On Tuesday, Oct. 24, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisor will convene its long-anticipated study session for civilian oversight of the Sheriff’s Office. Civilian oversight of the Sheriff’s Office is based on California Government Code Section 25303.7, effective in 2021, authorizing “any county to establish a sheriff oversight board and inspector general with investigatory and subpoena powers to assist the Board of Supervisors with its duties required pursuant to Section 25303 that relate to the sheriff.”
At the Board of Supervisors meeting on Nov. 1, 2022, Supervisor Slocum made “a motion ... seconded by Supervisor Canepa, and approved unanimously to express the board’s support for oversight of the Sheriff’s Office and direction to staff and the ad hoc committee to return to the full board with a proposal that involves both an inspector general and a board.” — Board minutes Nov. 1, 2022.
This is the commitment our county board has made to our county’s citizens. Nothing more, nothing less. Since the passage of this motion over hundreds of county citizens and organizations have spoken at pubic comment periods to the board, offering resources to assist in learning about successful county oversight programs in the Bay Area, California and other states nationally. Recent county news releases state no action will be taken at the meeting.
It is the hope of our citizenry that the board will be true to its motion of unanimous support for oversight of the Sheriff’s Office with a proposal for a board and inspector general.
Oh, how I wish there had been some kind of sheriff oversight or a way to complain when I was crossing guard for 10 years at a nearby elementary school! Instead of supporting me, some deputies actually worked against me, probably because I had the guts to direct all traffic, vehicular as well as pedestrian, because I realized right away that was the only way to keep “my” T-section safe and flowing smoothly during my 45 mins every morning, with some 140-150 cars passing through, in addition to all the little and larger feet. Sheriff Munk wrote me a letter and said I didn’t have his authority to do so, without a badge on my chest and a gun on my hip, - although I showed him some affirmative federal regulations in my favor, - apparently unknown to him! So much for doing a very necessary public service, - without stepping on authoritative sensitive toes!
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Oh, how I wish there had been some kind of sheriff oversight or a way to complain when I was crossing guard for 10 years at a nearby elementary school! Instead of supporting me, some deputies actually worked against me, probably because I had the guts to direct all traffic, vehicular as well as pedestrian, because I realized right away that was the only way to keep “my” T-section safe and flowing smoothly during my 45 mins every morning, with some 140-150 cars passing through, in addition to all the little and larger feet. Sheriff Munk wrote me a letter and said I didn’t have his authority to do so, without a badge on my chest and a gun on my hip, - although I showed him some affirmative federal regulations in my favor, - apparently unknown to him! So much for doing a very necessary public service, - without stepping on authoritative sensitive toes!
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.