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Board appoints nine members to new Civilian Oversight Commission, schedules start of work
Summary
After reviewing 67 applications, the Marin County Board appointed five district and four at-large members to the newly established Civilian Oversight Commission and outlined next steps including inspector-general recruitment and bylaws work.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed nine members to the county’s newly established Civilian Oversight Commission for the Sheriff’s Office and authorized the commission to begin organizational work and to participate in recruitment of the Office of the Inspector General.
The board’s action follows the board-adopted ordinance (Ordinance 3824, 2024) that created the hybrid oversight model and the county’s recruitment process earlier this year. The ordinance directs the board to appoint five district commissioners and four at-large commissioners, with staggered initial terms.
Deputy County Executive Lynn Walsh told the board that Marin received 67 applications for the nine seats. Supervisors publicly named and approved five district appointees earlier in the meeting and interviewed nine at-large candidates before voting to appoint four at-large commissioners. The appointments were confirmed by motion and unanimous voice vote.
The commission will have responsibilities specified in the ordinance, including establishing bylaws, participating in hiring the Inspector General, designing complaint procedures, receiving and reviewing sheriff’s-office investigations, monitoring the office’s operations, and conducting community outreach, Walsh said. The board and staff advised the new commission that the work will require orientation, training, and ongoing collaboration with county counsel, the sheriff’s office, and labor representatives.
Timing and next steps: county staff said they will convene the commission as schedules allow and then support its initial work program, which includes choosing officers, drafting bylaws and a code of conduct, participating in the inspector-general recruitment process, and proposing training. Walsh said the county intends to start the inspector-general recruitment immediately after the commission convenes and the commission provides input.
Supervisor Sackett thanked applicants and the community outreach working group that helped draft the ordinance. Deputy Walsh and county staff said the county will provide administrative support for the commission and budgeted funding for an inspector-general position and initial operations. The commission’s bylaws and any operating agreement with the sheriff’s office will return to the board for final approval where required by the ordinance.
The board’s appointments reflect a mix of community members, including people with prior law enforcement experience, civic and nonprofit leaders, and residents with backgrounds in oversight, law, and community organizing. The full list of appointees and the commission’s duties are part of the board packet and public record for the June 10 meeting.
