“Two decades ago, Orange County’s largest city was mired in gang violence. Nearly 90 people were killed during its bloodiest year. The crime rate climbed to 76 per 1,000 residents, ” according to Cal Chiefs News.  What is the rest of the story?  “In 2011, only 12 people were killed. The overall violent crime rate plummeted below 25 per 1,000 residents. In December, Forbes magazine crowned Santa Ana as America’s fourth safest big city.”

Walters has done such a great job as our Chief of Police that he is on the cover of the latest issue of “Behind the Badge.”  Walters credits “experience, relationships, a great team, and consistency” for his department’s success.

Walters has also done a great job as Santa Ana’s interim City Manager.  In fact even Voice of OC reporter Adam Elmahrek, who has been critical of the Santa Ana City Council, has had to admit that Walters has pulled the city “back from the brink.”  Here are a few excerpts from Elmahrek’s latest article:

Six months ago, Santa Ana was in a $30-million budget hole, and the corridors of City Hall echoed withwhispers of bankruptcy. Employees feared the city wouldn’t make its payroll, while a major credit rating agency declared the city’s financial picture bleak.

But that picture has brightened considerably since then. Interim City Manager Paul Walters now is declaring that not only will the budget be balanced going into the 2012-13 fiscal year but the city will have a little money left over to put in its reserve fund.

Thank God Walters didn’t leave us to go run the O.C. Sheriff’s Department…