Former SAPD Manager’s Lawsuit Exposing SAPD’s Gang-Like Activity Begins Trial
Current and former cops are set to testify about retaliation, harassment and discrimination claims made by former police manager Rita Ramirez. How did we even get here?
A lawsuit exposing the Santa Ana Police Department’s (SAPD) gang-like groups began trial with opening arguments starting today. The case, filed against the city of Santa Ana on October 21, 2022 by former SAPD Police Administrative Manager Rita Ramirez, alleged retaliation, harassment and discrimination by SAPD top brass, including then-Chief David Valentin and then-Internal Affairs (IA) Commander Robert Rodriguez. The case is one of several pending that breaks open how Valentin wielded power against officers who allegedly refused to show “loyalty” to him.
Valentin retired in 2023 and was replaced by Rodriguez, who is still chief today.
The lawsuit outlines how the department heads allegedly pushed Ramirez out of her job for her refusal to pick a side between two then-opposing factions: Valentin’s loyalists and then-Santa Ana Police Officer’s Association (SAPOA) President Gerry Serrano’s loyalists.
The lawsuit came after Inadvertent reported on SAPD’s gang-like group: the now-defunct Major Enforcement Team (MET). MET was an exclusive SAPD unit, created and used by Valentin, who shared gang-like skull tattoos and have been the subject to complaints of alleged misconduct both off and on duty but faced no discipline, according to police records and sources within the department. The unit was formed on January 6, 2020 and consisted of Valentin’s loyalists, including then-Sergeant Oscar Lizardi.
MET was disbanded in 2024 but most officers who participated in the gang-like activities remain in the department, including now-Chief Rodriguez. During his time as IA Commander, Rodriguez delayed the investigation of a child sexual assault by MET members and shielded them from investigation and potential prosecution, according to a complaint submitted by SAPD Commander Manuel Moreno. The complaint has since been investigated by a city-hired investigator but the findings have been withheld by the city.
Ramirez’s lawsuit detailed how her refusal to “pick a camp” within the department led to Valentin retaliating through his loyalists and ultimately pushed her out of the department. Witness lists filed in the lawsuit show that around 40 people are set to testify, they include: Valentin, Rodriguez, Moreno, Serrano, assistant city attorney Tamara Bogosian, former city manager Kristine Ridge, Commanders Jose Gonzalez, Jorge Lopez, other current and former SAPD top brass, as well as rank and file officers. Court filings show that over 100 hours of testimony is estimated in the trial.
SAPD and its political wing, the SAPOA, had long-been divided internally, but the power struggle between its heads reached a boiling point during Valentin and Serrano’s time – a conflict that permeated the police department, the association, and city hall. The conflict played out through lawsuits, city elected officials, recall elections, a vote of no confidence, complaints, letters and threats to burn down the city.
It became a cornerstone of Santa Ana politics as two competing factions sought to hold onto power. And, court records allege, deeply affected working conditions at the department.
Now, the city could be on the hook for millions of dollars in damages for allegedly failing to hold any of its current and former top brass, including Valentin and Rodriguez, accountable.
The case revealed a timeline of events that show that Ramirez, while still at SAPD, took steps to try and remedy strained tensions as she refused to “pick a side.” According to the case, “no corrective action was ever taken.”
In the wake of both faction heads – Valentin and Serrano – leaving the picture in 2023, the SAPD and SAPOA have seemingly realigned under new heads: Rodriguez and SAPOA President John Kachirisky. One of Kachirisky’s first efforts was to attempt to “rebrand” the organization, as it had earned the reputation of being run by a “boogeyman,” according to Mayor Valerie Amezcua.
What was once an adversarial relationship between faction heads has formed into a more unified force. Amezcua and council members Phil Bacerra and David Penaloza, who were all supported by SAPOA’s heavy-spending in their election or re-election campaigns, have also demonstrated their allegiance to the SAPOA. Similarly, council member Thai Viet Phan also regularly aligns her votes with her SAPOA-backed colleagues ever since the SAPOA dropped their recall effort against her in 2023.
Ramirez’s lawsuit against the city comes to trial after 3 years of litigation. The trial is estimate to last until early December. The case number is: 30-2022-01287702-CU-OE-NJC.
City spokesperson Paul Eakins said that the city has no comment at this time.
Ramirez, through her attorney, did not respond to a request for comment before publishing time.
Edit 10/28/2025, 7:50PM: Corrections on job titles were made, as well as language to make clear that Ramirez’s lawsuits contains allegations.
I have been following Ben's exclusive story since 2021 and his reporting has lead me to the same people who violated my son's civil rights, Steven Arreguin 17 year old died, because of police misconduct, to learn what I discovered through Ben's exclusive story, to understand go to April, May, and July police oversight commission meetings and read my comments, Thanks Ben Camacho, Manuel Arreguin.
This all started back when Paul Walters was chief of police and started the first gang unit in 1988.