Introduction
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 OSIG (Office of Sheriff’s Inspector General) reports submitted to the SDOB.”
Charter Section 4.137 also mandates that the SDOB:
(2) Evaluate the work of the OSIG and may review the Sheriff’s Inspector General’s (SIG) individual work performance.
(3) Compile, evaluate, and recommend law enforcement custodial and patrol best practices.
(4) 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 OSIG during 2025 Q3:
Due to budget uncertainties, the inaugural inspector general resigned effective January 2025 and the position has not yet been filled pending position approval in the budget discussions at the end of the fiscal year. Consequently, the Board did not conduct any assessments of the OSIG in the third quarter. The Board is currently engaged in the process of recruiting a new inspector general.
SDOB community outreach:
President Soo attended several community events with SFSO, including National Night Out on August 5, 2025, Chinatown National Night Out on September 3, 2025, and the Police-Fire-Sheriff Mass on September 7, 2025.
OSIG reports submitted to SDOB 2025 Q3:
The Department of Police Accountability presented a report in July regarding investigations into complaints against the Sheriff’s department for the second quarter. We expect to receive the report for the third quarter in November.
Summary of monthly commission board meetings:
July
The Board opted to move the July meeting to July 11th in light of the Independence/July 4th Holiday.
During the July meeting, the Board introduced the Mayor’s latest appointee for seat 7, Sydney E. Allen, who shared a brief self-introduction.
Jason Lally, Chief of State Data Science, gave a presentation outlining his duties and the role of his agency.
Marshall Khine, Chief Attorney at the Department of Police Accountability (DPA), shared the Second Quarter Statistics concerning investigations into complaints against Sheriff’s deputies conducted by DPA.
Board Secretary Dan Leung summarized the topics that were covered in earlier SDOB meetings, starting from the inaugural meeting in August 2022 up to June 2025. President Soo reminded the Board that topical presentations are available via SFGovTV for review by both Members and the general public.
August
The Board honored fallen law enforcement officers from Los Angeles County and Oakland, and acknowledged victims of a recent shooting in Manhattan, NY.
Eddy Zheng, founder of the New Breath Foundation, delivered a presentation on CHI (Cultural History Identity) as a trauma-responsive strategy. He also shared his personal journey from incarceration to advocacy.
The SDOB’s Q2 2025 Report – mandated by Charter Section 4.137(b)(5) – was presented and unanimously approved for submission to the Sheriff and the Board of Supervisors.
The Board discussed upcoming community events hosted by the Sheriff’s Office and encouraged member participation.
September
The Board honored fallen SFPD Recruit Officer Jon-Marques Psalms.
Adam Cain, Director of Initiate Justice, appeared remotely to provide an overview of the organization and its mission to end incarceration by empowering directly impacted communities. He spoke of registering former incarcerated individuals to vote at first eligibility to encourage civic engagement.
Traci Watson-Akbar, Director of Sister’s Circle, spoke about the organization’s work supporting individuals before and after incarceration. She introduced case manager Sandra Simms, who described Sister’s Circle class offerings, and facilitator/court advocate Melanie Muasau-Asher, who the detailed the organization’s virtual support groups.
The Board elected Member William Palmer, II, as President and Member Ovava Afuhaamango as Vice President for the upcoming term, October 1 through September 30.
The Board also wished Member Xochitl Carrion well following her resignation from SDOB as she relocates out of San Francisco.
Finally, Members discussed SFSO community events to which the Sheriff’s Office had invited the Board.
Other:
During August and September, SDOB Board Members and Board Secretary Dan Leung have attended and made both oral and written testimony before the Commission Streamlining Task Force. President Soo and Secretary Leung submitted 71 pages of reports and documentation on SDOB’s work and the IG’s accomplishments from inception of a full Board in April 2022.
At the end of August, President Soo attended the two-day National Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) Regional Conference in San Francisco that was organized in collaboration with the leadership of Department of Police Accountability (DPA) Director Paul Henderson, DPA Chief Attorney Marshall Khine, and DPA staff and interns.
Following the September meeting, Member Sydney Allen tendered her resignation.