Chief Deputy Law Enforcement Auditor

Position Information

County of Sonoma's Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO) is seeking an experienced attorney to supervise the Audit and Investigations Team.

Starting salary up to $103.69/hour ($216,413/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

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The Position

The Chief Deputy Law Enforcement Auditor (the Chief Deputy) is a new position reporting to the Director of IOLERO (the Director) and will assist in the overall leadership and management of the department. Within this role, the Chief Deputy will supervise and oversee the work of Law Enforcement Auditor staff and consultants, as well as support staff within the Audits and Investigations section. This includes responsibility for reviewing, approving, and signing off on audits conducted by subordinate staff and consultants, as well as personally conducting the most complex audits of law enforcement citizen complaints including allegations of misconduct such as use of force, personnel, and administrative investigations.

The new Chief Deputy will assist the Director in the County’s efforts to maintain a credible, fair, and equitable review process, and effectively and fairly represent the community’s interests. This position will also assist with the establishment of office policies, procedures, and objectives. The Chief Deputy may be required to represent the Office in meetings with the Community Advisory Council (CAC) in the Director’s absence and may also serve on committees to represent the Department's needs, as well as represent the Office to external stakeholders, including the public. The new Chief Deputy will also serve as Acting Director when the Director is absent. As such, the selected individual must command the highest level of trust and confidence and will need to exercise considerable independent judgment and initiative, be objective, work collaboratively with a wide variety of stakeholders, and have a proven record of creating and sustaining strong relationships with those holding divergent and opposing perspectives.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Performing audits of investigations involving Sheriff’s Office sworn personnel and highly confidential issues, including the review of available evidence such as surveillance video, dispatch records, recorded interviews, medical records, transcripts, and police reports.
• Conducting independent investigations, interviewing witnesses, performing depositions, and appearing in court to litigate subpoenas and other issues related to law enforcement administrative investigations.
• Assessing and making recommendations regarding policies, procedures, strategies, training, and practices based on the complaints received and issues identified in Sheriff Office policies and procedures; advising if any investigations appear incomplete or otherwise deficient, and requesting further review as deemed necessary.
• Liaising with Sheriff’s Office management, outside law enforcement agencies, community groups, CAC members, and the public; working collaboratively with law enforcement staff, and educating the community on law enforcement practices, policies, strategies, incident trends, and challenges.
• Working with other County departments to advance the needs of the Office and the County.

Please note: Due to the nature of the case audit and legal work performed, the pre-employment requirements of these positions outlines that qualified candidates must have:

• Current active membership in the State Bar of California
• A Juris Doctor degree or equivalent from an accredited U.S. law school
• Four or more years of experience as a licensed attorney, typically in civil rights and/or criminal law, and experience working with individuals of diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds
• The ability to successfully complete a thorough background investigation
• Not been a sworn law enforcement officer within the last five years
• Zero immediate family members (defined as spouse, child, sibling, parent) who are currently employed in sworn law enforcement positions

The Ideal Candidate

The County is seeking a forward-facing Chief Deputy who inspires trust by acting with integrity, operates within a framework of public transparency, and demonstrates an understanding of and respect for the culture and diversity of Sonoma County. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual with experience cultivating and maintaining productive and collaborative relationships with community stakeholders, local leaders and elected officials, staff, and Sheriff liaisons. The new Chief Deputy will have audit and/or investigations staff oversight experience, the ability to set clear expectations, and reinforce a high performing culture. Additionally, this position requires visibility and engagement with the community — identifying, responding to, and advocating for their needs. Working effectively to facilitate and gain the cooperation and participation of interested parties to achieve desired results is essential for success in this role.

The County is seeking an individual who can remain objective and who recognizes successful and unsuccessful strategies and can modify their approach accordingly. The new Chief Deputy will be looked upon to develop and direct the implementation of work associated with highly visible goals and objectives, as well as standards and processes in this important office. They must be strategic with a commitment to moving beyond the status quo and be able to anticipate issues and think analytically. An even-temper, interpersonal savviness, political astuteness, and responsiveness are also key attributes for the new Chief Deputy.

The most competitive candidates are knowledgeable in law enforcement audit practices and principles, law enforcement best practices, and union work environments. Those who are knowledgeable and/or experienced with conducting community engagement and who are able to recognize and consider trauma-informed perspectives are desired. The ability to develop and write comprehensive and articulate reports and perform legal research and factual analysis is essential.

What We Offer

Sonoma County offers a total compensation package that is both attractive and competitive. Salary for the Chief Deputy Law Enforcement Auditor is $178,031 to $216,413 annually, depending upon the qualifications of the selected candidate. In addition, the County of Sonoma offers*:

• Hybrid, flexible work-schedule.
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation accrual and additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; generous sick leave accruals.
• Health Benefits - A range of health plans with several options, in which the premium benefits cover 100% of the employee's cost; dental, vision, disability, life insurance, wellness and professional development, and more.
• Retirement - County Retirement Law of 1937, which has reciprocity with other public retirement systems. Retirement is fully integrated with Social Security. New employees, as defined and eligible, will be PEPRA plan members and receive a 2.5% at 67 formula, or those individuals who meet certain criteria, including establishing reciprocity eligibility, will be Legacy plan members and receive 3% at 60. For more information about reciprocity, please visit Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association website at https://scretire.org/
• Incentive Retirement Saving Plan - A defined contribution 401(a) plan; a 3% County “foundation” contribution and voluntary IRS 457 plan Pre-Tax employee contribution up to IRS annual maximum, plus a 100% County match of employee contribution deposit into the 401(a) account (up to 1% of base salary).
• Post-Retirement Medical - County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
• Relocation Reimbursement - Reimbursement may be authorized for the successful candidate.
• Cell Phone Stipend - Optional monthly stipend of $50/month (if not assigned a County-issued phone).
• Employee Assistance Program - County offered at no employee cost.

The Office

The Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO) is a civilian review agency for the Sheriff’s Office that facilitates improved relationships between the agency and the community through enhanced transparency, the auditing of investigations, community engagement, and policy recommendations. IOLERO was established in 2015 and began operation in April 2016, making it one of the first such Sheriff’s Office oversight agencies in California.

IOLERO conducts comprehensive community outreach to engage residents in understanding, reviewing, and possibly recommending changes to Sheriff’s Office policies with a focus on disenfranchised and underserved communities. One of the primary avenues for outreach is IOLERO’s Community Advisory Council (CAC). Appointed by the Board of Supervisors, this group holds public meetings to solicit feedback from community members and to review and make recommendations to the IOLERO Director on Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures.

IOLERO’s audits and reviews consist of the independent review of administrative investigations conducted by the Sheriff’s Office and intake and review of community complaints. After a thorough analysis of the nature and frequency of complaints, related policies, practices, and community input through the Council, IOLERO may recommend changes to policies, procedures, strategies, training, and practices, intended to reduce complaints and improve community relationships. IOLERO also publishes an Annual Report reviewing findings at a public hearing of the Board.

In November 2020, the Evelyn Cheatham Effective IOLERO Ordinance (Measure P) was passed by Sonoma County voters repealing and replacing Article XXVII of Title 2 of the Sonoma County Code establishing IOLERO. Measure P resulted in a number of changes for IOLERO, the Director, and the CAC, including significantly increasing the department’s legal authority and capacity to review and analyze complaints against the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and to set the annual budget for IOLERO at 1% of the total annual budget for the Sheriff’s Office. In 2022, resolution of litigation over the implementation of Measure P, combined with Letters of Agreement reached with the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association (SCLEA) and the Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA), allowed IOLERO to implement new powers under Measure P, including direct investigation of in-custody deaths, deputy-involved fatal shootings, and fatalities from traffic pursuits, among other direct investigations. IOLERO is, to date, the only Sheriff’s Office oversight program in California with such authority.

The Office’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2024-2025 is $2.40 million. The staffing complement includes the Director, this new position of Chief Deputy Law Enforcement Auditor, two full-time and one part-time (.50 FTE) Law Enforcement Auditors, two full-time Department Analysts, an Administrative Aide, and an Administrative Services Officer who works with IOLERO, the County Administrator’s Office, and the Office of Equity.
For more information about IOLERO, please see visit the department’s website here .

The Organization

Named by Forbes Magazine as one of America’s 500 Best Midsized Employers the last three years in a row, one of only two government agencies in California to make the 2024 list, the County of Sonoma has a mission to enrich the quality of life in Sonoma County through superior public services.

Sonoma County is a general law county. The primary governing body is the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, which consists of five members elected by the residents of their respective districts on a nonpartisan basis. These supervisors serve four-year terms, during which they are responsible for making policy decisions, adopting budgets, overseeing the County's departments and agencies, and discussing and deciding on matters ranging from public safety to infrastructure development. The Board of Supervisors is fully committed to a mission and vision that values high-quality services to support and enrich the community, strong leadership, engaged citizen participation, transparency and accuracy in information, and efficient and fiscally sustainable government.

The Sonoma County 2021-2026 Strategic Plan is based on the following pillars: Climate Action and Resilience, Healthy and Safe Communities, Racial Equity and Social Justice, Resilient Infrastructure, and Organizational Excellence. For more information, visit www.socostrategicplan.org .

The County provides a full range of services to the community through 27 departments and agencies. The fiscal year 2024-2025 budget is approximately $2.46 billion, with 4,462 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff positions.

The County of Sonoma

Nestled in the heart of Northern California Wine Country, Sonoma County is the largest county in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, covering over 1,600 square miles. It is located in the northernmost part of the Bay Area, about 30 miles north of San Francisco, and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Marin County and San Pablo Bay to the south, and Solano, Napa, and Lake Counties to the east. Sonoma County is known for amazing wines and legendary vineyards, as well as organic produce and sustainable farming. The county is also home to the scenic Russian River, a popular tourist destination where residents and visitors enjoy kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and swimming.

Encompassing nine cities and five federally recognized tribes, more than a third of Sonoma County’s almost 500,000 residents live in the City of Santa Rosa, the county seat, and a quarter in unincorporated areas. Downtown areas such as Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sonoma, Healdsburg, and Guerneville offer a mix of historic architecture, boutique shopping, and gourmet dining, providing a small-town feel with modern amenities. Festivals, farmers' markets, and cultural events celebrate local talent and traditions. The county enjoys a diverse economy that includes agriculture, a world-class wine region, technology, healthcare, tourism, manufacturing, craft brewing, retail, and professional services.

While the latest census data shows that Sonoma County’s proportion of white residents remains higher than the national average, the share of residents who identify as Hispanic or Latino also ranks higher than the national average, making up more than a quarter of residents (29% in 2022). 37% of County residents identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Education levels in Sonoma County exceed the national average and the county’s public school system ranks considerably high within the state, including innovative charter schools and high-quality secondary education options at Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University. In 2022, the median household income in Sonoma County was $99,266. Although home prices reflect the value of living in an area that offers abundant amenities, the prices of Sonoma County homes remain among the more affordable in the greater Bay Area.

Visit https://sonomacounty.ca.gov and https://sonomacountyconnections.org for additional information about Sonoma County—the place to live, work, and build your career legacy.

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

Minimum Qualifications

Experience and Education: Any combination of experience, education, and training which would likely provide for possession of the stated knowledge and abilities. Normally this would include at least four years of related legal experience, including two years as a licensed attorney, performing work similar to that conducted by the IOLERO, including law enforcement oversight/audit work, civil rights, criminal law, or other relevant experience, and possession of a Juris Doctor degree or the equivalent from an accredited U.S. law school. Supervisory or lead worker experience, bilingual Spanish/English skills, and prior experience working with individuals or groups with diverse backgrounds are desirable.

Special Requirements: Successful completion of a thorough background investigation; has not been a sworn law enforcement officer within the last five years; and does not have any immediate family members (defined as spouse, child, sibling, parent) who are currently in sworn law enforcement positions. Possession of the Certified Practitioner of Oversight (CPO) Credential is desirable.

License: Current active membership in the State Bar of California is required. Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: the principles of civil and criminal law and rules of evidence; legal research methods and judicial procedures; the statutory and constitutional laws of the State of California; applicable policies/laws, weighing evidence in accordance with legal standards; the fundamentals of investigations including interviewingand interrogating principles andtechniques; legal researchprinciples; conducting depositions and litigating subpoenas and other issues in court; written and oral communications including language mechanics, syntax and English composition; legal document formatting and writing; the responsibilities, functions, policies, and procedures of lawenforcement; the fundamentals of investigations including evidence collection; conducting critical evaluations of findings and supportinganalysis; current Federal and California case law and statutes in the civil and/or criminal law; techniques of law enforcement training, instruction, and evaluation ofwork performance; techniques for dealing with persons of various ages and ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, who may have physical and/or emotional issues.

Working Knowledge of: limitations and authorities of the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach; local government organization, structure, and administration and its procedures, principles, and concepts; office practices and procedures, including filing and operation of standard office equipment such as a computer; laws related to public safety investigations and the essential elements of the California Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights (Government Code Section 3300); current trends on law enforcement review concepts and practices; research methods, statistical concepts and report writing techniques; public relations practices and techniques, including public speaking.

Knowledge of:local government organization, structure, and administration; principles of effective leadership and supervision.

Ability to: interpret and apply laws, policies, procedures, and regulations; conduct independent research, investigations, and fact finding assignments; perform statistical analysis, and prepare reports; act independently and remain unbiased, objective, and professional; demonstrate integrity and sensitivity; honor confidentiality and basic constitutional and legislative rights of all affected parties; establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with other employees, public officials, community groups, other governmental agencies, and the general public, particularly those with diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds; maintain effective media relations; work effectively under pressure; effectively facilitate and gain cooperation and participation of interested parties to achieve desired results; present recommendations and alternative proposals; prepare and/or edit clear, concise reports and to present them effectively both orally andin writing to a variety ofaudiences; provide training, supervision, and instruction to attorney staff and other related department personnel, as requested; assist in developing and recommending policies, procedures, and objectives for the Office.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

The information contained in the application and responses to the supplemental questions will be evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the employment process. Applicants should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of the application and be as thorough as possible. Please include a resume and cover letter that articulates your experience in law enforcement oversight, pertinent accomplishments, and why you are interested in the position.

This is a position in the classified service. Therefore, an application screening will be conducted to evaluate satisfaction of minimum qualifications.

Selection Process & Key Tentative Dates

Filing Deadline: Open Until Filled

First Review of Applications: October 31st, 2024

Please be mindful of the planned timeframe. Although it may be subject to change, it would be wise to submit application materials as early as possible.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

It is the policy of law enforcement and legal offices and departments, in the County of Sonoma, that candidates complete a thorough background investigation process prior to employment. This policy is imperative in order to keep the department’s employees and the public safe and to maintain high standards in the law enforcement community. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

The background investigation will include a thorough assessment of a candidate’s personal, employment, educational, and criminal history. The investigation may include but is not necessarily limited to the use of prescription and/or other drugs, reports from former employers, friends, family members, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, credit reports, court reports, public records searches, and/or other relevant sources. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment.

The results of these examinations and the background investigation shall be confidential and shall not be available to the candidate for review. Failure to pass the background investigation will eliminate a candidate from the employment process. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

Issues that arise during the investigation process will be assessed and judgment and discretion will be used to determine the employability of the candidate. Where there is evidence of a candidate’s past use of controlled substances, many factors shall be used to determine the employability of the individual such as a pattern of use, kind of drug used, circumstances of the start of the drug use, treatment, behavior and attitude since discontinuance, etc. Please note that a history of using controlled substances does not result in automatic disqualification from the selection process. Prior to disqualifying any candidate whose profile falls within the provisions of the policy, the candidate shall be given the opportunity to present any and all evidence of mitigating facts that the candidate feels should be considered by the hiring authority. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for this exciting and special career opportunity, please go to www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org to submit an online job application, including a resume and cover letter that articulates your experience in law enforcement oversight, pertinent accomplishments, and why you are interested in the position. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail.

This recruitment currently has a continuous filing period, but it may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

Please do not hesitate to contact Gary Phillips with Bob Murray & Associates at (916) 784-9080 if you have any questions regarding this position or the recruitment process.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: MANAGEMENT*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan :Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan :Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

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• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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