MAC Declines to Endorse Citizens’ Oversight Board

The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) declined to endorse a proposal to create a citizens’ oversight board for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office at their meeting Monday night.

The county Board of Supervisors is the process of drafting an ordinance that would establish a volunteer citizens’ oversight board and Office of the Investigator General “hybrid” in order to monitor the sheriff’s office.

Such oversight bodies are possible due to AB 1185, which went into effect in 2021.

“This would be a bridge between the sheriff’s office and the community,” said Andrea Weddle, chief assistant county counsel.

The county looked at existing boards such as those overseeing the Oakland, San Francisco, and BART police and proposed creating a nine-person group from all over the county, which would meet in rotating locations, and which would exclude current or former law enforcement personnel.

A series of online public meetings were held over several months while the ordinance was being created.

After two motions and various amendments to the proposal, the MAC ultimately declined to endorse the creation of the board, citing costs and the lack of clear goals as reasoning.

“I am a fan of smaller government,” said MAC Vice Chair Bill Mulgrew. “We have a sheriff who is elected by the people of Alameda County, and if they aren’t happy, they can vote (to not reelect). This seems like a recall in other clothing.”

Weddle and copresenter Wendy Still, the public safety advisor to the county’s public safety chair, were asked why such an oversight body is being considered. 

Though neither gave a specific answer, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office has face national scrutiny on a number of occasions- particularly for the treatment of inmates at Santa Rita Jail.

“There have been numerous concerns raised over the years,” said Weddle. “There has been litigation.”

Current Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez took office in January of 2023 after ousting longterm Sheriff Greg Ahern.

Mulgrew said that such elections are the way things are supposed to work.

“Inserting a layer between the people and the responsible organizations- why create another layer of bureaucracy? I have a hard time with that,” said Mulgrew.

He added that the proposed oversight committee could cost the taxpayers additional millions even as budget cuts are being discussed.

MAC Chair Chuck Moore also had cost concerns.

“I’m a nuts and bolts guys and I didn’t hear anything here that’s real compelling, that we need to have,” said Moore, who added that homelessness issues, hospitals, Meals on Wheels, and other county projects need funding.

Despite a lack of endorsement from the MAC, the proposal will continue on to the Board of Supervisors at their July 23 meeting. Following comments and recommendations there, the matter will return to various local boards for public input and further discussion, before eventually going back of the Supervisors for a vote.

Learn more about the proposal at acoversight.acgov.org