A coalition of Riverside County advocacy groups wants voters to decide whether an independent sheriff’s accountability committee should be established to provide civilians an opportunity to investigate jail deaths, possible misconduct and propose changes.
If successful, a measure could be on the ballot in 2026. The county’s Board of Supervisors refused to pursue such an effort earlier this year.
The sheriff’s department — under the leadership of Riverside County Sheriff and California gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco — is being investigated by the California Department of Justice for civil rights concerns related to deaths in its custody…