Riverside County Democratic Party Demands Action on Oversight of Sheriff’s Department
The Riverside County Democratic Party (RCDP) strongly supports Supervisor Medina’s motion to establish civilian oversight of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, which will be brought before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, July 29. This is a long-overdue step toward transparency, accountability, and public trust.
The vote will take place during the Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting at 9:30 AM at the County Administrative Building, 4080 Lemon St, 1st Floor, Riverside, CA 92501. Residents are encouraged to attend in person, call in, or submit public comment online ahead of the meeting.
“We applaud Supervisor Medina’s leadership and stand firmly behind his motion for civilian oversight,” said Anyse Smith, Chair of the Assembly District 47 Caucus, Riverside County Democratic Party. “There is no justification for continuing to allow a law enforcement agency to operate without basic transparency. The numbers are staggering, and the time for excuses has long passed.”
The data speaks for itself:
- 68 people have died in custody since 2019
- 47 of those deaths occurred in just the past four years
- Riverside County has the second highest in-custody death rate in the nation (The New York Times)
- Six of those deaths were ruled homicides
- A recent Grand Jury report found a lack of basic safeguards in the jails
These are not just statistics. They represent real lives lost under a system with no meaningful oversight.
This vote presents a critical opportunity for the Board of Supervisors to restore public trust. The residents of Riverside County are watching closely.
“We expect our Supervisors to take this vote seriously,” said Lou La Monte, Communications Chair of the Riverside County Democratic Party. “Their decision will send a clear message about their priorities. And we believe the public will remember who chose courage over complacency.”
