Committee accepts Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board annual report; board outlines OIG hiring timeline and startup budget needs

The Budget and Appropriation Committee received the 2022 annual report from the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board and discussed next steps to stand up an Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Supervisor Shamal Walton opened the item with a summary of the ballot charter change (Prop D) that created the oversight board. Walton said the charter establishes a seven‑member board that appoints an inspector general, investigates deaths in custody and conducts community outreach and complaint reviews.

Jason Wagner, introduced to the committee as the president of the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board, and Dan Leung, the board’s secretary, presented the board’s work to date and the board’s internal estimate for a start‑up budget. Leung said the original budget for the new department was set below $3,000,000 and did not include certain necessary positions, equipment or office space. The board identified 13 positions in the original plan and recommended seven additional positions it judged necessary to make the office operational and self-sustaining.

Leung said the Department of Police Accountability (DPA) will initially incubate the new office, providing facilities and staffing so statutory deadlines are met while the OIG ramps up. He added the board intends to reserve funding to allow the inspector general to hire and onboard staff promptly once the position is filled.

Committee members and board representatives discussed recruitment and autonomy for the incoming inspector general. The Department of Human Resources (DHR) has an open recruitment and, according to presenters, DHR set a target to complete hiring by October; the application period was noted as extended to June 24. Supervisors questioned what decisions DPA should make now (for example, choosing a case management system or office location) and urged that the inspector general be given the autonomy to select systems and configure the office once hired.

Supervisor Ronan pressed the point that establishing an independent oversight entity differs from standard agency set-ups and said the inspector general should have maximum autonomy to organize the new office in a way that attracts qualified applicants. Board members said they intend to follow that practice and that DPA’s interim role is intended to avoid any gap in services.

Public commenters urged greater transparency and regular communication about the board’s work; at least one speaker urged the board to meet directly with incarcerated people, which the presenters said they are planning as part of charter duties. The board reported having held community meetings—three to date—and scheduling additional meetings, including a session at Glide Memorial Church.

Supervisor Walton moved to file the hearing and approve the resolution accepting the annual report; the committee recorded a roll call with Supervisor Ronan excused and the motions passed with four ayes.

Next steps cited in the presentation included continued recruitment work through DHR, developing an OIG staffing plan and transitioning case management and complaint data systems with attention to preserving existing complaint records.