Tag / SAPOA

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Santa Ana debe dejar de ignorar a los terroristas cazarrecompensas que se hacen pasar por agentes de ICE.

Foto: The OC Reporter / Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana

A estas alturas ya no es un rumor; es un hecho documentado.

Hombres con placas falsas que se hacen pasar por funcionarios federales están aterrorizando hogares, asustando a jóvenes y destrozando familias en las calles de Santa Ana. No son agentes de ICE. Son cazarrecompensas independientes o contratistas que carecen de autoridad legal, constitucional y de derecho a estar en nuestras calles. Sin embargo, se aprovechan de nuestra ansiedad, desconcierto y del silencio de quienes juraron defendernos, actuando con total impunidad.

Estas personas no son agentes del orden. Son delincuentes. Suplantar la identidad de un agente federal es un delito grave tanto en California como a nivel federal. La entrada ilegal en propiedad ajena se define como el ingreso a una residencia sin permiso ni orden judicial. Utilizar amenazas de deportación para obtener favores o dinero de los residentes locales constituye coacción, y posiblemente secuestro. Además, según el artículo 837 del Código Penal de California, toda persona tiene el derecho —y la obligación— de realizar un arresto ciudadano al presenciar la comisión de tales delitos.

Entonces, ¿cuál es la razón de Santa Ana? ¿La policía se niega a actuar? No es por miedo al ICE. El problema no radica en la falta de conocimiento de la jurisdicción, sino en la negligencia. Es complicidad por inacción.

Foto de: The OC Reporter/ Impostores de ICE vistos en la 1.ª y Grand Ave.

A pesar de que el Ayuntamiento creó correctamente el fondo Ayuda Sin Fronteras, presentó solicitudes de acceso a la información pública, se sumó a demandas federales y recibió 50.000 dólares de apoyo de Sahuayo, México, nuestra policía sigue sin hacer nada mientras estos delincuentes andan sueltos. No están sobrecargados de trabajo ni confundidos. Simplemente deciden no aplicar la ley. Esto no es una discrepancia política. No es un debate sobre inmigración. Se trata de justicia fundamental.

Una madre no vive en una ciudad santuario si un hombre con una chaqueta negra llama a su puerta diciendo ser agente federal y ella se esconde en su cocina mientras la policía no hace nada cuando llama al 911. Está bajo asedio.

El alcalde Amezcua y el Ayuntamiento se han expresado extensamente sobre dignidad, justicia y derechos civiles. Ahora deben exigir que se tomen medidas. El Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana debe:

  • Utilice las leyes vigentes sobre arresto ciudadano y las leyes estatales contra la suplantación de identidad para capacitar de inmediato a los agentes en el reconocimiento y la detención de impostores que se hacen pasar por cazarrecompensas.
  • Identificar y denunciar públicamente a estos individuos como delincuentes, en lugar de como “socios en la aplicación de la ley”.
  • Establecer un equipo de respuesta rápida para investigar y registrar cada incidente reportado, y luego poner esta información a disposición del público en general.
  • Para procesar a los delincuentes reincidentes por cargos federales, trabaje con el FBI y el Departamento de Justicia.
  • Difundir imágenes, descripciones de vehículos y métodos conocidos a través de alertas comunitarias para informar a las familias sobre a quién temer y a quién detener.
Foto de: The OC Reporter/ Impostores de ICE vistos en Ross y Santa Ana Blvd.

El liderazgo moral de la ciudad no vale nada si su fuerza policial no defiende a sus ciudadanos de los criminales que se esconden tras la fachada del gobierno federal.

El aumento de $100,000 a Ayuda Sin Fronteras es algo que aplaudimos. Sin embargo, la tranquilidad de un niño que duerme sin ansiedad no se puede reemplazar con ninguna ayuda económica. El trauma de una intrusión domiciliaria por parte de un individuo con una placa falsa no se puede reparar con ninguna acción legal.

Gracias a Santa Ana, el mundo ha visto lo que es la valentía. Ahora debe demostrar lo que es la justicia mediante arrestos, no mediante comunicados de prensa.

Los cazarrecompensas no son agentes de inmigración, son delincuentes. Violan la ley. Además, nuestra policía debería empezar a tratarlos como tales.

— Los habitantes de Santa Ana merecen más que compasión. Merecen protección.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Santa Ana Needs to Stop Ignoring Bounty Hunter Terrorists Impersonating ICE.

Photo by: The OC Reporter / Santa Ana Police Department

It’s no longer a rumor; it’s a documented fact.

Men wearing fake badges and claiming to be federal officials are terrorizing homes, scaring youngsters, and destroying families in the streets of Santa Ana. They are not ICE officers. They are independent bounty hunters, or contractors, who have no legal authority, constitutional authority, or right to be on our streets. They nevertheless take advantage of our anxiety, bewilderment, and the silence of the people sworn to defend us while acting with impunity.

These are not “enforcers.” They are criminals. Impersonating a federal officer is a felony under both California and federal law. Trespassing is defined as entering a residence without permission or a warrant. Using deportation threats to get compliance or money from locals is coercion, and maybe kidnapping. Additionally, according to California Penal Code § 837, every person has the right—and the obligation—to conduct a citizen’s arrest when witnessing such offenses being committed.

Therefore, what is the reason for Santa Ana? The police are unwilling to take action? Not fear of ICE. The problem is not a lack of understanding regarding jurisdiction. It is negligence. It’s complicity by inaction.

Photo by: The OC Reporter/ ICE Impostors seen on 1st and Grand Ave.

Despite the fact that the City Council has correctly created the Ayuda Sin Fronteras fund, submitted FOIA requests, joined federal lawsuits, and received $50,000 in support from Sahuayo, Mexico, our police force is still doing nothing while these criminals are allowed to go free. They aren’t “overworked,” nor are they “confused.” They are making the decision to refrain from enforcing the law. This isn’t a disagreement on policy. This is not a discussion about immigration. This is about fundamental justice.

A mother is not living under a sanctuary city if a man in a black jacket knocks on her door claiming to be federal and she hides in her kitchen while the police do nothing when she calls 911. She’s under siege.

Mayor Amezcua and the City Council have spoken at length about dignity, fairness, and civil rights. They must now insist on action. The Santa Ana Police Department must:

  • Utilize current citizen’s arrest laws and state laws against impersonation to immediately train officers to recognize and apprehend bounty hunter imposters.
  • Publicly identify and denounce these individuals as criminals rather than “enforcement partners.”
  • Establish a quick response team to look into and record each reported event, and then make this information available to the general public.
  • In order to prosecute repeat offenders on federal charges, work with the FBI and DOJ.
  • Disseminate images, vehicle descriptions, and known methods through community alerts to inform families about who to be afraid of and who to apprehend.
Photo by: The OC Reporter/ ICE Impostors seen on Ross and Santa Ana Blvd.

The city’s moral leadership is worthless if its police force won’t defend its citizens from the criminals hiding behind the guise of the federal government.

The $100,000 increase to Ayuda Sin Fronteras is something we applaud. However, a child sleeping without anxiety cannot be replaced by any financial support. The trauma of a house invasion by a guy using a phony badge cannot be undone by any legal action.

The world has seen what bravery looks like, thanks to Santa Ana. It must now demonstrate what justice looks like via arrests, not via press releases.

The bounty hunters are not ICE, they are criminals. They break the law. Additionally, our cops should start treating them like one.

— The People of Santa Ana deserve more than sympathy. They deserve protection.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: El intento de la Asociación de Oficiales de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPOA) de silenciar la rendición de cuentas debe ser rechazado

Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana, foto de The Orange County Reporter

En una inquietante escalada de esfuerzos para suprimir el escrutinio público, la Asociación de Oficiales de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPOA) habría emitido una carta de cese y desistimiento a Ben Camacho, periodista de investigación local, en un aparente intento de silenciar la información sobre dos incidentes profundamente preocupantes que involucraron a oficiales de policía de Santa Ana. Esta medida no solo constituye una afrenta a la libertad de prensa, sino un duro recordatorio de la resistencia sistémica a la rendición de cuentas que sigue plagando a las instituciones policiales en todo el país, especialmente en casos de pérdida de vidas y violación de derechos constitucionales.

En el centro de esta controversia se encuentra el asesinato a tiros de Noé Rodríguez a manos de los agentes de policía de Santa Ana Luis Casillas #3755 e Isaac Ibarra #3178, un incidente que sigue bajo investigación del Departamento de Justicia de California. A pesar de la gravedad de la situación —Rodríguez falleció, su familia se prepara para presentar una demanda por homicidio culposo y los agentes involucrados permanecen en servicio activo sin medidas disciplinarias públicas—, ha habido un silencio ensordecedor por parte de los líderes de la ciudad, incluida la alcaldesa Valerie Amezcua. Ese silencio, ahora acompañado de las amenazas legales de SAPOA contra un periodista, huele a complicidad y proteccionismo institucional.

El uso de una carta de cese y desistimiento para intimidar a un periodista que realiza su trabajo —investigar e informar al público sobre asuntos de profundo interés público— sienta un precedente peligroso. Transmite un mensaje alarmante: informar sobre la violencia policial puede conllevar represalias legales. Así no funciona la democracia. Una prensa libre no es enemiga de las fuerzas del orden; es un freno necesario al poder, especialmente cuando este resulta en muerte y trauma para las comunidades marginadas.

Sede de la Asociación de Oficiales de Policía de Santa Ana en Santa Ana.

El caso de Rodríguez por sí solo justifica la máxima transparencia. Un hombre ha muerto. Los agentes que le dispararon siguen en sus puestos. La comunidad debe responder sobre las circunstancias del tiroteo, el uso de la fuerza, el proceso de revisión interna y por qué no se han tomado medidas administrativas. En cambio, el público se enfrenta al silencio de los funcionarios municipales y a amenazas legales del sindicato policial. Esto no es rendición de cuentas. Es obstrucción.

Y el comportamiento preocupante no termina ahí.

Otro agente de Santa Ana, Nickolas Cavendish #3664, está bajo escrutinio por otro incidente ocurrido en diciembre de 2023, durante una parada de tráfico en la que participaron dos civiles desarmados. Las declaraciones transcritas de las grabaciones de la cámara corporal revelan una terrible agresión verbal en la que el agente Cavendish supuestamente amenazó con “reventarles la cabeza”, colocar su cámara corporal en su coche, inventar una amenaza alegando que el conductor le había agarrado el cinturón y luego asesinarlo.

Estas no son las palabras de un agente de paz profesional. Son las palabras de alguien que se cree por encima de la ley. Tales amenazas, de comprobarse, constituyen no solo una falta grave, sino también una posible intimidación criminal. Sin embargo, el agente Cavendish sigue en servicio. Ni el Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana ni el Ayuntamiento han hecho ninguna declaración pública sobre medidas disciplinarias. No hay transparencia. No hay rendición de cuentas.

Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana

La decisión de SAPOA de enviar una carta de cese y desistimiento a Ben Camacho, en lugar de abordar el fondo de estas acusaciones, revela sus verdaderas prioridades: proteger a los agentes del escrutinio, no al público. Los sindicatos tienen un papel en la defensa de los derechos de los trabajadores, pero no deben convertirse en escudos para la mala conducta ni en herramientas para intimidar a los organismos de control.

Los habitsntes de Santa Ana merecen algo mejor.

Merecen un departamento de policía que preste servicio con integridad, transparencia y respeto por los derechos constitucionales. Merecen líderes municipales, especialmente el alcalde Amezcua, que alcen la voz cuando se pierden vidas a manos de quienes juraron protegerlos. Y merecen un entorno mediático donde los periodistas puedan informar sobre las acciones del gobierno sin temor a represalias legales por parte de poderosos sindicatos policiales.

Ben Camacho no debe ceder. El público no debe mirar hacia otro lado.

La investigación del Departamento de Justicia de California sobre el asesinato de Noe Rodríguez debe continuar sin interferencias. La ciudad debe iniciar una investigación independiente tanto del tiroteo como de las amenazas del agente Cavendish. Y SAPOA debe comprender que, en una sociedad democrática, decir la verdad no es difamación, sino un deber.

Los intentos de silenciar a los periodistas, encubrir faltas de conducta y proteger a los agentes de la rendición de cuentas solo profundizan la crisis de confianza entre las fuerzas del orden y las comunidades a las que sirven. Santa Ana se encuentra en una encrucijada. ¿Optará por la transparencia y la justicia, o por el silencio y la autopreservación?

La respuesta definirá no sólo el futuro de su departamento de policía, sino el alma de la ciudad misma.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: The Santa Ana Police Officers Association’s (SAPOA), Attempt to Silence Accountability Must Be Rejected

Santa Ana Police Department, Photo by The Orange County Reporter

In a disturbing escalation of efforts to suppress public scrutiny, the Santa Ana Police Officers Association (SAPOA) has reportedly issued a cease and desist letter to Ben Camacho, a local investigative journalist, in an apparent attempt to silence reporting on two deeply troubling incidents involving Santa Ana police officers. This move is not only an affront to press freedom but a stark reminder of the systemic resistance to accountability that continues to plague law enforcement institutions across the country—especially in cases where lives have been lost and constitutional rights violated.

At the heart of this controversy is the fatal shooting of Noe Rodriguez by Santa Ana Police Officers Luis Casillas #3755 and Isaac Ibarra #3178 —an incident that remains under investigation by the California Department of Justice. Despite the gravity of the situation—Rodriguez is dead, his family is preparing to file a wrongful death lawsuit, and the officers involved remain on active duty with no public disciplinary action—there has been a deafening silence from city leadership, including Mayor Valerie Amezcua. That silence, now accompanied by SAPOA’s legal threats against a journalist, reeks of complicity and institutional protectionism.

The use of a cease and desist letter to intimidate a reporter doing his job—investigating and informing the public about matters of profound public interest—is a dangerous precedent. It sends a chilling message: that reporting about police violence may come with legal retaliation. This is not how democracy functions. A free press is not the enemy of law enforcement; it is a necessary check on power, especially when that power results in death and trauma for marginalized communities.

Santa Ana Police Officers Association headquarters in Santa Ana.

The Rodriguez case alone warrants the highest level of transparency. A man is dead. The officers who shot him remain on the job. The community is owed answers—about the circumstances of the shooting, the use of force, the internal review process, and why no administrative action has been taken. Instead, the public is met with silence from city officials and legal threats from the police union. This is not accountability. This is obstruction.

And the troubling behavior does not end there.

Another Santa Ana officer, Nickolas Cavendish #3664, is under scrutiny for a separate incident in December 2023, during a traffic stop involving two unarmed civilians. Transcribed statements from the body camera footage reveal a harrowing verbal assault in which Officer Cavendish allegedly threatened to “bash your fucking brains in,” plant his body cam in his car, fabricate a threat by claiming the driver reached for his waistband, and then murder him.

These are not the words of a professional peace officer. They are the words of someone who believes they are above the law. Such threats, if proven, constitute not only gross misconduct but potential criminal intimidation. Yet, Officer Cavendish remains on duty. There has been no public statement from the Santa Ana Police Department or the City Council about disciplinary measures. No transparency. No accountability.

Santa Ana Police Department

SAPOA’s decision to target Ben Camacho with a cease and desist letter—rather than addressing the substance of these allegations—reveals its true priorities: protecting officers from scrutiny, not protecting the public. Unions have a role in defending workers’ rights, but they must not become shields for misconduct or tools to intimidate watchdogs.

The people of Santa Ana deserve better.

They deserve a police department that serves with integrity, transparency, and respect for constitutional rights. They deserve city leaders—especially Mayor Amezcua—who speak up when lives are lost at the hands of those sworn to protect them. And they deserve a media environment where journalists can report on government actions without fear of legal retribution from powerful police unions.

They deserve a police department that serves with integrity, transparency, and respect for constitutional rights. They deserve city leaders—especially Mayor Amezcua—who speak up when lives are lost at the hands of those sworn to protect them. And they deserve a media environment where journalists can report on government actions without fear of legal retribution from powerful police unions.

Ben Camacho should not back down. The public must not look away.

The California DOJ investigation into Noe Rodriguez’s killing must be allowed to proceed without interference. The city must launch an independent review of both the shooting and the threats made by Officer Cavendish. And SAPOA must understand that in a democratic society, truth-telling is not defamation—it is duty.

Attempts to silence reporters, cover up misconduct, and protect officers from accountability only deepen the crisis of trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Santa Ana stands at a crossroads. Will it choose transparency and justice—or silence and self-preservation?

The answer will define not just the future of its police department, but the soul of the city itself.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: A Community at Risk — The Alarming Lack of Accountability in Santa Ana Police Department

Santa Ana Police Department

In a city where public safety should be the top priority, a recent troubling encounter has raised serious concerns about the accountability and oversight within the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD). What began as a citizen’s attempt to report a dangerous police practice has turned into a disturbing realization: SAPD officers are patrolling the streets without proper supervision or accountability.

The issue at hand involves the reckless use of patrol vehicle spotlights, which have been repeatedly shined directly into the eyes of oncoming drivers. This dangerous practice poses a serious risk of temporary blindness, potentially leading to life-threatening accidents. One such incident involving SAPD Patrol Unit #838 was captured on video, clearly documenting the reckless use of the spotlight. The unit was followed by a concerned citizen until it sped away, evading any attempt at engagement.

What is most alarming, however, is not just the spotlight misuse — it’s the confirmation by a Night Supervisor Corporal Martinez #3349 that these officers were out on patrol and unaccounted for at the station. When the concerned citizen reported the incident and provided the unit number, the supervisor admitted that the officers were not logged in or being monitored by the watch commander or supervisor on duty.

This is not just a procedural oversight — it is a systemic failure.

Santa Ana Police Department Patrol Unit in Question. Unaccounted for and unknown patrol police agents.

A Breakdown in Command Structure

The foundation of effective law enforcement is a clear chain of command and real-time supervision. Officers must be tracked, monitored, and held accountable for their actions while on patrol. The fact that SAPD supervisors were unaware of the whereabouts of active patrol units suggests a breakdown in basic oversight mechanisms.

When officers operate without supervision, the potential for abuse, misconduct, and negligence increases dramatically. In this case, we’re talking about practices that endanger public safety — blinding drivers, creating hazardous road conditions, and evading accountability.

A Threat to Public Trust

This incident also erodes the trust between the community and the police. Citizens who step forward to report concerns deserve to be heard and assured that their safety is a priority. Instead, this individual was met with an unsettling reality — that the system designed to protect them may, in fact, be operating without sufficient controls.

Santa Ana residents deserve better. We deserve to know that every officer patrolling our streets is under the supervision of a command structure that ensures both public safety and officer accountabilitpy.

Santa Ana Police Department Patrol Unit that’s Unaccounted for, Supervisor doesn’t know who’s driving it. Also shining spotlight on oncoming drivers.

What Needs to Happen Now

  1. Immediate Investigation: SAPD leadership must launch a full investigation into the use of spotlights and the circumstances surrounding Patrol Unit #838. The video evidence must be reviewed, and the involved officers should be identified and questioned.
  2. Transparency: The department must be transparent about how patrol units are dispatched, tracked, and supervised. If there are gaps in protocol, they must be acknowledged and corrected immediately.
  3. Policy Review: A review of current SAPD policies regarding spotlight use and field supervision is urgently needed. Clear guidelines must be established and enforced.
  4. Community Oversight: The City Council and civilian oversight board should step in to ensure that this is not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern that has gone unnoticed or unaddressed.

Conclusion

The safety of our community cannot be left to chance. When police officers are unaccounted for and engaging in reckless behavior, it is not just a failure of individual officers — it is a failure of leadership. The people of Santa Ana deserve a police department that protects and serves with integrity, transparency, and accountability.

It’s time for SAPD to answer for the breakdown in oversight and take immediate steps to restore public trust before a preventable tragedy occurs.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Crisis de liderazgo de la alcaldesa de Santa Ana, Valerie Amezcua, y complicidad del Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana y los imitadores de ICE (cazadores de recompensas).

Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana

Las calles de Santa Ana se han convertido en un campo de batalla por los derechos humanos fundamentales, donde los residentes viven con miedo, no de los delincuentes, sino de los cazarrecompensas armados que operan con alarmante impunidad. El silencio de la alcaldesa Valerie Amezcua y la complicidad del Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPD) al permitir estos secuestros violentos no solo es preocupante, sino también inaceptable.

El martes 1 de julio de 2025, surgieron múltiples informes de secuestros descarados llevados a cabo por cazarrecompensas en Main St., Warner Ave. y Edinger Ave. Los testigos describieron escenas que serían más propias de una zona de guerra que de una ciudad de EE. UU.: individuos armados agarrando a la gente en la calle, apuntando rifles de asalto, incluidas armas tipo AK-47, a civiles aterrorizados y desapareciendo con sus víctimas mientras las fuerzas del orden se quedaban de brazos cruzados sin hacer nada.

Reflexionen sobre esto: la policía no respondió. A plena luz del día, frente a agentes del Departamento de Policía de San Diego (SAPD), cazarrecompensas —agentes privados sin autoridad legal— cometieron secuestros e intimidación. Esto no es justicia. Esto no es seguridad. Es una abdicación del deber por parte de quienes juraron proteger al público.

La alcaldesa Valerie Amezcua no ha hecho declaraciones públicas, ni ha dado conferencias de prensa, ni ha reconocido la creciente crisis. ¿Dónde está su voz? ¿Dónde está su liderazgo? Si la alcaldesa no puede, o no quiere, defender la seguridad y la dignidad de los residentes de Santa Ana, no tiene derecho a dirigir esta ciudad.

Los cazarrecompensas no son agentes del orden. No operan bajo los mismos estándares de supervisión, entrenamiento ni rendición de cuentas. Sin embargo, aquí en Santa Ana, actúan como si llevaran placas: amenazan, detienen e incluso secuestran a personas sin consecuencias. Y el Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPD), en lugar de intervenir para detener estos delitos, parece estar protegiéndolos.

Esto plantea serias preguntas: ¿Qué tipo de relación existe entre el SAPD y estos cazarrecompensas? ¿Estamos presenciando una colusión? ¿Existe un acuerdo informal que permite a actores corruptos imponer su propia justicia mientras se ignora la verdadera?

Los residentes de Santa Ana merecen algo mejor. Merecen un alcalde que los proteja, no que los ponga en riesgo. Merecen un departamento de policía que sirva y proteja, no que permita la violencia y las desapariciones.

Si la alcaldesa Amezcua sigue guardando silencio mientras los cazarrecompensas aterrorizan nuestros barrios, entonces sí, debería ser destituida. Su inacción no es neutral; es peligrosa. Envía el mensaje de que algunas vidas no importan, que la violencia es tolerable y que la rendición de cuentas es opcional.

Y al SAPD: su juramento fue proteger al pueblo. Al cruzarse de brazos y permitir que hombres armados secuestraran ciudadanos en la calle, rompieron ese juramento.

Exigimos al alcalde Amezcua que se dirija de inmediato al público, emita una postura clara contra estos secuestros ilegales y exija transparencia al Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPD). Exigimos una investigación independiente sobre los sucesos del 1 de julio y el patrón general de actividad de cazarrecompensas en nuestra ciudad.

Ya basta. Los residentes de Santa Ana no deberían vivir con el temor de ser secuestrados por desconocidos armados mientras nuestros líderes hacen la vista gorda. Si no exigimos responsabilidades a nuestros funcionarios ahora, corremos el riesgo de perder la poca confianza que queda en nuestras instituciones y de poner vidas en mayor riesgo.

Es hora de actuar. Es hora de hacer justicia. Es hora de proteger a Santa Ana.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: A Crisis of Leadership of Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua and Complicity of The Santa Ana Police Department and The ICE Impersonators (Bounty Hunters).

Santa Ana Police Department

The streets of Santa Ana have become a battleground for basic human rights, where residents live in fear—not from criminals, but from armed bounty hunters operating with alarming impunity. The silence from Mayor Valerie Amezcua and the complicity of the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) in allowing these violent kidnappings to occur is not just troubling—it is unacceptable.

On Tuesday, July 1st, 2025, multiple reports emerged of brazen kidnappings carried out by bounty hunters on Main St., Warner Ave., and Edinger Ave. Witnesses described scenes that would be more fitting for a war zone than a U.S. city: armed individuals grabbing people off the street, pointing assault rifles—including AK-47-style weapons—at terrified civilians, and disappearing with their victims while law enforcement stood by and did nothing.

Let that sink in: the police did not respond. In broad daylight, in front of SAPD officers, bounty hunters—private actors with no legal authority—committed acts of kidnapping and intimidation. This is not justice. This is not safety. This is an abdication of duty by those sworn to protect the public.

Mayor Valerie Amezcua has offered no public statement, no press conference, no acknowledgment of this escalating crisis. Where is her voice? Where is her leadership? If the mayor cannot—or will not—stand up for the safety and dignity of Santa Ana’s residents, she has no business leading this city.

Bounty hunters are not law enforcement. They do not operate under the same oversight, training, or accountability standards. Yet here in Santa Ana, they act as if they wear badges—threatening, detaining, and even kidnapping individuals without consequence. And the SAPD, rather than intervening to stop these crimes, appears to be shielding them.

This raises serious questions: What kind of relationship exists between the SAPD and these bounty hunters? Are we witnessing collusion? Is there an informal agreement allowing rogue actors to enforce their own brand of “justice” while real justice is ignored?

Santa Ana residents deserve better. They deserve a mayor who protects them, not puts them at risk. They deserve a police department that serves and protects—not enables violence and disappearances.

If Mayor Amezcua continues to remain silent while bounty hunters terrorize our neighborhoods, then yes—she should be recalled. Her inaction is not neutral; it is dangerous. It sends a message that some lives don’t matter, that violence is tolerable, and that accountability is optional.

And to the SAPD: your oath was to protect the people. When you stood by and allowed armed men to kidnap citizens in the street, you broke that oath.

We call on Mayor Amezcua to immediately address the public, issue a clear stance against these unlawful kidnappings, and demand transparency from the SAPD. We call for an independent investigation into the events of July 1st and the broader pattern of bounty hunters activity in our city.

Enough is enough. Santa Ana residents should not live in fear of being kidnapped by armed strangers while our leaders look the other way. If we do not hold our officials accountable now, we risk losing what little trust remains in our institutions—and putting lives at even greater risk.

It’s time for action. It’s time for justice. It’s time to protect Santa Ana.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: A Call for Accountability — Why Hasn’t Mayor Valerie Amezcua Taken Action Against Unverified “Federal Agents” Operating in Santa Ana?

Santa Ana Police Department
Failing to Protect The Residents of Santa Ana.

The people of Santa Ana deserve transparency, protection, and due process under the law. Yet, disturbing reports continue to surface regarding unidentified individuals—often masked and claiming to be federal agents—who are allegedly involved in unlawful detentions and even kidnappings in public view. These actions, reportedly occurring in the presence of Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) officers who fail to intervene or verify the identities of these individuals, raise urgent questions about both legal responsibility and public safety.

Under California’s Penal Code 832, peace officers are required to act with due diligence in the performance of their duties. When SAPD officers witness what appears to be illegal acts—including kidnapping—and do not intervene or attempt to identify those responsible, they may indeed be complicit under the law. By failing to verify credentials, request identification, or at least investigate such incidents, SAPD officers risk becoming accessories to crimes committed in their presence.

Furthermore, every sworn law enforcement officer has taken an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution and protect citizens from unlawful government intrusion. When officers stand by as individuals—whether legitimate federal agents or not—engage in warrantless detentions or abductions, they are violating the very principles they swore to defend.

Mayor Valerie Amezcua, as the head of the city’s executive branch and a representative of the people, must address this alarming situation immediately. The City Council and local oversight bodies also have a duty to ensure that SAPD is fulfilling its mandate to serve and protect all residents of Santa Ana—not turning a blind eye to potential criminal activity, no matter the alleged affiliation of the perpetrators.

We call on Mayor Amezcua and SAPD leadership to:

  1. Issue clear directives for officers to verify the identity and agency affiliation of any individual claiming to be a federal agent before allowing them to conduct operations within the city.
  2. Investigate all reported incidents involving unverified individuals engaging in detentions or arrests.
  3. Provide transparency to the public regarding any coordination or communication with federal agencies operating locally.
  4. Hold accountable any officers who fail to perform their sworn duty to protect citizens from unlawful harm or coercion.

The Constitution does not permit selective enforcement of the law. If our local law enforcement will not uphold it—especially when others abuse their perceived authority—they become part of the problem rather than the solution.

Santa Ana deserves better. Our community deserves safety, clarity, and justice—not silence or complicity.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Justice or Injustice? The Santa Ana Police Brutality Incident Raises Serious Concerns

Santa Ana Police Department Agents
Photo by: The Orange County Reporter, Santa Ana Police Department in Controversy for Police Brutality Once Again.

In a scene that has now gone viral, the streets of Santa Ana turned into a battleground between law enforcement and concerned citizens — and the troubling footage raises serious questions about police conduct, accountability, and the misuse of power.

What began as an encounter with a visibly intoxicated man quickly escalated into chaos when Santa Ana police agents were captured on video using excessive force against the individual. The footage shows one agent pushing a woman to the ground and the same police agent is seeing again repeatedly striking the male victim with a baton. Witnesses, including several bystanders who attempted to de-escalate the situation or defend the vulnerable, were met with arrests rather than appreciation.

Video by: Bystander. Shows Santa Ana Police Department Agents Clearly Misuse Of Power Assaulting a Man on the Ground and Bystanders being assaulted trying to prevent the Assault on the Man.

The most disturbing aspect of this case is the reversal of roles being played by authorities. Instead of investigating potential misconduct by their own agents, the Santa Ana Police Department appears to be doubling down, backing claims that the officers were “assaulted” by civilians. And shockingly, District Attorney Spitzer has charged those who tried to intervene — the so-called “good Samaritans” — with crimes, while the agents involved remain on active duty without public disciplinary action.

This sends a dangerous message: that protecting the public from police abuse may itself be criminalized. Where is the justice for the man beaten on the pavement? Where is the protection for the woman shoved to the ground? And where is the outrage over the apparent shielding of law enforcement at the expense of truth and fairness?

Communities deserve to feel safe — not just from crime, but from the very people sworn to protect them. When police brutality occurs and the response is to silence witnesses and criminalize concern, it erodes trust in every level of the justice system.

We call on local officials, civil rights organizations, and the community at large to demand a full and transparent investigation into this incident. The agents involved must be held accountable if the evidence supports it, and the charges against the bystanders should be dropped unless there is clear proof of wrongdoing beyond intervening in what appeared to be a violent and unprovoked attack.

This is not about choosing sides — it’s about upholding justice. If we allow police violence to be justified under the guise of authority, then no one is safe. It’s time for real reform, real oversight, and real consequences.

Enough is enough. The badge should never be a shield for brutality.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: El silencio de la alcaldesa de Santa Ana, Valerie Amezcua, ante el peligro — ¿Dónde está el liderazgo en Santa Ana?

El hombre no identificado afirma ser agente de ICE, pero no tiene una placa identificable. Apunta con un arma a personas desarmadas que grababan el arresto de un inmigrante en Santa Ana, California.

Ha surgido un video inquietante que muestra a hombres armados no identificados, que dicen ser agentes de ICE, apuntando con un arma a una persona que documentaba sus acciones durante lo que parecía ser un arresto migratorio en Santa Ana. Esto no es solo una violación de las libertades civiles, sino una peligrosa escalada que pone vidas en riesgo y erosiona la confianza pública en las fuerzas del orden.

Santa Ana California, ¿Dónde está el Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana?

Las imágenes plantean preguntas urgentes: ¿Quiénes son estos individuos? ¿Por qué se les permitió operar sin una identificación clara ni supervisión? Y, quizás lo más importante, ¿dónde estaban las autoridades locales?

En una ciudad donde la seguridad y los derechos de todos los residentes deben ser primordiales, la ausencia de una respuesta rápida y contundente por parte de los líderes locales es alarmante. La alcaldesa Valerie Amezcua y otros funcionarios municipales han guardado silencio en gran medida tras este incidente, a pesar de las graves implicaciones para la seguridad y la rendición de cuentas de la comunidad. El Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana, que desde hace tiempo se ha posicionado como un defensor de la confianza pública, debe responder por qué ningún agente intervino o siquiera respondió a lo que podría haber sido un enfrentamiento mortal.

La individual grabando video podría haber sido asesinada, ¿por qué Amezcua no se involucra en esta descarada demostración de poder que pone en riesgo a los residentes de Santa Ana?

Cuando individuos armados, ya sean agentes federales o no, operan en nuestros barrios con poca transparencia o supervisión, el potencial de violencia aumenta exponencialmente. Esto es especialmente cierto cuando estos individuos parecen actuar con impunidad, intimidando a civiles que simplemente intentan observar y documentar actividades legales (o ilegales). Esto no solo es imprudente, sino que constituye una amenaza para la democracia.

Si bien el ICE tiene el mandato de hacer cumplir las leyes federales de inmigración, dicha autoridad debe ejercerse dentro de los límites legales y éticos. No hay justificación para blandir un arma de fuego contra alguien que ejerce su derecho a grabar a funcionarios públicos en espacios públicos. Si efectivamente se trataba de agentes del ICE, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional debe iniciar una investigación inmediata. De no ser así, ¿quiénes eran exactamente? ¿Y cómo operaban tan abiertamente en una importante ciudad estadounidense?

¿Milicia en Santa Ana California, afirmando ser ICE?

Los políticos locales como el alcalde Amezcua no pueden permitirse el silencio. Sus electores merecen más que clichés: merecen protección. Los líderes deben exigir claridad a las agencias federales, garantizar la coordinación entre las fuerzas del orden locales y federales y, sobre todo, reafirmar su compromiso con la seguridad de todos los residentes, independientemente de su estatus migratorio.

No se trata de partidismo. Se trata de la dignidad humana fundamental y la seguridad pública. Alguien pudo haber muerto ese día. El hecho de que no lo hayan hecho no es motivo de alivio; es una advertencia. No podemos permitir que nuestras calles se conviertan en campos de batalla donde figuras armadas no identificadas ejerzan un poder sin control.

Santa Ana se enorgullece de ser una comunidad diversa, vibrante e inclusiva. Esa identidad no significa nada si no nos movilizamos para proteger a los más vulnerables. Nuestros líderes deben alzar la voz, actuar y exigir responsabilidades a los responsables, antes de que ocurra una tragedia.

Basta de silencio. Basta de excusas. Es hora de un verdadero liderazgo.