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.
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. News articles from external sources will open in a new tab.
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.
County officials take next steps towards establishing civilian oversight of the sheriff’s office
The establishment of civilian oversight over the San Mateo County County Sheriff’s Office seems increasingly likely after receiving strong support from the Board of Supervisors this week.
The board voted unanimously on Tuesday to create an ad hoc committee that will research and report on potential civilian oversight. Supervisors Dave Pine and Warren Slocum were appointed to the committee.
Batmobile raid: CA attorney general declines to investigate San Mateo Co. sheriff’s actions
The California Attorney General’s Office has declined to get involved in the Batmobile raid saga. The attorney general will not investigate, telling the county, “Although your letter identifies notable concerns, it does not allege that the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office committed a crime.”
Fixin’ San Mateo County Thanks Board of Supervisors for Creating Committee to Evaluate Civilian Oversight of Sheriff
Unanimous Vote by the Board of Supervisors
Thursday, September 15, 2022, San Mateo County: Jim Lawrence, Board Chair of Fixin’ San Mateo County (FxSMC), thanked the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for its unanimous vote to create a committee to research and report on potential civilian oversight during its regularly scheduled meeting on September 13. The California State Legislature passed AB 1185 in 2020, providing County Supervisors legislative authority to set up such oversight with subpoena power over the Sheriff’s Office.
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. A broad array of community members spoke at the Board of Supervisors meeting during public comment to support the proposal by Board President Don Horsley, and asked that members of Fixin’ San Mateo County (FxSMC) be represented on the committee, and that an ordinance be passed by the end of the year.
As Lawrence noted, “The time is overdue to implement checks and balances for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. This office costs the taxpayers of this county over $300 million dollars annually, but lacks transparency, accountability, or any public reporting on how effectively and efficiently these funds are used, or on how the Sheriff’s Office personnel are held to professional standards of conduct.”
Independent civilian oversight has been endorsed by dozens of government, civic, faith, and community leaders countywide. 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.”
San Mateo County supervisors co-sign Sheriff’s Office oversight
San Mateo County supervisors expressed their support for establishing a civilian oversight board charged with monitoring the Sheriff’s Office and formed an ad hoc committee to look into the issue. Both board President Don Horsley, a former county sheriff, and Supervisor Carole Groom said they were initially against an oversight board but community input swayed them to change their mind.
A grassroots organization is collecting endorsements for a sheriff’s office oversight committee
Members of the local grassroots organization, Fixin’ San Mateo County, gave a presentation to the [North Fair Oaks Community Council] during Thursday’s meeting and asked them to send a letter of support for the group to the Board of Supervisors. The council voted unanimously to pass a resolution to send the letter endorsing Fixin’ SMC, which would ask the board to consider establishing a county civilian oversight board and an inspector general with subpoena power to address complaints, investigate issues and make policy suggestions.
San Mateo County launches probe in Batmobile raid
San Mateo County has hired a former Alameda County Superior Court judge to conduct an independent investigation into the handling of the raid of an Indiana specialty car shop by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies involving a custom Batmobile. The county has hired Winifred Smith, who spent 21 years as a judge and 26 years as deputy attorney general in California. Don Horsley, president of the Board of Supervisors said the county picked someone who had no connection to the board or the Sheriff’s Office to avoid conflicts of interest and to reassure residents.