I didn’t like the idea of converting the Santa Ana Police Department’s (SAPD) police dog training center into a dog park for Santa Ana residents until I spoke today to a former City of Santa Ana employee, who shared with me the history of this beautiful, fenced in field.
According to my friend, the area used to be a public park, until the SAPD convinced the City Council to let them have it. They promised at the time to share the field with the public. However, you can see in the pictures above that the field is gated and locked.
I have never seen the police using the field. My friend says they hardly ever use it. And he says that the Chief of Police, Paul Walters, often brings his own dogs to the field on Saturday mornings. The field is, essentially, a private dog park for Chief Walters. Continue reading