About

The San Diego County Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) investigates citizen complaints against San Diego County Sheriff and San Diego County Probation, as well as any incident of death or serious bodily injury connected to the actions of either department. CLERB also recommends new policies or policy changes to the departments to improve policing practices, prevent harm and support equity. 

Mission

CLERB’s mission is to increase public confidence in and accountability of any peace officer, custodial officer, employee or contractor, including any contract health care provider, working under the direction of the Sheriff’s Office or Probation Department by conducting independent, thorough, timely, and impartial reviews of Complaints of misconduct and deaths.

Purpose

CLERB shall receive, review, investigate and report on Complaints in accordance with the Rules and Regulations. The rules are to provide for the independent, thorough, timely, and impartial investigation of Complaints, deaths of individuals arising out of or in connection with actions of peace officers, employees, custodial officers, and employee and contracted Health Care Providers employed by the Sheriff’s Office or the Probation Department, and other specified incidents in a manner that a) protects both the public and the Departments, Sheriff and Probation, that are involved in such Complaints, and b) enhances the relationship and mutual respect between the Departments and the public they serve.

CLERB shall publicize the review process to the extent permitted by law in a manner that encourages and gives the public confidence that they can come forward when they have a legitimate Complaint regarding the conduct of peace officers, employees, custodial officers including employee and contracted Health Care Providers, working under the direction of the Sheriff’s Office or Probation Department, designated above. CLERB shall also make every effort to ensure public awareness of the seriousness of the process, and that fabricated Complaints will neither be tolerated nor reviewed. The statutory and constitutional rights of all parties shall be safeguarded during the review process.

Background

In 1990, voters in San Diego County enacted a ballot measure to amend the County Charter requiring the County Board of Supervisors to establish the “Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board” (“CLERB”) to independently investigate complaints against officers employed by the Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department. CLERB is composed of eleven volunteers from the County’s five supervisorial districts—two from each district and one serving at large. CLERB is currently supported by a full-time staff of twelve County employees, including an Executive Officer. 

Functions

The County's Charter Section 606 charges the Review Board with receiving, reviewing, and investigating complaints about the conduct of peace officers performing their duties while employed by the Sheriff's Department or the Probation Department. The Review Board also investigates deaths that arise out of, or in connection with, the actions of these peace officers, regardless of whether a complaint is filed. The Review Board makes advisory findings on complaints and recommendations for policy and procedure changes to the Sheriff, Chief Probation Officer, and the Board of Supervisors. The focus of the Review Board is fact-finding, not advocacy for complainants or peace officers. The Review Board also publishes meeting agendas, minutes, summary and statistical reports and provides "early warning reports" to the Sheriff and Chief Probation Officer.

Duties and Responsibilities

Prepare reports, including at least the Sheriff or the Chief Probation Officer as recipients, on the results of any investigations conducted by CLERB in respect to the activities of peace officer, employees or custodial officers employed by the County in the Sheriff’s Office or the Probation Department including any employee and contracted Health Care Provider including recommendations relating to any trends in regard to employees involved in Complaints. CLERB is not established to determine criminal guilt or innocence.

Prepare an annual report to the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Administrative Officer, the Sheriff and the Chief Probation Officer summarizing the activities and recommendations of CLERB including the tracking and identification of trends in respect to all Complaints received and investigated during the reporting period and present the annual report to the Board of Supervisors within 60 days of its adoption by CLERB.

Review and make recommendations on policies and procedures of the Sheriff and the Chief Probation Officer to the Board of Supervisors, the Sheriff, and the Chief Probation Officer.

CLERB uses an “Investigative Model” for oversight.  For background, there are three different types of oversight models: Review-focused, investigation-focused and auditor-focused.  Agencies that fit within the investigative model employ professionally trained investigative staff to conduct investigations into allegations of misconduct independently of the overseen.

References

Contact

  • Phone: 619-238-6776
  • clerb@sdcounty.ca.gov 
  • 1600 Pacific Hwy, Room 077, San Diego, CA 92101