A path to gaining access to Sheriff's Department data, documents and direct testimony
Los Angeles, CA – Today the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion to Continue on the Path of Reform: Strengthening Accountability and Civilian Oversight of the Sheriff’s Department. This motion directs County Counsel, the Inspector General and the Civilian Oversight Commission to recommend options for modifying the Commission and Inspector General ordinances to grant the Commission access to Sheriff’s Department data, documents and direct testimony to fulfill their oversight function.
The motion includes a report-back on the authority to compel production through the issuance of subpoenas by the Inspector General, when deemed necessary by a majority of the Civilian Oversight Commission.
“The Commission is nearing our third year of existence, and one important lesson we have learned is that as an advisory commission, our power really goes only so far,” said Patti Giggans, L.A. County Civilian Oversight Commission Chair and Executive Director of Peace Over Violence. “It is when we don’t have that cooperation that our effectiveness as an oversight commission is limited and called into question. Civilian Oversight is a best practice, and the power of the subpoena is a critical tool to be an effective oversight body. We must have the ability to sometimes make the Sheriff's Department do what they don’t want to do—shine a light where one must be shone.”
This year, the Civilian Oversight Commission has expressed concerns to the Sheriff when requests for records, statistics and speakers have been not been met. An example is illustrated in this March 2019 letter to the Sheriff, and on another occasion this May 2019 letter to the Sheriff references a request that was not fulfilled.
Photo caption: Brian K. Williams, Los Angeles County Civilian Oversight Commission Executive Director and Max Huntsman, Los Angeles County Inspector General at the October 15, 2019 Board of Supervisor's meeting.
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“We know there are some questions that need to be answered on behalf of the community,” said Brian K. Williams, Executive Director of the Civilian Oversight Commission. “It is our hope that the Sheriff would give us maximum cooperation. Subpoena power will be a tool of last resort for us, but it is a tool that I think we need if we really want to increase transparency."
The motion also directs coordination and alignment with the report-back this month as directed by the July 2019 motion to expand the Inspector General’s authority to investigate secret deputy subgroups.
The report-back from today’s motion, due in 30 days, will include the impact this directive will have on the March 2020 ballot measure Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission Ordinance. The October 2018 letter from County Counsel outlines the Impacts of the Ballot Initiative amending the Ordinance.
 Photo Caption: At the Board of Supervisor meeting on October 15, 2019, before the board is Item 50-F: Continuing on the Path of Reform: Strengthening Accountability
and Civilian Oversight of the Sheriff’s Department.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Osborn, Community Information Officer
josborn@coc.lacounty.gov
Office: (213) 253-5678
Cell: (213) 952-9036
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