Close to Home: Healing from Andy Lopez shooting requires participation

On April 11, I started work as the new director of the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach. The office was established by Sonoma County following the recommendation of the Community and Local Law Enforcement Task Force after the shooting of Andy Lopez by Deputy Sheriff Gelhaus.

Our office has two main charges. First, we provide independent, objective, civilian review of the sheriff’s investigation of complaints against deputies, as well review of the policies that guide the actions of those deputies. Second, we have a mission of robust engagement with residents of Sonoma County, particularly those in disadvantaged communities, to facilitate better relations between those communities and law enforcement.

Since April, I have listened to hundreds of community members, from vastly different perspectives, express their hopes and concerns about relationships between the Sheriff’s Office and the communities it is charged with serving. I’ve met with the Sheriff’s Office, along with individual deputies and their unions. I also met personally with Sgt. Erick Gelhaus. After listening to many passionate viewpoints, my overwhelming impression from these meetings is that Sonoma County is blessed to have so many people of good faith who want to heal the rifts between law enforcement and parts of the community.

One part of that healing involves greater transparency through civilian review of law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office has agreed to protocols allowing Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach to conduct full audits of investigations into alleged deputy misconduct. These audits will provide, for the first time, civilian review of all details of misconduct investigations, including recordings of interviews of deputies, bodycam video and any other considered evidence. The office will audit the investigation and its findings to ensure that it is fair, complete and timely. Where the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach disagrees with findings of the investigation, it will notify the complainant. In addition, this office will report on such disagreements, including the general nature and reasons for them, in an annual report to the Board of Supervisors and to the public.

Also, with the assistance of a new Citizens Advisory Council, the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach will consider and make recommendations to the Sheriff’s Office on possible changes to their policies. The policies reviewed may include such important areas as use of deadly force, bodycam videos, implicit bias training or diversity in the workforce.

Lastly, my office will make every effort to facilitate improvements in relationships between law enforcement and the communities it serves. Without question, this task is challenging in some communities. And, whatever one believes about the appropriateness of Sergeant Gelhaus’ recent promotion, it has undoubtedly made fresh the wounds that resulted from the Lopez shooting. It looks like litigation related to the shooting may continue for another year or longer, making significant progress doubly challenging.

For this reason, I strongly believe it is incumbent on the Sheriff’s Office to make a meaningful commitment to true community engagement moving forward. The sheriff has made a good start by agreeing to work with our office to create community engagement circles, bringing deputies to multiple meetings throughout the county to sit with community members for frank exchanges in a facilitated, safe environment. When law enforcement and community members can see one another in their full humanity, there is a real opportunity to begin healing rifts.

Our office will also advocate for other initiatives designed to improve community relationships, such as community commendations of outstanding deputies and anti-bias training of all personnel.

These efforts can only be successful with the active participation of the affected communities and law enforcement. If you have ideas you would like to suggest for consideration, please contact our office.

Jerry Threet is the director of the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach for Sonoma County.