Oversight of Deputy Secret Societies

The reported secret societies among Sheriff’s deputies are dangerous and I think they have no place in our Sheriff’s Department. They not only erode public trust and undermine the chain of command, we have seen them promote racism and violence. On top of all that– they are a liability for the County. Just recently, a deputy’s reported involvement with a secret society forced the County into a $7 million legal settlement.

This week I proposed exploring whether or not to give our Inspector General the authority to investigate these secret societies. This could shed light on these deputy subgroups and help us ensure transparency and accountability within the Sheriff’s Department.