New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Paul Walters

Former SAPD Police Chief Walters to head the OCDA’s Bureau of Investigation

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Paul Walters, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Date: October 27, 2017

DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF NEW CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEF OF BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas announced today the selection of Paul M. Walters as the Chief of the Bureau of Investigation (Bureau) and Ron Seman as Assistant Chief for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) following a competitive recruitment process. The Bureau is the 32-unit law enforcement division of the OCDA, operating as an investigative agency. The Bureau consists of 130 sworn law enforcement investigators and 90 investigative assistants and technical support members, who provide trial support and investigate original jurisdiction cases.

“The OCDA is excited for this new direction of leadership in the Bureau. Chief Walters brings a unique skillset of knowing how to run a large police department combined with the skills needed to work as an executive in the County,” stated District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. “Assistant Chief Ron Seman led the office during a difficult and transitional time and proved himself to be an effective leader. We are excited to continue our great work in fighting gang crimes, human exploitation and trafficking, DNA and much more. The ever changing landscape of technology and the growing role of the Bureau make these positions challenging, and I am confident in Chief Walters and Assistant Chief Seman.” Continue reading→

Remember when former SAPD Police Chief Walters cut gang violence by 40%?

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Paul Walters, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Walters plaque unveiled

With all the talk about combating gang violence in Santa Ana we thought it would be worthwhile to revisit what our former, and far more capable, Police Chief, Paul Walters, accomplished a few years ago.

Walters was forced out of Santa Ana by the last City Council – and some of those Council members are still around, including David Benavides, Vince Sarmiento and Sal Tinajero.

Here is what the O.C. Register reported in 2013, about how effective Walters was: Continue reading→

Former SAPD Police Chief Walters first introduced a gang homicide reward program back in 2007

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Rojas, Crime, Gangs, Guns, Juan Villegas, Paul Walters, Public Safety, Santa Ana 5 Comments

Apparently current SAPD Police Chief Carlos Rojas, who was hired by the Santa Ana City Council despite the fact that he had zero experience running a police department, wants us to believe that he has come up with a solution to the tsunami of gang violence in our city. So tomorrow he is going to face the media, at last, and talk about his new reward program.

But hold the presses – it turns out the SAPD already has a reward program in place for those who give tips about gang-related homicides. That program was put in place by former SAPD Police Chief Paul Walters, who now serves as the Chief of Staff to Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett. Continue reading→

Former SAPD Police Chief and City Manager Walters hired by Supervisor-Elect Bartlett

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Orange County, Paul Walters, Santa Ana 2 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jeff Corless (714) 676-8878 or Megan Dutra (714) 676-8028

Supervisor-Elect Lisa Bartlett Names Former Police Chief and City Manager Paul Walters as Interim Deputy Chief of Staff

Bartlett Highlights Walters’ 30 years of law enforcement and local government leadership experience for 5th District Transition

DANA POINT, CA-Today, Supervisor-Elect Lisa Bartlett, recently elected Orange County Supervisor of the 5th District, tapped highly respected former Police Chief and City Manager Paul Walters to serve as Interim Deputy Chief of Staff as she prepares to take office at the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

“I am proud to announce Paul Walters as Interim Deputy Chief of Staff as we prepare to transition into the 5th District Office at the Board of Supervisors. Paul’s thirty plus years of experience in law enforcement, in local government as a city manager and his public service on many local and regional policy making bodies give him the perspective needed as we build a team of professionals to serve the 5th District on a myriad of significant policy issues,” said Supervisor Elect Lisa Bartlett. Continue reading→

Benavides, Reyna and Martinez rejected by two more law enforcement associations

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Alex Padilla, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Mirna Velasquez, Orange County, Paul Walters, Politics, Public Safety, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Both the Anaheim Police Association and the Peace Officers Research Association of California have rejected Santa Ana Council Members David Benavides and Michele Martinez as well as their colleague Roman Reyna, who is in the midst of an ill-advised Mayoral campaign.

This comes on the heels of rejections of these candidates by the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs. The Santa Ana Police Officers Association (SAPOA) also rejected Reyna and Martinez.

Reyna really stepped in it when SAPOA called him out after a picture of Reyna with two hard core gang bangers was posted on Facebook. He has since become toxic to the entire Santa Ana City Council majority, which recently splintered when Benavides attacked Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero. Continue reading→

Police Chief Rojas blames his own cops instead of dealing with the SAPD’s problems

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Rojas, David Cavazos, Paul Walters, Public Safety, Santa Ana 10 Comments

SAPD Chief Carlos Rojas and new recruits

Apparently our article about the low morale at the Santa Ana Police Department struck a nerve. SAPD Police Chief Carlos Rojas was reportedly so angry about it that he threatened to fire his police officers. I was told that he went to the daily briefings and told all of the officers and their supervisors that they have to stop talking to the press. He said that he had read what they were saying about him and demanded that they stop talking about him or the department or he would personally fire them – and no one could protect them because the police union was on his side.

Rojas reiterated that all media requests had to be directed to his hand-picked public information officer and that he had better not find out who was telling the press about internal issues. He also told them that low morale was their own fault. He said it was not his problem or the department’s problem…it was their own problem that they each needed to take care of themselves. Continue reading→

Paul Walters will receive an Ambassador of Peace Award on June 6

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Crime, Entertainment, Orange County, Paul Walters, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Violence Prevention Coalition of Orange County is awarding former Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters an Cfor his outstanding personal commitment to the prevention of violence.

Their Ambassador of Peace Awards luncheon will take place on June 6, 2014 from 11:30 am to 2 pm, at the Promenade Turnip Rose located at 1570 Scenic Ave, in Costa Mesa. Continue reading→

Former SAPD Police Chief Paul Walters hired by Irvine firm

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in irvine, Paul Walters, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Evidence Based Inc., a private Irvine-based company that provides risk-assessment services to courts, police agencies and municipalities, has hired Paul Walters, the former Santa Ana police chief as its executive vice president, according to the OC Business Journal.

Walters retired last year after serving in the role of police chief since 1988. During his tenure, he was recognized by President Bill Clinton for “community policing innovations,” as well as by President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, California Attorney General, the Governor of California, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Continue reading→

Santa Ana dedicates the Paul M. Walters Police Administration Building

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Paul Walters, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

Former Santa Ana Police Chief Paul M. Walters and his wife, Mary, unveil the plaque dedicating the Paul M. Walters Police Administration Building, as Mayor Miguel Pulido and current Chief Carlos Rojas applaud.

Santa Ana Dedicates Paul M. Walters Police Administration Building

By: OC Supervisor Todd Spitzer

Yesterday, Supervisor Todd Spitzer joined former Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters and the Walters family at the City of Santa Ana’s dedication of the Paul M. Walters Police Administration Building.

“Paul Walters is one of the longest-serving police chiefs of a major city in modern American history,” Supervisor Spitzer said. “I congratulate Chief Walters on this well-deserved honor.” Continue reading→

The SAPD administration building to be named after Paul Walters on 5/29

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Paul Walters, Santa Ana Leave a comment

When the Santa Ana City Council stupidly fired former City Manager and Chief of Police Paul Walters, who was the victim of a political witch hunt against Mayor Miguel Pulido, they knew they were in real legal trouble because he had contracts in place. The agreement they worked out with Walters included naming the city’s police building in his honor.

The agreement stipulated that within 18 to 24 months the city’s police administration building would be renamed the Paul M. Walters Police Administrative Building and have a plaque in the lobby hailing Walters’ “service to the city,” according to the Voice of OC.

Well that day has come! There will be a ceremony at the Santa Ana Police Administration Building on May 29, 2014, at 4 pm, in the community room. Continue reading→

Paul Walters to serve as an Executive Fellow with The Police Foundation

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Paul Walters, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Former SAPD Police Chief Paul Walters has been tabbed as an Executive Fellow with The Police Foundation. The purpose of the Police Foundation is to help the police be more effective in doing their job, whether it be deterring robberies, intervening in potentially injurious family disputes, or working to improve relationships between the police and the communities they serve.

Here is the official announcement by the Police Foundation:

The Police Foundation is honored to welcome our latest Executive Fellow, Paul M. Walters, who retired last year after 24 years as Chief of the Santa Ana Police Department in California. Walters was the longest-serving chief of a major U.S. city in modern history, and received accolades from a number of presidents for his work in community policing and anti-gang violence efforts. Continue reading→

City Council blew over a million dollars getting rid of Paul Walters

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Kevin O'Rourke, Paul Walters, Santa Ana 1 Comment

This Council spends money like drunken sailors…

At its last meeting with him, an appreciative City Council honored O’Rourke with a proclamation and declared the day “Kevin O’Rourke Day,” according to the O.C. Register. As it turns out, O’Rourke made a mint working as a temp City Manager in Santa Ana.

How much did it cost Santa Ana to get rid of former City Manager Paul Walters? Over one million dollars. That is the tip of the icerberg. Check out the huge sums of money our City Council has blown over the past few years: Continue reading→

Public Works Director goes to El Monte and won’t be our next City Manager

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Gerardo Mouet, Michele Martinez, Paul Walters, Politics, Raul Godinez, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Santa Ana Public Works Director Raul Godinez will depart Santa Ana to become the new City Manager of El Monte on July 15 at a salary of $195,000, according to OC Political blogger Thomas Gordon. (Gordon is a member of the OC GOP Central Committee and a past Santa Ana Mayoral Candidate).

Godinez was thought to be the leading candidate to become Santa Ana’s next City Manager, but guess what? El Monte retained the services of executive search firm Bob Murray & Associates, the same company tasked with hiring a new City Manager for Santa Ana. So they found Godinez a job, but not here in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Former City Manager Walters should get the credit for the new City budget

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Kevin O'Rourke, Paul Walters, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Santa Ana’s police union is negotiating a new contract

The Santa Ana City Council Monday passed what could be called its first post-crisis budget, adopting a two-year spending plan that beefs up reserves, potentially restores furlough hours to city employees and provides small increases to the police and code enforcement budgets, according to the Voice of OC.

The Voice of OC’s Santa Ana reporter, Adam Elmahrek, wrote that the SAPD is reorganizing in the wake of the departure of former Santa Ana police chief Paul Walters, who was fired by our City Council for no good reason earlier this year. But while Elmahrek tried to make it look like Walters wasted money on the SAPD in the past, he also had to admit that it was due to Walters that we have a budget at all this year – “This year, thanks in large part to the decision to outsource the city’s fire protection, the city is working with a reserve of between $27 and $30 million.” Continue reading→

The City Council fired Walters but it’s still business as usual at City Hall

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Kevin O'Rourke, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 4 Comments

David Benavides supports the PBID

I almost fell out of my chair laughing today when I read that “Among the shifts Rourke made late in March, External Affairs Manager Jill Arthur was promoted to deputy city manager and installed as head of the city’s community development agency, according to an email March 27 from O’Rourke to the city’s management team,” according to the Voice of OC.

Hilarious! The Santa Ana City Council absolutely hates Jill Arthur and now their $22K a month temporary City Manager, Kevin O’Rourke, has effectively given her a raise! For this they fired Paul Walters? Unbelievable. Continue reading→