After social justice groups in Riverside County announced an initiative to place a measure on the 2026 ballot for a sheriff’s civilian oversight committee, the sheriff called them “pro-criminal activists.”
Lisa Matus, candidate for District 5 of the Riverside County Supervisors, said Sheriff Chad Bianco is trying to twist accountability into an attack.
“Calling grieving families and community advocates ‘anti-law enforcement’ is both false and divisive,” Matus said. “True public safety requires transparency, honesty and compassion not political blame games. Riverside County has lost too many lives in its jails and in the community for anyone to pretend everything is fine. Seeking answers and oversight is not being ‘pro-criminal.’ It’s being pro-community.”…