The L.A. Times is reporting that there is a chance that Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters will be replaced by a Latino, if Walters is indeed tabbed to become the next Orange County Sheriff. I suppose that is possible – but I question the need to even consider the race of his replacement. I would hope that the Santa Ana City Clowncil would look for the best candidate, irrespective of his or her race.
Clowncil Member Michele Martinez actually agreed with that sentiment when she told the L.A. Times that “we’re an equal opportunity employer, and we need to find the best of the best.” However she undermined her own statement when she also said that “I think it’s important to consider a Latino. We should seek a replacement based on our demographics.”
We used to have a Latino Superintendent, Al Mijares, over at the Santa Ana Unified School District. And he was the worst Superintendent in the history of public education. He left SAUSD in utter disarray. The negative effects of his long reign are still being felt, as the SAUSD struggles with low test scores, high dropout rates and a $31 million hole in their budget.
Martinez was not the only Clowncil Member who went on the record regarding the possible replacement of Walters. Check out this ridiculous quote from David Benavides:
Councilman David Benavides credits Walters for “an amazing job reducing crime” and for being “very much in tune with and understanding the Latino community.”
Wow. That is a stunner. It is hard to believe that you could find more than a couple of residents who would agree that Walters has done “an amazing job reducing crime.” Not when gang shootings have mushroomed in the past couple of years. Not with graffiti costing our city $3 million a year to contend with (and likely costing our businesses just as much).
Consider that Martinez herself was ROBBED last year while walking to a public meeting in the downtown area. I was on the phone with her when she screamed and hung up. She called me back to say that a young man on a bike had taken her purse. You’re doing a great job Walters! That is what G.W. Bush would say at any rate.
And last but not least, Carlos “Space Commander” Bustamante also weighed in with a few comments about Walters and his replacement:
“If he or she is Latino, that’s great. But I’m not going to place particular emphasis on hiring a Latino,” he said. “Walters is not Latino, but he’s done good things for the community and he’ll go down as one of the city’s best chiefs.”
I agree with Bustamante’s statement about not placing a particular emphasis on hiring a Latino, but Bustamante ought to be drug tested for saying that Walters will go down as one of the city’s best chiefs. That statement is just plain nuts.
Here’s the bottom line – getting rid of Walters would be a positive for Santa Ana, although it would not be good for our County, but his replacement ought to be the best man or woman for the job, regardless of race. And, to make matters worse, the silly Clowncil Members I quoted above will be involved in choosing his replacement. That does not bode well.
Joe Arpaio is a Native American.
Is the police chief of Tiajuana available?
Is he alive?
The race of the next Chief should be a non-factor. We should hire the most qualified person period.
As you noted Art, in a city where crime is ongoing and growing it is difficult to consider Walters as a legendary chief. On the other hand this is a city with more cops moving around civic center 24 hours a day than anywhere else. With the Sheriff’s department and Jail just across the street from SAPD, the stream of police cars from these departments (and other police departments taking prisoners to jail) seems never ending. And yet with all that, just a few blocks away are two parks loaded with transients, dope dealers and who knows what else. Park and bus benches have an assortment of night residents complete with shopping cart. It’s not a pretty picture and the cops rarely do anything about it.
Just last night some guy hung himself in Jerome Park but wasn’t found until the following morning by park workers. I wonder where the beat cops were all night especially since the nearby apartments are a known “drug” store. One would think at least once Sunday night one cop would have made a patrol of that park.
This all reflects on how the chief administrates his department and defines priorities. It appears something is askew up the chain of command just like they found in the OC jail recently.
R&A,
I didn’t know that about Joe Arpaio. I just know he probably is one of the most creative Sheriff’s this country has.
Winships – Sheriff Joe Arpaio is an American of Italian heritage. Is that a problem for you?
Of course the Santa Ana Clowncil want to hire a latino police chief. This way he can overlook the mayor & council misdeeds.
1st SanTana. Hola Aztlan!
The Reconquista has begun.
The police chief of Rosarito is also available and probably more qualified than the Tijuana police chief.
Twice the drug cartel has stormed the Rosarito Police Headquarters and the chief has survived.
I say this is a good fit for Santa Ana. Send him an application.
I’m curious. Do the majority of people in OC (or at least our readers I guess) consider Italians to be Latino?
SMS
There are times when I can agree with Sean. This being one of them.
*Hey….Paisan…..cool….Hey, so was Christopher
Columbus….we love Joe! Bet if you asked him personally…he has some Cherokee blood too!
These questions are asked over based on No.16