S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
October 15 – October 21, 2021 Volume CX, Issue 115
INSIDE
THREE SMC PROFESSORS RECEIVE FIRST-EVER MICHELSON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY EDUCATOR OF EXCELLENCE AWARD PAGE 4
Former Mesa PD Chief to Lead Santa Monica Police Department Ramon Batista selected as Santa Monica’s first Latino police chief By SaM CatanZaro Ramon Batista, Jr., the former police chief of Mesa, Arizona, has been selected to lead the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD). On October 14, Santa Monica City Manager David White announced the selection of Ramon Batista, Jr., as chief of police for Santa Monica. Batista comes to Santa Monica from Mesa, Arizona’s third-largest city, where he served as police chief. Before that time, he spent 30 years rising through the ranks of the Tucson Police Department, including two years as assistant chief of police. “Chief Batista is a tenured law enforcement professional who built strong community relationships in both of the communities he
has served with outstanding performance,” said City Manager David White. “We are certain he will do the same here in Santa Monica where strong relationships underpin community safety, trust, and collaboration.” Batista will be taking over for Interim Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks who lead the SMPD after former Chief Cynthia Reneaud stepped down last year. As chief of the Mesa Police Department, Batista oversaw a budget of $188 million and 760 sworn and over 450 professional staff. According to the City of Santa Monica, during his tenure, Mesa’s Part 1 Crimes were at an all-time low of 23 events per 1,000 residents. In a press release, the City described Batista as a “proponent of 21st Century Policing initiatives and community resiliency.” During his tenure in Mesa, Batista led the implementation of a mental health crisis 911 diversion program whereby suicide calls to police were directed to crisis counselors. In addition, he launched a strategic plan for the Mesa PD, which included enhancing diversity across ranks, focusing on internal and external communication, and de-escalation techniques.
“It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the next chief of police for the City of Santa Monica and to lead the Santa Monica Police Department into the next era of public safety,” Batista said. “The Santa Monica Police Department has a history of honorable public service, collaboration, outreach, and community safety. I look forward to being a part of the team and serving our residents alongside them.” Batista began his career in Tucson in 1986 and over his 31-year career there, he served in diverse roles from patrol supervisor, traffic division/solo motors, training academy commander, public information office director, patrol division commander, SWAT division commander and chief of staff. He rose to the rank of captain in 2011 before becoming assistant chief, first for the patrol bureau followed by the investigative bureau where he had oversight of all detectives and major criminal investigations, the crime lab, and the evidence section. In 2017, Batista was appointed as Mesa’s police chief, a position he served for two years before resigning in 2019.
Ramon Batista, Jr.
Photo: City of Santa Monica
Batista was the chief during a high-profile murder trial of Philip “Mitch” Brailsford, a former Mesa PD officer acquitted of killing an unarmed man in 2016. A jury found the officer
New Police Chief, see page 11
Santa Monica’s 100 Homes Initiative Moves Forward City seeks public participation in new HUD-funded program By DoloreS Quintana
The City of Santa Monica is moving forward with a new program to place 100 people who are currently in temporary shelters into permanent housing thus freeing up 100 shelter beds for others who are in need of them. It is called the 100 Homes Initiative. This initiative will be funded by the disbursement of housing
vouchers from HUD from the American Rescue Plan. The City of Santa Monica is asking for volunteers to assist with the program, as there’s a real need for volunteers to help with in person and hands on tasks. The following are the way residents can participate. Identifying Apartments: Reach out to property owners through phone banking and personal connections who have units for people to move into. Turning Apartments into Homes: Donate furniture and household items and/or assist with move-in day for people moving in with literally the clothes on their back.
Managing Logistics: Help manage logistics of donations and move-in day tasks such as transporting donations, assembling furniture, etc. Those who would like to get involved and help our unhoused neighbors, should complete this survey to become a volunteer. The survey also asks for suggestions to improve the plan and if you have any other resources that might be helpful that might not have already been identified. Constance Farrell, public information
Santa Monica City Hall.
officer of the City of Santa Monica, anticipates that some of the homes will be located in the Santa Monica area, but the program’s search for available properties will not be limited to Santa Monica itself. “We do anticipate housing opportunities in Santa Monica and are actively recruiting volunteers to help find available units both here and in the region. It’s simply a matter of supply and expeditiously finding housing availability,” Farrell said.
Photo: Sam Catanzaro