Orange County District Attorney’s Office Exploring Options on How to Provide More Immediate Information in Critical Incidents
SANTA ANA, Calif. – An officer-involved shooting is a serious situation and any use of force by a police officer requires strict review by the District Attorney’s Office. There is also the demand by the family and the public to immediately know what happened and why.
As the agency responsible for conducting an independent investigation into an officer’s actions to determine if the officer’s actions were legally justified, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office is exploring options on how to release preliminary information to family members and the public while preserving the integrity of our investigation.
Our office has a duty and responsibility to conduct a thorough investigation and release the facts once that comprehensive investigation is complete. Due to the inherent complex nature of critical incidents and the necessary investigation that includes locating and interviewing witnesses as well reviewing the person’s background, mental health history and any other relevant factors, this process can take several months. This investigation is not conducted in a vacuum and these situations involve real people and real emotions.
That is why the Orange County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the standard protocols of how critical incidents are investigated by our office in an effort to identify ways in which we can prudently provide more immediate information to family members and then to the public.
We have an obligation as the lead law enforcement agency in Orange County to carry out our legal obligations to conduct a thorough investigation with compassion and humanity.