Santa Ana PD Deems Critical Report 'Biased,' Study Group Responds
The Urban Peace Institute’s community safety assessment of SanTana caused a bit of a civic ruckus when released last month as it took city government and its police department to task. Most disturbingly, it reported a skyrocketing homicide rate in the city that rose by 62 percent over a five-year period, something that contrasted sharply with a 59 percent decline in the Santa Ana Police Department’s homicide clearance rate. Commissioned by the California Endowment, the assessment challenged city hall to stop its “business as usual” approach to public safety.
But a week after the report’s release, SanTana’s po-po is saying, “not so!” with regards to its methods and conclusions.
“UPI’s community safety assessment of Santa Ana is a failed attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the Santa Ana Police Department and the exceptional service we provide to everyone in our city,” the department’s Aug. 1 press release reads. “The assessment contains a myriad of negative inferences towards the Santa Ana Police Department. This biased narrative was obvious and appears intentional.”
The 83-page report acknowledges that attempts were made to include Santa Ana PD in the process. Their non-participation was deemed a “major gap” by UPI, but the study group nevertheless stood firmly by the research and statistics compiled. Both organizations offer differing accounts as to why teaming up for the assessment failed.
Read more: https://ocweekly.com/santa-ana-pd-deems-critical-report-biased-study-group-responds/