Civilian Oversight Commission

The Civilian Oversight Commission's purpose is to initiate, build and maintain a trusting relationship between members of the public and the Marin County Sheriff's Office through transparent, respectful, just, and accountable oversight that is rooted in public safety, justice, and accountability. The Civilian Oversight Commission will work in collaboration with the Marin County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Inspector General to fulfill this purpose.

Members of the Commission

John Alden Selected as Marin County’s First Inspector General -  John Alden has been selected as Marin County’s first Inspector General, a newly established role that will provide independent oversight of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office in collaboration with the Civilian Oversight Commission.

Now Open: Civilian Oversight Commission Applications (Districts 1 & 4) - Recruitment is now open for two seats on the Civilian Oversight Commission representing Supervisorial Districts 1 and 4. If you live in one of these districts and are interested in serving your community, we encourage you to apply.

• Meetings are open to the public.
• The Commission's next Regular Meeting information:
  • Date and time: Monday, June 8 at 6:00 PM.
  • Location:
    • In Person: Marin County Civic Center, Suite 143D, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903
    • Via Videoconferencing (Zoom): The link is provided in the June 8 Agenda.
       
• June 8, 2026 Civilian Oversight Commission Agenda Packet
• Meeting agendas are posted 72 hours prior to the meeting and can be found by visiting the Agendas & Minutes page.
• Translation services are available. Please request translation services no later than five days before the meeting.  Please use the Contact information on this page to make a translation services request.
• Hay servicios de traducción disponibles. Solicite sus servicios de traducción con al menos cinco días de antelación a la reunión. Utilice la información de contacto de esta página para solicitar servicios de traducción.

The Civilian Oversight Commission is responsible for ensuring transparent, accountable oversight of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office. Its duties include monitoring Sheriff's Office policies, procedures, and training, as well as reviewing completed complaints related to the Sheriff’s Office. The Commission is tasked with developing and managing an independent complaint process, conducting community outreach, and issuing annual reports detailing its activities. Additionally, the Commision will make recommendations for improvements to Sheriff's Office practices, provide input on the hiring and performance review of the Inspector General, and conduct a self-assessment of its effectiveness at regular intervals. The commission plays a critical role in fostering trust between the community and law enforcement through its oversight activities.

• The Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance 3824 in November 2024. This allowed the Board to establish the commission and allowed the Board to create an Office of the Inspector General.
• The Board of Supervisors appointed commission members on June 10, 2025.

Since its inaugural meeting in August 2025, the Civilian Oversight Commission has undertaken a substantial body of foundational work to support its oversight mandate. 

Early in its formation, the Commission adopted its first Workplan, which establishes a clear framework for how the Commission will organize and prioritize its responsibilities. The Workplan is designed to guide the Commission’s efforts in promoting transparency, accountability, and public trust as it builds a strong foundation for effective oversight.

The Commission also established three ad hoc subcommittees tasked with developing key guiding documents, which met regularly from fall 2025 through spring 2026.

The resulting materials—including the Draft Community Outreach and Engagement Plan, Draft Training Curriculum, and the Draft Bylaws—reflect a thoughtful, collaborative, and forward-looking approach to building effective, transparent, and community-centered oversight.

Together, these documents represent a strong and deliberate starting point for the Commission’s work, and we invite community members to review them as part of an ongoing commitment to accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.

• Want to know what the Civilian Oversight Commission is discussing — and what actions were taken? Our meeting previews and reviews make it easy to follow the issues, understand the impact, and stay connected. Explore the latest updates here.
   
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