Riverside County Democratic Party Responds to Board’s Inaction on Sheriff Oversight
RIVERSIDE — On Tuesday, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors declined to move forward with a motion introduced by Supervisor José Medina to establish an Ad Hoc Committee on civilian oversight of the Sheriff’s Department. California Bill AB 1185, authorizing counties to establish sheriff oversight boards, was signed into law by Governor Newsom on Sept. 30, 2020. Despite an overwhelming show of public support, the motion did not even receive a second.
Residents from across the county took time off work, came prepared with facts and personal stories, and asked for one thing: accountability. Instead, the majority of the Board met them with indifference.
“As residents poured their hearts out calling for change, deputies lined the back of the chamber, and the Board met their courage with silence,” said Joy Silver, Chair of the Riverside County Democratic Party. “That silence speaks volumes. It tells the public that politics and power matter more than lives.”…