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PRESS RELEASE and EVENT. On August 25, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to set up an inspector general for the Sheriff’s Office, contracting with the OIR Group. Stop the Scandals.
The Board said, “California Government Code section 25303 requires the Board of Supervisors to supervise the conduct of all county officers, including the Office of the Sheriff. California Government Code section 25303.7 authorizes the county to establish an Office of the Inspector General, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, to assist the Board of Supervisors with its duties required pursuant to Government Code section 25303. The OIG is proposed to be established to further the County’s goals of providing transparency and accountability in government services and enhancing public safety. It also shows commitment to continuous improvement of policing practices and custody conditions.”
The OIR Group will be responsible for reviewing complaints, Internal Affairs investigations, officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, and critical incidents; auditing misconduct complaints and conducting independent investigations if needed; auditing policies, procedures, and training; recommending improvements; making public reports; and helping with community outreach.
See more here: Monterey Meeting Agenda
How much does an inspector general cost, anyway?
There are different models, and each county is different.
Three local counties contract with the OIR Group: Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and now Monterey.
The cost depends on how much service is provided, up to a maximum budgeted amount. In Santa Clara County it costs approximately $200,000 annually. Santa Cruz County is budgeted at $100,000 annually, and Monterey County at $150,000. The OIR Group estimates that San Mateo County could contract for inspector general services for less than $200,000.
How much does it cost not to have an inspector general?According to media sources, our county has paid out more than $13 million in the past five years for alleged misconduct by the Sheriff’s Office, and we currently face claims and lawsuits totaling more than $48 million (see Claims, Lawsuits, and Payouts).
How much pain, heartache, time and money could we have saved if the deputies and sheriff’s staff had someone to turn to when they had so many complaints of misconduct in 2023 and 2024?
The county hired retired Judge LaDoris Cordell to investigate, but only after dozens of media articles and broadcast interviews had publicly raised awareness of the crisis, with the Deputy Sheriff’s Association, for the first time in its history, voting no confidence in leadership.
For two years while the damage was being done, none of the issues were being addressed as the crisis ballooned out of control.
A regular ongoing inspector general builds relationships within the Sheriff’s Office and the broader community, while tracking metrics and analyzing trends, to nip problems in the bud.
Join us in Half Moon Bay September 24, 2026!
Join us at our fourth annual Fixin’ on the Coast, one of our most popular events. Once again we’ll be generously hosted by the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company in its original location by the sea, on Capistrano. All are invited to join us for appetizers and a cash bar, and please stay for dinner afterward! Thursday, September 24, 4-6pm, 390 Capistrano Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA
More on the Civilian Advisory Commission and Inspector General Discussion on Coastside Buzz
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors (BoS) Agendas
The Supervisors meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 9:00am, as a hybrid meeting.
Author: mdrag
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