just about incarceration, councilmembers have said. The city is partnering with CalOptima Health, the provider of publicly funded health coverage in Orange County, to give detainees information on substance abuse treatment services before their release.
During the July meeting, Councilmember Phil Bacerra called for police to more actively get intoxicated people off the streets, saying the city needs to take action to address substance abuse issues in Santa Ana. A majority of counclimembers supported the idea, however, some worried such a policy would do more harm than good and negatively impact homeless people.
On Tuesday, Bacerra said he’s still seeing people passed out in front of businesses and receiving reports from residents who said they are just witnessing officers honk at or “shoo along” inebriated people in the streets.
Whether a person is arrested on the spot or given a citation to show up in court is up to the officer depending on each encounter, said Valentin.
“For me to tell you that in each instance an officer is detaining someone who is possibly intoxicated, there might be a variety of different factors as to why that didn’t happen in that one instance,” Valentin said. “Are they going to another higher-priority call? There’s context to everything.”
But his officers are detaining people when necessary, he said.
Bacerra said…
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