Knocking off the citizens, one at a time: Murder by CopRuth Hull The Santa Ana Police Department has shot at least five unarmed people since the start of the year. The identified victims include Binh Van Nguyen, Jason Erling Hallstrom, Gerardo Diego Ayala, Jessica Gonzalez, and the latest victim, 22-year-old Kevin Arellano, who just recently became a father. Genevieve Huizar, the mother of Manuel Angel Diaz, another innocent unarmed victim of a police killing, labeled the killings Murder by Cop. This phrase was echoed again and again by speakers throughout the night. She asked Why are the officers opening fire when they have other options? The Santa Ana police are not known for serving and protecting. Special interests call in the police and city inspectors when they want to hassle and control their neighbors and grab their property or freedom. The police have a history of following women in patrol cars and giving no reason for the pursuit when questioned. Crime victims are told by the police to file civil suits when felonies have been committed against them. Children who report violent sexual abuse or aggravated assaults are laughed at or silenced by officers. It was pointed out at the meeting that the one thing residents cannot count on the Santa Ana police to do is to stop violent crimes committed against them. But the innocent and unarmed have considerable reason to be concerned about the possibility they could be shot by the police as evidenced by all the prior incidents of that nature. Concerns about Santa Ana corruption are more widespread than just shooting the public. Mark Burcaw reported illegal citations issued by the Santa Ana Police Department for the purpose of illegally seizing property. Ruth Hull is an activist and writer whose career has included work as a criminal defense attorney, a licensed private investigator, and an educator. linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 