Fixin’ San Mateo County and the Coalition for a Safer San Mateo County support the recommendation of the Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff’s Office (ICAC) to establish a regular, ongoing Inspector General (IG).

The Inspector General’s role is to support the Board of Supervisors in carrying out its obligation to monitor the Sheriff’s Office. This position should be full-time and augmented by adequate support and investigative staff. Oversight is a county responsibility; funding should not come from the Sheriff’s budget.

Duties and authorities should include:

MONITOR: Monitor patrol operations. Monitor jail operations and conditions, including health and behavioral health services for incarcerated individuals.

INVESTIGATE: Investigate deaths in custody and allegations of excessive use of force. Refer complaints alleging criminal misconduct to the District Attorney. Receive, review, and investigate complaints from residents and Sheriff’s Office employees through a confidential channel. Refer complaints alleging criminal misconduct to the District Attorney.

REVIEW: Review use of force patterns, trends, statistics, use of force incidents, allegations of misconduct, and Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA) data. Review the quality of audits and inspections conducted by the Sheriff’s Office. Review Sheriff’s Office investigations of use of force incidents, in-custody deaths, and duty-related incidents during which, or as a result of which, a person dies or suffers serious bodily injury.

AUDIT: Conduct periodic audits and inspections of the Sheriff’s Office. Audits should supplement, not supplant, internal auditing and monitoring conducted by the Sheriff’s Office.

RECOMMEND: Make recommendations for policy and procedural changes designed to improve the operations of the Sheriff’s Office.

COORDINATE: Meet regularly with the Sheriff to discuss ongoing issues, concerns, and recommendations. Coordinate with ICAC, attending meetings and sharing findings and recommendations.

COMMUNICATE: Maintain a public website to communicate with the broader community, including publicizing a way to make confidential complaints. Provide regular public reports for the Board on conditions and trends in the jails, the operations of the Sheriff’s Office, and make recommendations. Hold public town halls, meetings, or gatherings as warranted in the IG’s discretion.

In performing its duties, the IG may hold hearings, gather evidence, administer oaths, and take testimony. The Sheriff’s Office is expected to cooperate with the IG in its requests for information. The IG can seek the assistance of the Board of Supervisors in resolving any refusal by the Sheriff’s Office to provide information to which the Board would be entitled.

REFERENCES

San Francisco – takes complaints, monitors, and investigates

Santa Clara – contracts with OIR group

Santa Cruz – contracts with OIR group

Marin — The OIG conducts independent oversight of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office

Alameda – is creating an IG position to takes complaints, monitor, and investigate

Sonoma – IOLERO takes complaints, monitors, and investigates

Los Angeles – OIG takes complaints, monitors, and investigates

Monterey — Monterey County’s BoS has just voted unanimously to hire an inspector general