The wait for sheriff's oversight in Alameda County will be even longer

Full coverage of sheriff's oversight; Oakland mayor trips over meaning of Juneteenth holiday; Island love for DA Price

COUNTY NEWS

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

—HOLDING CELL—An ordinance creating a sheriff’s oversight board and Office of Inspector General has languished for nearly three years. Recently, three attempts since early April to bring the ordinance to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors have been postponed.

—On Tuesday, county supervisors made significant headway in moving the item forward. But, perhaps too much headway?

—The overall scope of the changes precluded a first reading of the ordinance on Tuesday. “You’re rewriting substantial sections of this document,” Alameda County Counsel Donna Ziegler said.

—A new version of the ordinance, with the changes below, is scheduled to return to the Board of Supervisors on July 9.

—Here’s how the proposed sheriff’s oversight ordinance is now shaped:

• The Office of Inspector General (OIG) and sheriff’s oversight board will be represented by an independent counsel. The issue had been a sticking point for proponents of oversight. They argue county counsel’s office representation of the sheriff’s office will be construed as a conflict of interest.

• The proposed seven-member sheriff’s oversight board was expanded to nine to include a seat dedicated to Dublin and another for the unincorporated areas. Both areas are serviced by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department.

• OIG will not be required to seek approval from the sheriff to investigate the office. The sheriff’s authorization requirement was recently inserted to the ordinance. Proponents of sheriff’s oversight said the approval of the sheriff to begin investigations makes oversight irrelevant.

• Language was omitted requiring the sheriff or designee from attending the oversight meetings.

• Allowing retired members of law enforcement to serve on the sheriff’s oversight board remains unresolved. The board was deadlocked on the issue.

• The four Municipal Advisory Councils that represent the unincorporated areas of Alameda County will hold hearings on sheriff’s oversight and OIG at their meetings next month, Supervisor Nate Miley said.

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MORE INSIDE:

• COUNTY NEWS: More on sheriff’s oversight in Alameda County

  • Wait? Even if approved soon, sheriff’s oversight might not begin until 2026

  • Where did a poison pill for sheriff’s oversight come from?

  • Expansion of oversight raised concerns about stacking the future board

• TOTAL RECALL: Thao flubs on Juneteenth tweet

• Price gets support from Democratic club