Deputy community prosecutor sworn in as Huntington Beach becomes O.C.’s 2nd city with that job
While serving on a special unit at a prosecutor’s office in New Jersey, Michelle Ditzhazy took on cases involving sexual assaults, domestic violence and stalking.
Now she’s hoping to use her expertise to help clean up downtown issues in Huntington Beach.
Ditzhazy, 31, was recently sworn in as the city’s deputy community prosecutor by Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and Mayor Barbara Delgleize.
The City Council approved the position in early September. Anaheim is the only other Orange County city that prosecutes its own misdemeanors; the rest are handled by the O.C. district attorney’s office.
Ditzhazy served as an attorney for about 41/2 years in the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Victims Unit, in New Jersey, where she prosecuted felonies and misdemeanors.
She said Wednesday the new job will allow her to be more active in the community, including working closely with the Police Department and the Orange County District Attorney’s office. She’ll also provide legal advice and training to law enforcement personnel.
City Attorney Michael Gates said Wednesday that he’d conceived of the program to aid local authorities, and while the DA’s office will take most of the cases, the city will take the pick of the crimes it wants to prosecute, working closely with police.
Ditzhazy has already begun meeting with police, getting to know Huntington Beach and its police officers. She arrived in town a few weeks ago and since gone on a ride-along , an activity she recommends as a way to observe the difficulties of policing.
Gates said the program will focus on prosecuting misdemeanors, such as public intoxication, drug possession and fighting, crimes plague downtown.
The city will also emphasize prosecuting repeat offenders, or as Ditzhazy said, the small number of people who “overcontribute” to crime.
Gates believes this will improve quality of life.
Although the city is making headway, the program is still in its infancy and Gates and Ditzhazy will work together to develop it. Ditzhazy said this is appealing to her because she will get to be “creative.”
Gates said he hired Ditzhazy after a rigorous interviewing process. About 80 candidates were initially considered.
The city attorney said he chose Ditzhazy because of her experience working felony and misdemeanor trials.
Ditzhazy is licensed to practice law in New Jersey, California and New York.
Ditzhazy grew up in Palmdale and attended UC Santa Barbara. She earned her law degree fromSeton Hall University in New Jersey. After graduating, she quickly moved on from clerking to her prosecutor role in Hudson County.
She said she’s excited to finally return to her California roots.
Twitter: @benbrazilpilot
