Riverside County is facing a public safety emergency at the hands of the Sheriff’s Department. RSD is responsible for over 250 in-custody deaths since 2011, $100m+ paid out in taxpayer dollars to misconduct settlements, and a long history of civil rights violations, mishandling of public records, racial profiling, and other egregious abuses.

We deserve transparency, accountability, trust in our institutions, and real public safety, only made possible by independent civilian oversight over the Sheriff’s Department. Oversight works - other counties, including Los Angeles and Marin, have proven that independent oversight leads to greater transparency and restored public trust.

The initiative, if passed in the 2026 election, would establish an independent civilian oversight committee to uphold transparency and accountability from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The committee will review complaints, conduct investigations, make recommendations, and ensure transparency in the operations of the Sheriff’s Department, as authorized under California’s AB 1185. The oversight committee will have subpoena power, the authority to access records, hold hearings, and issue public reports. Their recommendations will be made public and presented to county officials.

The Inspector General will independently investigate complaints, monitor Sheriff Department operations, review policies and incidents, and work with the oversight committee to ensure accountability. The Inspector General will have independent investigatory authority, access to necessary documents, the power to recommend disciplinary action, and the responsibility to report findings to the public and the oversight committee.

You can support our movement for accountability and public safety by signing the petition and volunteering to phone bank/canvas with us to collect more signatures. You can also show support by donating to the campaign, endorsing the initiative, and spreading the word to your neighbors and communities across Riverside County. Learn more about how you can support here.

Every voice and action count toward our goal of ~60,000 signatures. Training and materials are provided - no prior experience necessary!

Petitions are on paper and must be signed in-person. Visit our action page to learn how to find a canvasser or petition hub near you.

To sign the petition for sheriff oversight, you must be a registered voter in Riverside County. Check your voter status here and register to vote here if you haven’t already.

The ballot initiative is targeted for the next countywide election which will be held on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026. Make sure you are registered to vote here.

On the ballot, the sheriff oversight initiative will read:

Should Riverside County establish independent civilian oversight of the Sheriff's Department by creating a Civilian Oversight Committee and an Inspector General with subpoena power to investigate complaints and review department policies and operations?

Signature collection is currently underway! The deadline for submission is June 3, 2026. We urgently need your help to reach our goal by signing and/or gathering signatures today. Learn how you can support here.