OC Animal Services Director Quietly Resigns Over the Holidays
Countywide
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Michale Kaviani left for a Colorado-based nonprofit, following controversy over the county shelter allegedly adopting out dogs without disclosing bite histories.
OC Supervisors Accused of Failing to Hold Sheriff’s Department Accountable
Countywide
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The Sheriff’s Department has faced controversy in recent weeks over revelations that an internal audit found hundreds of cases where deputies failed to follow policy in booking drugs, cash, photos, and videos in criminal cases by the end of their shift.
Sheriff Officials Buried Misconduct Reports, Ex-Sergeant Testified
Countywide
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And audit found that more than 60 reports alleging misconduct or crimes by sheriff officials had not been not investigated, Sgt. William West said in testimony reported by the Orange County Register.
OC Sheriff Kept Evidence Booking Crisis Secret for Almost Two Years
Public Safety
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Sheriff Don Barnes’ spokeswoman declined to say why county supervisors and the district attorney weren’t told of the scale of the issue sooner.
OC Deputy Sheriff Inmate Shackling Policy Draws Public Protests
Public Safety
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On Sunday, a host of community members came out to the Theo Lacy jail facility in Orange to support judicial restraint of a new policy by Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes to shackle inmates while they are transported to court and while they await court hearings in holding cells. Sheriff Barnes appealed the decision, arguing restraints are safer for inmates being transported to court. An appellate court decision is expected next month.
Santa Ana Pushes Back as County Approves New 425-Bed Shelter
Housing & Homelessness
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Much of the frustration centered on plans to put the shelter in a low-income city that long has hosted more shelter beds than any other Orange County city, while wealthier south county cities have refused to open a shelter.
Bacerra, Mendoza and Escamilla Have Early Leads in Santa Ana Council Results
November 2019 special election
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It’s still early; in last year’s primary election, almost half of all ballots in Orange County were not yet counted at of the end of election night.
Today is Election Day in Santa Ana for New Council, School Board Members
November 2019 special election
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Voters are deciding on a council member who will potentially impact key decisions on local issues like the ongoing homelessness crisis and complaints about slow 9-1-1 response times.
Mark Lauderback Selected As New Westminster Police Chief
News Briefs
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Westminster’s embattled Police Department has found its next permanent police chief in Mark Lauderback, a previous deputy chief who stepped in temporarily amid the abrupt retirement of former chief Ralph Ornelas and four wrongdoing lawsuits against the department this year.
OC Mental Health Jail Expansion Draws Pushback and Debate
County Government
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There was no discussion of how much money would be devoted to the plan or how many doctors or nurses would be treating inmates. Answers weren’t provided after the meeting.