Draft Ordinance Sent to the Board of Supervisors
Thursday May 12, 2022, San Mateo County: Jim Lawrence, Board Chair of Fixin’ San Mateo County, distributed a draft ordinance to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for a Civilian Oversight Board and Inspector General for the Sheriff’s Office. Fixin’ SMC asks the County Supervisors to review, approve, and adopt the ordinance, as permitted by AB 1185, the bill passed by the state legislature in 2020 which gives the Supervisors the legislative authority to set up such oversight with subpoena power.
As Congresswoman Anna Eshoo said, “Residents deserve an effective and responsive Sheriff’s Office that treats everyone equally and prides itself in service so much that it welcomes civilian oversight.”
On May 17 at 8:30 am, members of the community will rally, hold a press conference, and speak at the Board of Supervisors meeting during public comments, to remind the Board that public oversight should include the Sheriff, who holds one of the most powerful elected offices as the county’s highest ranking law enforcement officer. Oversight is vital to the safety of San Mateo County communities because law enforcement has the authority to detain, search, arrest, and use deadly force.
As Lawrence noted, “The time is overdue to implement checks and balances for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. The Office costs taxpayers approximately $300 million dollars annually, but lacks transparency, accountability, or any public reporting on how effectively and efficiently those funds are used, or on how the Sheriff’s Office personnel are held to professional standards of conduct.”
“Fiscal responsibility and transparency are important to the County… including independent citizen oversight.” (Drought, Wildfire and Sea Level Rise are the New Normal mailing from 400 County Center, April 2022)
Independent civilian oversight for the Sheriff’s Office has been endorsed by dozens of government, civic, faith, and community leaders countywide. For more information, please visit www.fixinsmc.org.