CITY OF MERCED
MERCED
January 6, 2023
Attorney General Rob Bonta
State of California
Office of the Attorney General
1300 | Street, Suite 1740
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Honorable Bonta,
On behalf of the Merced City Council, I am writing to request assistance from your office for a review of patterns and practices of the City's Police Department. The Council and 1 believe this proactive approach will allow our community to better understand policing practices and patterns and incorporate best practices within the agency.
With an interest in transparency and bolstering police-community trust, we request an assessment of the Merced Police Department's policies, trainings, and practices to identify possible ways to achieve safe and respectful outcomes for members of our community and our sworn and non-sworn officers. Additionally, the review should look beyond individual incidents and allegations to assess any systemic issues or department deficiencies.
Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to providing the necessary contact information for your reference.
Sincerely,
Saphane R Duty
Stephanie R. Dietz
City Manager
City of Merced
CC: Efrain Bottello Cisneros
Mayor Matthew Serratto
Mayor Pro Tem Bertha Perez
Council Member Jesse Ornelas
Council Member Ronnie De Anda
Council Member Shane Smith
Council Member Sarah Boyle
Council Member Fue Xiong
678 WEST 18TH STREET, MERCED, CA 95340