Update: Sheriff Unions Impede Launch of Civilian Oversight

By Tammy Edmonson, Police Team (MVFREE Newsletter, July 2024)

It has been more than a year since the Board of Supervisors unanimously endorsed the detailed, well-considered proposal of the Community Outreach Working Group to establish civilian oversight of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office. All that remained was for the County Counsel to draft an ordinance that would bring the provisions of the proposal to life.

 Unfortunately, the Sheriff and sheriff unions have exerted undue influence over the process, while the public has been completely excluded. This has resulted in needless delays and a toothless draft oversight ordinance that would empower the MCSO to block any meaningful oversight by the Civilian Oversight Commission. For the past three months, the sheriff unions have demanded and prolonged a “meet and confer” process seeking to further hamstring the Commission’s ability to function effectively. The draft ordinance cannot go to the Board of Supervisors until the meet and confer process is completed.

 To learn more about the purpose, process, issues, and challenges on the long road to sheriff oversight in Marin, please read my July 15 interview, The Promise and Pitfalls of Bringing Sheriff’s Oversight to Marin.

 When the matter finally reaches the Board of Supervisors (perhaps in August?), we hope that all of you will join MVFREE in pressing for critical revisions to the draft ordinance to ensure that Marin's Civilian Oversight Commission has the powers, duties, and access to information that are essential to effective and transparent oversight. Stay tuned.