Calls for stronger civilian oversight of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department are intensifying, as a coalition of advocacy groups pushes a new ballot initiative following a rise in in-custody deaths.The Riverside County Sheriff Accountability Coalition is working to place the proposal before voters after the Board of Supervisors rejected a similar plan earlier this year. The coalition now aims to qualify a measure for the 2026 ballot that would establish an independent civilian oversight commission and an Inspector General’s Office to monitor the Sheriff’s Department.For the past five years, community organizations have urged county leaders to create formal oversight — a demand they say has grown more urgent amid an increase in in-custody deaths and misconduct complaints.After the proposal was rejected in July by all but one county supervisor, the coalition launched a petition to move the matter directly to voters.If approved, the civilian-led oversight commission would have…..