Riverside County to hold public listening sessions on Sheriff’s oversight options
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ)— Riverside County residents will soon have several opportunities to weigh in on how the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is overseen as a Board of Supervisors Ad Hoc Committee begins gathering public input on potential oversight options.
The Board of Supervisors voted in July to establish the committee, which will examine ways to strengthen oversight of the Sheriff’s Department and evaluate different models used by counties and cities throughout California and elsewhere. The committee is expected to consider existing oversight capabilities, as well as the potential legal, financial and operational impacts of any changes.
The committee will now hold three public listening sessions throughout Riverside County, with one locally in Palm Desert, giving residents an opportunity to share their experiences, concerns and perspectives directly with county supervisors.
“The purpose of these listening sessions is to hear directly from the people we serve,” Board Chair and Second District Supervisor Karen Spiegel said. “Community input is essential as we explore oversight options and evaluate what approaches may best support transparency, accountability and public trust in Riverside County.”
First District Supervisor Jose Medina also encouraged residents to participate.
“Meaningful public engagement is a critical part of good governance,” Medina said. “We encourage residents to take part in this process and share their perspectives as we work toward recommendations that reflect the needs and values of Riverside County communities.”
Three Listening Sessions Planned
The first session will take place in the Riverside area:
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026
- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Riverside County Administrative Center
- Board Hearing Room, First Floor
- 4080 Lemon Street, Riverside
The second session will be held in the Coachella Valley in Palm Desert:
- Thursday, October 22, 2026
- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Coachella Valley Water District
- Steve Robbins Administration Building
- 75515 Hovley Lane East, Palm Desert
A third session will be held virtually:
- Monday, October 26, 2026
- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- English and Spanish livestreams will be available online.
Residents who want to speak during the virtual session must register before the meeting begins through the county's online speaker form.
The county says feedback from the listening sessions, along with written comments submitted through the committee website, will be summarized and posted online. Personal identifying information will be removed before the comment summaries are published.
The county's examination of sheriff oversight comes as Riverside County also prepares for a major change involving the Sheriff's Department.
On September 30, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1379, legislation authored by Riverside County-area Senator Sabrina Cervantes that requires Riverside County to separate the offices of sheriff and coroner by July 1, 2027, and establish an independent medical examiner's office.
The new law also establishes public reporting requirements concerning deaths in county custody, including requirements for the county to make information about in-custody deaths available to the public.
The legislation requires the Board of Supervisors to appoint a medical examiner who is a licensed physician and surgeon qualified as a specialist in pathology. It also includes timelines for public reporting following an in-custody death and notification of next of kin after a cause of death has been determined.
The separation of the coroner function is separate from the Board of Supervisors' current examination of broader sheriff oversight options, but both developments could shape the county's approach to transparency, accountability and independent review.
The Ad Hoc Committee will continue examining oversight models and gathering public input over the coming months. The committee's findings and recommendations are expected to return to the Board of Supervisors by the end of January 2027.
