Three weeks into her new mayoral job, Valerie Amezcua received a death threat.
Worried for her safety, the new Santa Ana mayor hired private security to do a threat assessment and accompany her at home, City Hall and events for about two weeks.
Meanwhile, Councilmember Johnathan Ryan Hernandez said he’s also been the target of threatening behavior, ranging from a local blog asking how he should die to police officers allegedly parking their patrol cars outside his home.
On Tuesday, the City Council agreed to pay Amezcua’s security tab, up to $1,500, and set up a process that could allow councilmembers to be compensated for such bills in the future.
“Being in (the) office these days is not for the faint of heart, and it comes with the good and the bad,” Amezcua said.
Amezcua, a retired Orange County probation supervisor, said she doesn’t feel safe.
“I would like to feel safe and secure as the mayor of Santa Ana, but that’s not possible with the current situation,” she said. “Hopefully, this will be the last death threat I receive.”
Amezcua was in her City Hall office on Jan. 3 when a death threat against her was phoned into the city manager’s office. Amezcua said she wasn’t immediately notified but was told of the call 24 hours later.
“My husband was furious,” Amezcua said in an interview.
“He said, ‘You were in the office. Why didn’t they share it with you? You walked to the car by yourself,’” she said.
“The chief didn’t call and say, ‘We can send an undercover officer and go with you until the threat is contained,’” she continued.
Instead, Amezcua hired a private firm that for three days involved security guards checking her home, the council chamber, parking areas and event locations, before and after her arrival. For about two weeks, a security guard stayed in front of her house or accompanied her every day, taking 12-hour shifts, she said. No one has been arrested, as of Friday, for phoning in that…
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