Historically, the political and social response to police violence has been muted in Bay Area suburbs, where use-of-force is subject to less oversight than in cities. The reasons are complicated, but the reality is unsettling: more deaths in areas with fewer mechanisms to bring justice to families, transparency to the public or robust investigations of the officers involved.
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.
Payouts for killings and injuries plummet for Bay Area police departments undergoing reforms
Now, a KTVU investigation has found that Bay Area law enforcement agencies engaged in long-term reform efforts — including having independent oversight — are paying much less in civil penalties in recent years for injuring or killing people than many departments left to police themselves.
Policing Reform, Civilian Oversight And More: After Months Of Protest, Voters Decide
Some saw success, like in Colorado, New York and Virginia, which all passed sweeping new laws addressing use of force, funding and community oversight, among other things.
6 Bay Area Ballot Measures That Could Strengthen Civilian Oversight of Police
In the Bay Area alone, at least six measures on local ballots seek to expand the authority of police commissions and strengthen independent investigations. The measures go before voters just two months after the California Legislature failed to pass several major statewide police accountability bills — including one to remove police officers who commit serious misconduct — after facing strong opposition from law enforcement groups.
The long battle for civilian oversight of the police
As people protesting police brutality nationwide push for broad reforms, strong civilian oversight is one of the demands. But it’s hard to get. The story for more than 70 years has been a struggle between community advocates working to enact it and police trying to block or defang it, with elected officials choosing sides.