Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/gerry-serrano/)
Many Orange County cities are struggling to maintain budgets that keep, or minimally cut services and employees, while trying to keep up with growing law enforcement and fire pension spending.
2017 was a year full of divided – and deeply personal – actions on the Santa Ana City Council, affecting everything from police officer discipline to who runs the city on a day to day basis.
Former Santa Ana Police Chief Carlos Rojas has filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming he was forced to resign after whistleblowing and as part of a concerted effort by the mayor and police union president to push him out.
In a legal claim he filed against the city, Carlos Rojas said he “was forced to involuntarily resign his civil service position as a result of potential illegal activity and/or noncompliance [with rules and/or regulations] among city officials.”
The new contract raises the base salary for officers and sergeants by 5.6 percent to 10.6 percent, depending on seniority and work schedule. Supporters say it’s needed to keep compensation competitive, while opponents say Santa Ana can’t afford the increase.
Santa Ana’s acting police chief was suddenly switched Tuesday for the second time in as many months. Officials said the change was completely unrelated to the possible hiring of a former CHP officer who made national headlines when video showed him repeatedly punching a woman in the face who was on the ground along the 10 freeway in Los Angeles.
Carlos Rojas is resigning and taking a job in the San Francisco Bay Area, amid public praise and criticism of his leadership from a divided City Council.
Santa Ana’s police union argues It is foolish for city council members to cut off a jail contract with ICE. Police Union Presidet Gary Serrano argues council members should do everything possible to re-engage the federal ICE contract and honor the current lawful agreement which in place.
One of the officers has been given his job back by the city’s personnel board, and the City Council is slated to decide next Tuesday whether to appeal it in Superior Court. The other two officers are also seeking to have their firings reversed.
Following the ouster of City Manager David Cavazos, expect changes in how the police department is managed, budget dollars are allocated, and the kind of leader the city will have atop its bureaucracy.