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Virtual Commission Meeting

Thursday, October 21  |  9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Agenda

Participate: Register and join Webex at https://bit.ly/3mXZgfh via your computer or smart phone. This is the only way to make live public comments.

Listen only: Call (415) 655-0001 and enter the access code: 145 433 3816. 

Submit written public comment in English or Spanish by completing this form.

Register Now! 

WELCOME TO THE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT COMMISSION

On January, 12, 2016 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to implement a Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission with the mission to improve public transparency and accountability with respect to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.   The Commission is comprised of nine members representing the Board, with four members of the Commission recommended by community and other affiliated groups. The cornerstone of the Commission’s work is community engagement and such engagement is encouraged and valued.  The Office of the Inspector General and its staff will work closely with the Commission and shall be accountable for investigations.

Commendations or complaints concerning the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department will be handled by the Office of the Inspector General. To make a commendation or complaint, please click below.

File a Commendation or Complaint

Virtual Conference

Qualified Immunity: When Protecting Officers Leaves the Community Vulnerable

On Thursday, July 29, 2021, the Commission hosted a virtual conference for the community to learn about qualified immunity protections afforded to law enforcement officers. Across the United States, law enforcement officers have been accused of committing numerous bad acts.  When private citizens attempted to take the officers to court, their cases are most often dismissed. In most instances, this is because of the court-made doctrine of qualified immunity. In this conference, panel speakers explained what qualified immunity is and how it functions. The panelists highlighted concerns about holding law enforcement officers accountable for violating people’s civil rights and discussed the obstacles of eliminating qualified immunity. Panelists also provided an update on what is being done at the state and federal level to eliminate qualified immunity and provide solutions as to what oversight bodies can do to assist in the fight to hold law enforcement officers accountable.

The event was moderated by Priscilla Ocen, Los Angeles County Civilian Oversight Commission Chair & Professor of Law at Loyola Law School and Brian K. Williams, Esq. Executive Director of the Commission. Speakers included Joanna Schwartz, Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law (presentation); James Wheeler, Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) President; John Raphling, Human Rights Watch Senior Researcher on Criminal Justice for the U.S. program; and Timothy K. Talbot, Attorney at Law, Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver. Play the video below or view the Webex recording.

Learn about past Commission conferences here.

 

Virtual Town Hall

Community Crime Rates & Public Safety

On Tuesday, June 8, 2021, the Commission hosted a town hall with guest panelists who spoke on changes in community crime rates & public safety, law enforcement crisis response, response time & patrolling in neighborhoods, parks & transit and other public safety issues.

Speakers included: Lael Rubin, Civilian Oversight Commission Chair & Former Deputy District Attorney; April Tardy, Chief, Central Patrol Division, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (Presentation); Rob Jones, Captain, Operation Safe Streets, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; Brant A. Putnam, M.D., Chief, Division of Trauma, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Department of Health Services; Andrea Welsing, Director, Office of Violence Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Presentation); Dr. Michael J.T. Fisher, Pastor of the Greater Zion Church Family; and Casimiro U. Tolentino, Commission Vice-Chair & Former Administrative Law Judge for the State of California. Play the video below or view the Webex recording.

Learn about past town halls here.

Understanding the Role of Subgroups in the Sheriff’s Department

The County of Los Angeles has commissioned RAND to conduct an independent research study on deputy subgroups within the Sheriff’s Department. The study was commissioned to help the County learn more about how these subgroups are formed, why they exist, and what actions might be taken if it is determined that these groups have a meaningful impact on the Sheriff's Department mission.

Read the Report.

Civilian Oversight Commission

 

The Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission is authorized by Chapter 3.79 of the Los Angeles County Code. The purpose of the Commission is to improve public transparency and accountability with respect to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, by providing robust opportunities for community engagement, ongoing analysis and oversight of the department's policies, practices, procedures, and advice to the Board of Supervisors, the Sheriff's Department and the public.

Code of Ordinances: Chapter 3.79
 

Confronting COVID-19 

The Civilian Oversight Commission is conducting virtual meetings until further notice. For the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 in L.A. County click here.

covid19.lacounty.gov
 

 

 

 

Family Impact Remarks

At each Commission meeting, there is allotted time for the families who have lost loved ones due to a fatal use of force by the Sheriff’s Department to speak. To submit a request, please review the Family Impact Remarks procedure and email cocnotify@coc.lacounty.gov.

learn more.