The effort to launch an independent oversight group of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office has received a new supporter. The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California has endorsed the effort by Fixin’ San Mateo County to establish such a group.
In the news
This page contains news article for those interested in all facets of law enforcement oversight and reform. These articles span all states and cover police departments as well as Sheriff's departments. We're providing this information for those who wish to better understand why oversight is needed, the challenges it faces, and where and how it has improved the communities that have adopted it. Articles will open in a new tab.
The case for independent sheriff oversight
By the reverends Penny Nixon, Marlyn Bussey and Tovis Page
Oversight of the Sheriff’s Office through a community board shows a commitment to lifting up the leadership of those most affected by systemic racism and building unity across divisions. Creating oversight is an opportunity to dismantle unjust criminalization systems that target people of color and exploit poor communities to transform those systems into ones that value all humanity. Empowering people to participate in and engage with local systems and structures in our community can lead to meaningful and long-lasting change.
Watching the Watchmen
Too many Americans today live in fear that they may suffer abuse or excessive force at the hands of police officers who are sworn to protect them.
To keep Americans safer, the federal government and state and local governments need to match continued investments in policing with reforms that make law enforcement agencies as a whole — as well as individual officers — more accountable to the communities that they serve.
Cities need to establish clear and consistent procedures for the independent review of the use of force by law enforcement officers.
California County Agrees to Pay $4.5 Million in Death of Man Stunned With Taser
The man, Chinedu V. Okobi, 36, died in 2018 after a deputy repeatedly used a Taser on him in a struggle that began when law enforcement officers saw him jaywalking in Millbrae, Calif.
New police stops data shows stark racial disparities in these wealthy Bay Area enclaves
The data, released this week by the state attorney general, reveals that Black drivers and pedestrians are far more likely to be stopped and searched than white people in nearly every part of the state, despite being less likely to be found carrying contraband, such as illegal guns or drugs, when stopped.
Some of the Bay Area’s wealthiest mid-size communities had the starkest racial disparities. In Los Altos and Belmont, two Silicon Valley suburbs, Black people were nine and 10 times as likely to be stopped by police, respectively, than white residents in 2021, relative to their share of the population.
San Mateo County pays Woodside equestrian $750K settlement in wrongful arrest lawsuit
A Woodside woman who was arrested while suffering a medical emergency that deputies mistook for drug or alcohol impairment has settled her lawsuit against San Mateo County for $750,000, according to an agreement dated August 1.
San Mateo County supervisors vote unanimously to support oversight of sheriff’s office
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday voted unanimously to support oversight of the sheriff’s office. Supervisors asked staff and an ad hoc committee to return to the board with a proposal that would involve an inspector general and a board. It was the first time the board discussed sheriff oversight publicly.
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors support sheriff oversight
After more than a year of growing support for civilian oversight of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, supervisors formally announced their shared support of the mission.
Rep. Jackie Speier champions civilian oversight at local group’s meeting
Speier addressed the members of Fixin’ San Mateo County, a grassroots organization working to establish civilian oversight of the sheriff’s office and an inspector general with subpoena power, as a special guest at their monthly membership meeting Tuesday night. Speier, who endorsed the movement earlier this year, talked about the value of civilian oversight in democracy, answering questions from the public and sharing her own experiences serving on oversight committees. Fifty-three people attended the virtual event.
Supervisors form committee to explore Sheriff’s oversight
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last week to appoint Supervisors Dave Pine and Warren Slocum to an ad hoc committee that will research and report on the possibility of civilian oversight of the Sheriff’s Office.