This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted
sources.
From: [email protected]
To: SDA-Sheriff Department Oversight Board
Subject: Recruitment of Inspector General for SFSD
Date: Friday, January 6, 2023 12:38:50 PM
Dear Board Members,
I am a longtime practitioner of oversight and have worked for the SF Office of
Citizen Complaints (now DPA), the Berkeley Police Review Commission, and as
the San Jose Independent Police Auditor. I’m a former president of the National
Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE). I now consult
in the oversight field, advising cities and other entities on establishing
oversight.
It has come to my attention that the SF Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board
(SFSDOB) is in the process of appointing an Inspector General (IG). I believe
that the IG hiring is the most urgent and one of the most important decisions
that will come before your Oversight Board (OB). I saw the presentation by the
SF Dept. of Human Resources (DHR) in a previous meeting of the OB. In their
testimony DHR indicated that it would be difficult for their agency to conduct
the IG recruitment at this time. DHR recommended that it would be cost
effective and more timely to go forward with an outside recruiter to conduct
the IG recruitment. DHR also stated that they do not have the expertise to
conduct the IG recruitment. Hiring an outside recruiter to do a nationwide
search with outreach to several related fields is a best practice in the oversight
field and would reflect positively on the OB—indicating that the OB (and the
City) is serious about hiring the best person for this important position.
I know that the terms of some members of the SFSDOB will expire in March
2023. The SFSDOB must act quickly to set in motion the process of appointing
an IG. The current SFSDOB has had numerous experts speak on this issue and a
decision should be made by the current members based on the expert
testimony provided.
It is urgent that the IG is appointed to enable the full functioning of the IG, to
include investigations of complaints and recommending discipline, monitoring
and auditing SFSD operations, including providing services to incarcerated
individuals, to ensure compliance with applicable laws and policies. Establishing
a new office takes time, it is imperative that an IG be hired as soon as possible
to set up the processes of the Office of the IG: e.g. to hold hearings, issue
subpoenas to witnesses to appear and for the production of evidence,
administer oaths, and take testimony.
Hiring staff and setting up the IG office processes should not be completed
before the IG is hired. This would undermine the executive in this important
position before they start.
Best regards and thank you for your service,
Barbara Attard
Barbara Attard (she/her)
Accountability Associates, San Francisco
www.accountabilityassociates.org
Co-Author, 2
nd
Edition
Police Misconduct Complaint Investigations Manual
