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In 2020, the California legislature passed a bill that allowed county governments to form civilian oversight committees, to — in the bill’s words — assist a Board of Supervisors to fulfill its duty to oversee the conduct of a county Sheriff, and of the Sheriff’s employees.

Since then, according to the California Coalition for Sheriff Oversight, a dozen California counties, accounting for some 60% of the state’s population, have formed such a committee.

Last night, as you read in Izzy Vanderheiden’s story, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors agreed to explore the idea of forming a sheriff’s oversight committee here in Humboldt. Failing that, a citizen’s group seems ready to organize a petition drive to put the question on the ballot. Sheriff William Honsal is staunchly opposed.

What do you think? Should Humboldt County have an oversight committee, composed of citizens appointed by the Board of Supervisors, to review the operations of the Sheriff’s Office?