Committee recommends four members for Sheriff's Department Oversight Board created by Prop D

The Rules Committee on July 19 moved to recommend four appointees to the newly formed Sheriff's Department Oversight Board, a body created by voter‑approved Proposition D to provide civilian oversight of the sheriff's department.

President Walton, the ordinance sponsor, summarized the board's duties: seven members, mandatory training on custodial law and policing, authority to help select an inspector general, quarterly reporting on complaints and investigations and a role in developing use‑of‑force policy recommendations.

The committee heard statements from eight applicants who described a mix of oversight experience, lived experience with incarceration, legal and investigatory backgrounds and community outreach work. Public comment included endorsements for several candidates.

President Walton recommended Ovava Afua Mango (seat 1), Jason Wechter (seat 2), William Palmer (seat 3) and Michael Nguyen (seat 4) with a residency waiver for one candidate where necessary; the committee adopted the recommendation on a roll call and will forward it to the full board for confirmation.

What they said: Candidates emphasized custodial‑practice reform, public outreach, transparency and bridging the sheriff's department with community services for people reentering the community.

Next steps: The full board will consider the recommended slate for confirmation at a subsequent meeting.