Behind the Badge
For Miguel Zamora, Santa Ana Police Department’s Open House and Hiring Expo was the perfect opportunity to explore his dream of becoming an officer.
A recent Santa Ana College criminal justice graduate, Zamora is a city native drawn to the department by its stellar law enforcement reputation.
“Santa Ana has one of the best homicide divisions,” he explains. “Since I’m interested in becoming a detective and grew up here, I’d like to spend my career with SAPD.”
The annual hiring expo held April 22 included presentations, tours, and other recruitment events in tandem with open-air booths and displays outside the building, representing SAPD’s many divisions.
“Community events like this allow us to open our doors, literally and figuratively, to the public,” says Chief David Valentin. “It’s important for Santa Ana residents to meet the people who make up the department.”
Santa Ana Police Officer Tanner Bell lets Colton Chen, 3, sit in the driver’s seat of his patrol car during an Open House and Hiring Expo at the station on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
“Our department is made up of people who are filled with pride in the service they provide,” Valentin adds.
Corporal Jorge Arroyo agrees. As SAPD’s recruitment coordinator, Arroyo oversees hiring in departments ranging from the Santa Ana jail staff to dispatchers and from community service officers and sworn officers.
“We want you to come and see how we do our jobs,” Arroyo says.
Hosting the recruitment event in tandem with the open house exposes prospective officers and their families to the department. The events introduce prospects to the recruitment team, the hiring process, background checks, and other aspects of becoming a member of the SAPD, agrees Commander Oscar Lizardi.
“These events are important for the department because it showcases our work and allows the public to see who is doing what,” Lizardi notes. “For the community, these events welcome folks to come in and learn about the police department, the hiring process, and how we work.”
Cpl. Galeana, left, and Officer Ryan Johnson introduce Police K9 Kaylee, the department’s only female dog, to Allison Zetina, 9, of Santa Ana during an Open House.
Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Police Service Officer Erika Baca, who coordinated the event with fellow Police Service Officer Melissa Ortega, estimated that about 500 or more visitors would attend the event.
Baca knows that events showcasing Santa Ana’s police units – including CSI investigators, K9 handlers, traffic, and mounted officers, among many others – are important for good community relations.
“You might see the police department building but not know what’s inside it,” Baca says. “We’re right next door, so it is important to us that we have good relationships with Santa Ana residents.”
“We receive good feedback about these events,” she adds. “Children are the future. It’s always great to see them and to reinforce the idea that the police are here to serve.”
Members of the community get the chance to meet officers, K9s and horses, and learn about the tools and procedures of the Santa Ana Police Department during an Open House and Hiring Expo on the street in front of the station on April 22, 2023.
Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Tours of the department and question-and-answer sessions with prospective recruits are an important way the SAPD can introduce individuals and families to law enforcement, says Officer Natalie Garcia, a member of SAPD’s recruitment team.
Garcia interacts via social media with each potential recruit, putting a face to the department and encouraging prospective recruits – particularly other women – to consider policing careers.
For Guadalupe Zuniga and her 8-year-old daughter Zoe, the open house provides a chance for the family to learn about the police department and how officers do their jobs. Zoe’s career goal is to become a police officer – but only if she can work in the K9 unit.
“She has a zoo at home – chickens, guinea pigs, dogs – and is crazy about animals,” Zuniga explains, adding that she’s brought her children to various police department community events, such as Coffee with a Cop.
“These events improve openness with the community and prove that the officers are nice people,” she said.
Learn more at: https://www.santa-ana.org/police-recruitment.
Santa Ana Police Officer Tanner Bell lets Colton Chen, 3, sit in the driver’s seat of his patrol car during an Open House and Hiring Expo at the station on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Members of the community get the chance to meet officers, K9s and horses, and learn about the tools and procedures of the Santa Ana Police Department during an Open House and Hiring Expo. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Members of the community visit the Santa Ana Police Department for an Open House and Hiring Expo. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Motorcycle Police Officer Kelvin Catlin looks on while Jesus Vasquez, 13, of Santa Ana tries sitting on his bike during an Open House and Hiring Expo at the station. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Detective Tyler Booth looks on while visitors check out the “Terradyne,” an armored police rescue vehicle, during an Open House at the Santa Ana Police Department. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Detective Tyler Booth looks on while Lucas Castro, 4, of Santa Ana sits in the “Terradyne,” an armored Police Rescue vehicle, during an Open House at the Santa Ana Police Department. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Officer Ryan Johnson introduces his Police K9, Kaylee, the department’s only female dog, to Allison Zetina, 9, of Santa Ana during an Open House. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Members of the community get the chance to meet officers, K9s, and horses, and learn about the tools and procedures of the Santa Ana Police Department. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Marbella Ruiz of Santa Ana takes a photo of her son, Oscar Ruiz, 5, in a cut-out of a police officer, during an Open House at the Santa Ana Police Department building. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Detective Tyler Booth looks on while visitors check out the “Terradyne,” an armored police rescue vehicle, during an Open House at the Santa Ana Police Department. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Members of the community meet officers, K9s and horses, and learn about the tools and procedures of the Santa Ana Police Department during an Open House and Hiring Expo on the street in front of the station. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Jacqueline Cux, 9, of Santa Ana tries on a Corrections vest during an Open House at the Santa Ana Police Department on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Members of the community attend the Santa Ana Police Department Open House and Hiring Expo. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Police Corrections Supervisor Edgar Perez helps Jasmine Cux, 6, of Santa Ana try on a Corrections vest during an Open House at the department. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Mounted Police Officer Jaime Lopez introduces his horse, Willow, to Ely Delgado, 4, Ethan Delgado, 8, and Dylan Delgado, 10, during Saturday’s Open House and Hiring Expo at the Santa Ana Police Department on April 22, 2023. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
