Vern here. Ray Charles was able to see the problems with allowing a guy like Gerry Serrano to represent the police force in Orange County’s second largest city. So were Santa Ana police business liaison Manuel Delgadillo, Supervisor and former Mayor Vicente Sarmiento, as well as Stevie Wonder. Andrea Bocelli and Jose Feliciano. Here are some of their statements on Santa Ana’s letting this police union chief go, starting with Officer Delgadillo:
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There is a great sense of relief at the police department and at the Santa Ana Police Department since our SAPOA President was finally put out to pasture.
I have even received numerous thanks for my supposed “involvement” in being outspoken. My only involvement was to bring to light what was currently happening through the newspapers articles, donations, social media postings and public records.
I had gotten to a point of total embarrassment and disgust witnessing the actions coming out of our once proud association. I will retire sometime next year but as an outgoing senior officer our duty is to try and leave one’s place of employment better off than when we were hired.
My hat goes off to Orange County Supervisor Vincente Sarmiento, who put it best in his statement on the separation of the Santa Ana Police Officer Association President:
“I want to thank the City Manager of Santa Ana for closing a very dark chapter in the City’s history. The reign of intimidation, undue influence, and abuse of power appear to finally be ending with the imminent departure of the SAPOA president. The toxic presence of the SAPOA head will no longer affect our communities.
“Unfortunately, over the past eight years, I’ve personally witnessed city staff time, funds and morale wasted to appease the capricious demands of one person. This included demands to spike his pension, remove the former and current police chiefs, file multiple baseless legal claims, use police membership funds to elect enablers, and thwart the will of the people by using recalls to unseat courageous councilmembers that opposed this blatant corruption.
“My hope is that our community can begin to heal and restore the trust that was profoundly harmed between law enforcement and residents. Finally we must vow to remain vigilant and stop anyone that would threaten to ‘Burn our city to the ground!‘”
Times have changed and the political tactics we once employed are outdated. Our association is in the middle of negotiations, and the buffoonery shown in launching recalls, making the city spend more money on a special election, the frivolous lawsuits, the pension-spiking fiasco, all cost the members money we will never get back. It was NOT GERRY’S MONEY.
Our E-Board was to be our checks and balances, and failed its members. They definitely need to go. Our so-called political advisor was just along for the ride, but got paid anyway. Our SAPOA Members need to clean house. The City of Santa Ana administration will not forget and most likely will not let it happen again.
During our last negotiation our team was fighting to regain benefits our officers already had. At this point our SAPOA doesn’t deserve a full time SAPOA President.
In closing, I cannot wait until I see all the expenses incurred by the previous SAPOA President catalogued. But for now it is time for our former SAPOA President to “Hit the Road Jack and Don’t You Come Back No More…”
In Spanish it’s “Te Me Largas Mucha Ala Chicago!”
Respectfully,
Officer Manuel Delgadillo
Wasn’t Jerbal Wordsmith schlepping for Serrano?
Yes. He must be having a difficult week. I see nothing on his Anaheim Blog either about the JL Report or Brandman’s self-mutilitations.
(Checking)
Yeah, very slow month on the OC Independent as well.
Let’s just hope our SAPOA doesn’t rehire Serrano as a consultant. Our SAPOA Members seem to forget that our connections with the local politicians is due to our money. So any future SAPOA President can do the job. All pro-police candidates our SAPOA Members will support. Politicians gravitate towards where the money is for their re-election campaigns.
Let’s stay away from Serrano 2.0. because Serrano anywhere close to our SAPOA will be a malignant cancer for future negotiations. More to follow!
That didn’t take long – Gerry is already trying to get back in as a “CONSULTANT” to the SAPOA for $2000 a month.
Last night the SA Council was supposed to choose a date for the special recall election of Jessie Lopez, and they deadlocked – they’ll be discussing it again on the 15th. Jessie of course abstained.
The three “conservatives” – Amezcua, Bacerra & Penaloza – wanted to get it scheduled ASAP. They wouldn’t even allow the city attorney to discuss it with them.
But hold the phone – a lawsuit has been filed due to all the false statements Serrano’s signature-gatherers made about Jessie. False statements I’ve reported previously, up to and including telling voters who were trusting and in a rush that they were signing “to KEEP Jessie Lopez.”
“Unfortunately, over the past eight years, I’ve personally witnessed city staff time, funds and morale wasted to appease the capricious demands of one person. This included .. his use (of) police membership funds to elect enablers, and thwart the will of the people by using recalls to unseat courageous councilmembers that opposed this blatant corruption.”
What a phony Sarmiento is – he did nothing to help Cecilia Iglesias fight her recall. He was only too happy to see her removed from the Council.