Sheriff's Department Oversight Board 2024 Q4 Report

Summary

Charter Section 4.137 (b) (5) mandates that the Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board (SDOB) “Prepare and submit a quarterly report to the Sheriff and the Board of Supervisors regarding the SDOB evaluations and outreach, and OIG (Office of Inspector General) reports submitted to the SDOB.”

Charter Section 4.137 also mandates that the SDOB:

1. Evaluate the work of the OIG and may review the Inspector General’s individual work performance.
2. Compile, evaluate, and recommend law enforcement custodial and patrol best practices.
3. Conduct community outreach and receive community input regarding SFSD operations and jail conditions, by holding public meetings and soliciting input from persons incarcerated in the City and County.

Evaluations of the OIG during 2024 Q4

Until such time as OIG is staffed with at least one investigator OIG will not be submitting reports.

Inspector General Terry Wiley has presented detailed monthly and quarterly reports to SDOB on his individual community outreach, site visits, and meeting with SFSO to address issues of concern. He has successfully resolved issues raised by incarcerated members and their families through working with SFSO. Many of the issues are directly related to the persistent staffing shortage and lack of resources, not the culture of SFSO staff. The current consensus is that SFSO is responsive to the needs of the community and works to timely address areas of concern.

Inspector General Wiley has effectively met with members of the community and has worked closely with the Department of Police Accountability (DPA) and its Chief Attorney Marshall Khine and its Investigators who continue to work on Sheriff’s Office matters that are outline in the MOU between SFSO and DPA.

SDOB Community Outreach

SDOB did not conduct specific outreach in the community but members continued with visits to the County Jails. Since the beginning of the year there has been more direct community communication through the Inspector General.

OIG Reports Submitted to the SDOB 2024 Q4

None. As previously indicated, until such time as OIG is staffed with at least one investigator OIG will not be submitting reports. The Department of Police Accountability verified data and information and presented a report to SDOB at the September 2024 meeting.

Summary of monthly commission board meetings:

October

At our October meeting, Rudy Corpuz, the founder and executive director of United Playaz, shared his experiences and the establishment of United Playaz, as well at its impact on the community. He brought along members of United Playaz who shared the impact Rudy, and the organization had on their lives.

Inspector General Terry Wiley gave a monthly report from the Office of the Inspector General including attending community events, jail visits, and community engagement.

The Board reviewed, discussed, voted, and approved the Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board’s 2024 Q2 & Q3 reports due to the Sheriff and the Board of Supervisors. pursuant to SF Charter 4.137(b)(5).

November

At our November meeting, Amarik Singh, Inspector General of Independent Prison Oversight over the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, presented on the primary functions of her office, shared best practices for the role of the inspector general, offered insights on elements of oversight, and discussed the assessment of performance benchmarks for the board.

Inspector General Wiley gave a monthly report from the Office of the Inspector General including visiting the women’s facilities at County Jail #3, meeting with the Jail Visiting Committee and the Jail Justice Coalition and attending the annual conference of NACOLE.

Marshall Khine, chief attorney at the Department of Police Accountability (DPA), gave a report on sheriff’s investigations conducted by DPA for the third quarter of 2024.

December

At our December meeting, Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr., recently finishing a 12-year term representing the 57th California Assembly District, discussed his efforts as an assemblymember, as well as his individual contributions, to criminal justice reform and potential state funding for civilian oversight of law enforcement.

Inspector General Wiley gave a monthly report from the Office of the Inspector General, including the conference of Association of Inspector Generals, a visit to County Jail #3, and collaborative efforts with the Jail Justice Coalition. Regrettably, Inspector General Wiley, also announced to the public that he would be resigning effective January 10, 2025 as Inspector General and outlined in detail the reasons in his resignation letter to the Board, most notably that OIG continued to be unfunded and City’s budget was not encouraging. Inspector General made great strides in establishing relationships with both the Sheriff’s Office and those affected by incarceration. He created an environment to facilitate resolving issues of concern with care and timeliness.

Other

Moving ahead to a new year SDOB will need to again begin a nationwide search for an Inspector General. The actual task will be less arduous because SDOB had already established a job description and particular qualifications in its search for the inaugural Inspector General. However, without adequate funding the City stands to be without an Inspector General for a protracted period of time.

Moreover, SDOB looks to the Mayor’s Office and the Board of Supervisors to provide a minimal budget to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) so that the next Inspector General can begin staffing and move toward having a fully independent OIG as mandated by the City’s Charter.

SDOB also anticipates being able to begin strategic review of SFSO’s policies and procedures and pushing to have necessary upgrades to SFSO’s antiquated technology so that staff is less burdened by manual reporting and day-to-day scheduling.

SDOB will be reviewing timeliness and availability of health care needs of those incarcerated and additional programs to assist with mental health and re-entry preparedness.

SDOB will also be making specific recommendations to the Sheriff’s Office based on the comprehensive work in the last year of Inspector General Terry Wiley and the Department of Police Accountability.

SDOB greatly appreciates the assistance of the leadership and staff of the Department of Police Accountability.