Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review & Outreach (IOLERO) FY 2017-18 Annual Report Jerry Threet, Director September 18, 2018 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2: Executive Summary .................................................................................................... 8 I. Audits of Administrative Investigations ............................................................................. 10 II. Policy Reviews and Recommendations ........................................................................... 11 III. Community Outreach and Engagement ........................................................................... 12 IV. IOLERO’s Community Advisory Council .......................................................................... 12 V. Looking Toward the Future .............................................................................................. 13 Chapter 3: The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office ......................................................................... 15 I. History of the Sheriff’s Office ............................................................................................ 15 II. Missions of Sheriff’s Office ............................................................................................... 15 III. Organization, Staffing, & Budget of the Sheriff’s Office ................................................... 16 IV. Demographic Make-up of the Sheriff’s Office Workforce ................................................. 17 V. Navigating Significant Challenges During 2017-18 .......................................................... 24 Chapter 4: Creation, Establishment, Mission and Operating Philosophy of IOLERO ................. 27 I. Creation of IOLERO ......................................................................................................... 27 II. Missions of the Office ....................................................................................................... 27 a. Independent Civilian Audit of Sheriff’s Office Administrative Investigations ............. 28 b. Reviewing Policy and Recommending Changes to Reflect Community Input .......... 29 c. Engaging the Community to Rebuild Trust and Improve Relationships .................... 30 d. The Overarching Role of IOLERO and its CAC in These Missions .......................... 31 III. Organization, Staffing, and Budget of IOLERO ................................................................ 32 Chapter 5: Overview of the Complaint and Audit Process .......................................................... 34 I. Step One: Complaint Intake ............................................................................................. 36 II. Step Two: The Sheriff’s Office Investigation .................................................................... 36 III. Step Three: The Department Makes Findings ................................................................. 36 IV. Step Four: IOLERO Audits the Investigation .................................................................... 37 V. Step Five: Notice to Complainants ................................................................................... 38 VI. Sheriff’s Office Generated Investigations ......................................................................... 38 VII. Annual Reporting ............................................................................................................. 39 Chapter 6. Complaint Investigation and Audit Data and Trends ................................................. 40 I. Overview of Complaint, Investigation, and Audit Data ..................................................... 40 a. Complaints Processed During FY 17/18 ................................................................... 40 1. All Complaints Filed During FY 17/18 ....................................................................... 41 2. All Complaints Processed During FY 17/18 .............................................................. 43 3. All Complaints Audited During FY 17/18 ................................................................... 45 i 4. Audit Disagreements During FY 17/18 ..................................................................... 50 b. All Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs and Complaint Investigations in FY 17/18 (including those not audited by IOLERO) ........................................................................ 60 II. Use of Force Investigations and Audits ............................................................................ 61 a. Basis for IOLERO Audits of Use of Force ................................................................. 61 b. Sheriff’s Office Use of Force Policies ........................................................................ 62 c. IOLERO Audits of Use of Force Investigations ......................................................... 63 d. Sheriff’s Office Historical Data on Use of Force ........................................................ 64 i. Patrol Deputy Uses of Force ..................................................................................... 64 ii. Correctional Deputy Uses of Force ........................................................................... 66 b. Critical Incidents, Including Deputy Involved Shootings ........................................... 66 Chapter 7. IOLERO Community Outreach & Engagement ......................................................... 71 I. Overview of General Outreach Efforts ............................................................................. 71 II. Outreach Targeted to Disadvantaged Communities................................................... 73 III. IOLERO’s Community Advisory Council .......................................................................... 74 IV. IOLERO’s Website and Social Media Presence .............................................................. 77 V. IOLERO Youth Video Project ........................................................................................... 77 VI. IOLERO’s Media Coverage ...................................................................................... 78 VII. IOLERO Sponsored Community Engagement ................................................................. 78 a. Community Engagement Circles ...................................................................................... 78 b. Community Focus Groups ............................................................................................... 80 Chapter 8: Law Enforcement Training & Outreach ..................................................................... 81 I. Overview .......................................................................................................................... 81 II. Participation in Training .................................................................................................... 81 III. Outreach to Law Enforcement Groups ............................................................................. 83 Chapter 9: IOLERO Policy Recommendations ........................................................................... 84 I. Overview .......................................................................................................................... 84 II. IOLERO’s Policy Recommendations on Investigations and Audits.................................. 84 III. Homeless Policies ............................................................................................................ 86 IV. IOLERO’s Video Camera Policy Recommendations to the Sheriff’s Office ..................... 88 a. Continuous Operation of Body Worn Cameras Once Initiated ................................. 88 b. Body Worn Camera Compliance Audits ................................................................... 89 c. Sharing Body Worn Camera Video with the Public ................................................... 90 d. Sharing Body Worn Camera Video with Complainants ............................................ 91 e. Video Policies in the Detention Environment ............................................................ 92 V. IOLERO’s Recommendations to the Sheriff’s Office Concerning Policies and Practices on Behavioral Counseling and Use of Force in the Detention Environment ................................ 93 ii 1. Limits on “Behavioral Counseling” ............................................................................ 95 2. Limits on Use of Force in Detention .......................................................................... 96 Vi. IOLERO’s Previous Policy Recommendations to the Sheriff’s Office ................................ 97 a. Implicit bias training .................................................................................................. 97 b. Community Oriented Policing ................................................................................... 97 Chapter 10: IOLERO Lessons Learned .................................................................................... 101 I. Working Collaboratively in the Midst of Differences ....................................................... 101 a. Environmental Factors Affecting Professional Relationships ......................................... 101 i. Contested Sheriff’s Election ........................................................................................... 101 ii. Sonoma County Fire Disaster .......................................................................................