Oversight of Orange County Law Enforcement Agencies, Resolving a Dichotomy!*

2 Independent Reviews of LEAs: The use of independent reviews of LEA's practices is limited to unique reviews rather than to periodic reviews of policies, procedures and compliance. With all due respect, we disagree wholly. Currently, the Orange County Sheriff's Department is subject to periodic reviews in the form of internal and/or external audits. The purpose of these audits (reviews) is to maintain compliance with all applicable laws and statutes and to ensure best practices are incorporated into policies and procedures. Additionally, the department continually monitors case law and civil litigation and adjusts policies and practices accordingly. Police department practices are continually subject to scrutiny by the community members they serve. Should community members believe they have been treated unfairly, that police have acted unlawfully or that the police are not performing competently, they have a myriad of options to seek redress. First, community members have access to elected officials that have the ability to intervene on their behalf. As Mayor of Dana Point, community members seeking clarification regarding police practices and policy are encouraged and welcome to approach any Councilmember or the City Manager. Secondly, law enforcement agencies are subject to investigation and intervention by a number of state and federal agencies. In addition to an internal affairs Harboring the Good Life 33282 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629 • (949) 248-3500 • FAX (949) 248-9052 • www.danapoint.org investigation and District Attorney review, complaints of improper or unlawful actions may draw the attention of the state or federal Attorney General's office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Thirdly, police departments are subject to oversight by the media, privately funded interest groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and independent community members. Recently, the Orange County Sheriff's Department was subject to such a review by the Orange County Register. In this feature piece, the Register compared the level of service delivered by the Sheriff's Department to those of neighboring cities. Finally, individual community members who believe they have been aggrieved have the option to seek redress through the county Risk Management office, through civil proceedings or though the Grand Jury who have subpoena and investigatory powers. All of these review systems are in place and working effectively. Police agencies in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego counties are all operating under Consent Decrees issued by state or federal agencies. It is not by accident or oversight that we in Orange County have avoided these restrictions.