The Santa Ana Police Department has arrested at least 206 people from Aug. 15 to Sept. 15 as part of the Public Intoxication Enforcement Initiative, according to a report from the department.
The City Council, in August, directed the police department to begin detaining people who are found passed out or intoxicated in public, such as on sidewalks or in parks, and take them to the city jail where they can be connected with resources.
Of the 206 arrestees, 142 were cited and released, prompting Councilmember Phil Bacerra to question whether the department was properly enforcing the council’s direction during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.
“The report indicates that 303 contacts were made and that 206 arrests took place, so what happened to the 97 other contacts? The reason I ask that is because the program is to arrest folks so we can get them to jail and then offer them services,” Bacerra said, adding that he is also concerned about the way folks are being educated on local resources.
“Has that been successful anywhere, even before this policy? Has it been successful to just give somebody a pamphlet,” said Bacerra.
In addition to what was included in the report, Assistant Chief of Police Robert Rodriguez said an additional 486 arrests were recorded from the department’s patrol division but had not been included in their report since the data was received late Tuesday.
The department reported that upon release from jail, people are given homelessness and substance abuse materials from City Net and OC Health.
Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez said he would like to see more collaboration with organizations like Project Kinship which works with formerly incarcerated people as they are released.
Citing and releasing, Bacerra said, doesn’t accomplish what the policy is set out to do.
“In some cases, officers will make contact with individuals and they may not establish the evidence that they are publicly intoxicated or that they…
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