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 General¹) reports submitted to the SDOB.”
Charter Section 4.137 also mandates that the SDOB:
(2) Evaluate the work of the Sheriff's Inspector General (SIG) and may review the SIG's 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 SIG during Q1 2026
The position of Sheriff's Inspector General remained vacant throughout the first quarter of 2026. Inspector General Terry Wiley resigned effective January 10, 2025, and no successor has been appointed. Because there was no sitting Inspector General during the reporting period, the Board conducted no individual performance evaluation this quarter. The Board's evaluation work instead centered on recruitment oversight and on the Office of Sheriff's Inspector General as an institution. At the January 9 regular meeting, Member Julie D. Soo reported to the Board on the status of the Inspector General recruitment process. President Palmer and Member Ortiz participated in the discussion. At the February 6 regular meeting, Nicole Armstrong, Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Police Accountability, presented the proposed budget for the Office of the Sheriff's Inspector General for fiscal years 2026–2027 and 2027–2028, with questions and discussion from Members Soo, Ortiz, and Palmer. At the February 12 special meeting, Ms. Armstrong presented the budget for the Office of Sheriff's Inspector General and the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board for the same fiscal years. Following questions from Members Ortiz, Soo, and Lozano, the Board approved the budget by unanimous vote. At the March 6 regular meeting, Member Soo reported that the Mayor's Office has paused the search for a new Inspector General due to budget reductions. Member Soo cautioned that removing the office from the City Charter would eliminate its independence, and urged the Board to defend its oversight authority. Members Palmer, Lozano, and Ortiz participated in the discussion. The Board further identified, as a future agenda item at its February 6 meeting, the need to establish board best practices to maintain functionality during the current Inspector General vacancy.
Evaluations of law enforcement custodial and patrol best practices during Q1 2026
The Board received several presentations bearing on custodial practices during the quarter.
On January 9, Melinda Benson, Director of Prisoner Legal Services, provided an update on current operations, including recent accomplishments, ongoing initiatives, and the overall impact of the program's work. Members Palmer, Soo, Lozano, Afuhaamango, and Ortiz posed questions. Rani Singh, Chief Counsel at the Sheriff's Office, commented in support of the Prisoner Legal Services team's proactive handling of matters.
On February 6, the Board welcomed Chief John Ramirez, introduced as the official liaison between the San Francisco Sheriff's Office and the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board. Chief Ramirez introduced Ali Riker, Director of Programs, who presented on rehabilitative programs currently operating in the jails, including recent developments and ongoing initiatives. Members Soo, Lozano, Ortiz, and Palmer posed questions. Chief Ramirez subsequently commended the jail programming initiatives, noting the use of tablet technology to expand service delivery and inviting the Board to attend upcoming program graduations.
On March 6, Chief Jim Quanico presented the Sheriff's Office 2025 Annual Report, with discussion from Members Soo, Dignan, Lozano, Ortiz, and Palmer. At the same meeting, Marshall Khine, Chief of Staff at the Department of Police Accountability, presented findings and recommendations for the San Francisco Sheriff's Office as part of DPA's quarterly and annual reporting.
The Board identified a substantial set of custodial policy matters for future review, including contraband policy and thresholds for strip searches, intake procedures, jail safety, trauma-informed training requirements for deputies, jail living conditions including water temperatures and conditions for individuals undergoing substance withdrawal, language access compliance, and the reasons for extended jail stays.
SDOB Community Outreach
At its March 6 meeting, the Board considered an invitation from the Southeast Community Facility Commission to appear on the Commission's agenda. Member Lozano, seconded by Member Dignan, moved to designate Member Ortiz as the Board's representative. The motion carried by unanimous vote of the members present, Member Soo having left the dais earlier in the meeting. Member Ortiz presented to the Southeast Community Facility Commission at its meeting on March 25, 2026.
At its February 6 meeting, the Board identified the scheduling of community meetings for public input on the Inspector General search as a future agenda item, specifically naming the Southeast Community Center and the Latino Task Force as venues.
Aside from Member Ortiz's appearance before the Southeast Community Facility Commission, the Board conducted no additional outreach during the first quarter.
Community Input Received
The Board received public comment at each of its regular meetings during the quarter.
On January 9, the Board heard a presentation from Julia Arroyo, Executive Director, and Eva Barrios, Youth Organizer, of the Young Women's Freedom Center, addressing the organization's mission, key programs, community impact, and opportunities for collaboration. Members Soo, Dignan, Afuhaamango, Ortiz, Lozano, and Palmer posed questions.
On February 6, Maxine Anderson commented on the budget for the Office of Sheriff's Inspector General, noting the reduction from the original proposal and reiterating the need for effective departmental oversight.
On March 6, the Board heard from several community members:
Antonio, representing Roadmap to Peace and the Latino Task Force, called for greater transparency regarding jail lockdowns, noting that such disruptions halt essential rehabilitation services. He raised concerns about staffing shortages, unanswered grievances, and clearance processes for community partners, and urged the Sheriff's Office to prioritize accountability and funding for in-custody programming.
Joanna Hernandez, speaking as a mother and grandmother, described the prolonged administrative segregation of her son, isolated for a year despite regular reviews, and the effect of restrictive visiting policies on her family. She called for policy reform and greater responsiveness from officials.
Irina Rodriguez, representing La Raza, emphasized the need for better visibility and communication regarding opportunities available to incarcerated youth, noting that many working families are unaware of the programs their children can access.
Jessie Stout addressed conditions and a 2025 mass strip search incident at the San Francisco women's jail, called for the removal of abusive deputies, and urged public attendance at a Board of Supervisors hearing scheduled for March 12, 2026.
Input Solicited From Persons Incarcerated
On January 9, Marshall Khine of the Department of Police Accountability presented the proposed launch of a jail tablet survey and sought the Board's input on messaging, outreach, incentives, and future use of the platform. Members Afuhaamango, Soo, Ortiz, and Palmer posed questions. The survey is intended to establish a direct channel for input from persons incarcerated in the City and County.
The Board did not conduct jail visits or directly solicit input from incarcerated persons during the first quarter. Input regarding conditions of confinement reached the Board during this period through Prisoner Legal Services, through family members appearing at public comment, and through community organizations.
SIG Reports Submitted to SDOB Q1 2026
No reports were submitted to the Board by the Office of Sheriff's Inspector General during the first quarter of 2026. The office has been without an Inspector General since January 10, 2025.
During the vacancy, the Department of Police Accountability continues to report to the Board on investigations into complaints against the Sheriff's Office. At the March 6 meeting, Marshall Khine, Chief of Staff at the Department of Police Accountability, presented DPA's 2025 Q4 and Annual Report on Sheriff's Office investigation statistics, including data points previously requested by this Board, project updates, a developing interagency collaboration, and findings and recommendations for the San Francisco Sheriff's Office. Members Soo, Ortiz, and Lozano participated in the discussion.
Summary of Monthly Board Meetings
January
The Board met in regular session on January 9, 2026. Members Afuhaamango, Dignan, Lozano, Ortiz, Palmer, and Soo were present. The Board approved the December 5, 2025 regular meeting minutes as presented.
Melinda Benson, Director of Prisoner Legal Services, provided an update on current operations. Julia Arroyo, Executive Director, and Eva Barrios, Youth Organizer, of the Young Women's Freedom Center presented on the organization's mission and work. Marshall Khine of the Department of Police Accountability presented the proposed launch of a jail tablet survey and sought Board input.
Member Soo provided an update on the status of the Inspector General recruitment process, and reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Vice President Ovava Afuhaamango reflected on her service as a member of the inaugural Board, announced her resignation, and offered recommendations for the Board's future work. The Board thanks Vice President Afuhaamango for her service.
February
The Board met in regular session on February 6, 2026. Members Lozano, Ortiz, Palmer, and Soo were present; Member Dignan was excused by unanimous vote. The Board approved the January 9, 2026 regular meeting minutes with corrections proposed by Members Ortiz and Soo.
Nicole Armstrong, Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Police Accountability, presented the proposed budget for the Office of the Sheriff's Inspector General for fiscal years 2026–2027 and 2027–2028.
The Board welcomed Chief John Ramirez as the official liaison between the San Francisco Sheriff's Office and the Board. Chief Ramirez introduced Ali Riker, Director of Programs, who presented on rehabilitative programs operating in the jails.
President Palmer delivered a Black History Month presentation, Service, Sacrifice, and Struggle,” tracing the history of the African, Black, and Caribbean diaspora in law enforcement, including the election of Black sheriffs during Reconstruction, the frontier service of the Buffalo Soldiers, and the legacy of U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves.
The Board met in special session on February 12, 2026, with Member Soo presiding until President Palmer's arrival. All five members were present. Nicole Armstrong presented the budget for the Office of Sheriff's Inspector General and the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board for fiscal years 2026–2027 and 2027–2028. Member Lozano, seconded by Member Soo, moved to approve the budget as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
March
The Board met in regular session on March 6, 2026. Members Dignan, Lozano, Ortiz, Palmer, and Soo were present. The Board approved the February 6 and February 12, 2026 regular and special meeting minutes as presented.
Chief Jim Quanico presented the Sheriff's Office 2025 Annual Report. Marshall Khine, Chief of Staff at the Department of Police Accountability, presented DPA's 2025 Q4 and Annual Report on Sheriff's Office investigation statistics, including data points requested by the Board, project updates, a developing interagency collaboration, and findings and recommendations for the Sheriff's Office.
Member Soo reported that the Mayor's Office has paused the search for a new Inspector General due to budget reductions, and cautioned against any proposal to move the office out of the City Charter.
Member Ortiz led discussion on the Southeast Community Facility Commission's invitation to appear on its March agenda. Member Lozano, seconded by Member Dignan, moved to designate Member Ortiz as the Board's representative. The motion carried by unanimous vote of the members present, Member Soo having left the dais earlier in the meeting.
Other
Vice President Ovava Afuhaamango announced her resignation at the January 9, 2026, meeting, having served on the inaugural Board. The Board operated with five members for the remainder of the quarter and did not elect a Vice President during the reporting period.
The Board identified the following matters for future agendas during the quarter: jail safety; contraband policy, including sources and thresholds for strip searches; strip search policies and intake procedures; a presentation on Police Officer Standards and Training; jail tablet surveys and Prisoner Legal Services survey results; the causes of extended jail stays; an update from the Sheriff's Office information technology department; community meetings, including on the Inspector General search; formal acknowledgment of exemplary service by Sheriff's Office deputies; expanded City College of San Francisco access for the incarcerated population; Sheriff's Office budget monitoring; jail living conditions, including water temperatures and conditions for individuals undergoing substance withdrawal; a report on the facility operated by Connections Health Solutions scheduled to open April 1, 2026; board best practices during the Inspector General vacancy; trauma-informed training for deputies; program delivery updates; standing budget updates; and advocacy strategy regarding the Board's funding and independence.