Orange County Supervisors appointed a new head for their law enforcement watchdog last week – a couple months after the supervisors’ chairman called the role a “toothless tiger” and other supervisors said it doesn’t do anything.
The Office of Independent Review has faced questions on its effectiveness since its inception in 2008, with just five staff to oversee the 10,000 workers in departments like the Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney’s office and the Social Services Agency.
Those complaints came to a head in June, when county supervisors were looking over their budget that fell $75 million short of being structurally balanced and Supervisor Doug Chaffee suggested defunding the office to save money…