Sonoma County’s civilian police oversight agency, IOLERO, presented its annual report this week, noting both improvements and deep conflict with the Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Press Democrat, Director John Alden acknowledged the Sheriff’s Office has made “good progress” on policy issues and that the two agencies agreed on the outcome of internal investigations most of the time.
However, the director stressed that the central problem is an ongoing legal fight over IOLERO’s authority to issue subpoenas and conduct independent investigations, as mandated by Measure P. This dispute has overshadowed the report, which is currently tied up in court.
In the past year, IOLERO received 44 citizen complaints and completed audits of internal affairs probes. Both agencies are urging a resolution to the standoff to allow the oversight work to fully move forward.