A young father killed by deputies on El Camino Real in Millbrae.

A pastor unjustifiably arrested at the behest of a sheriff’s friend and donor.

A sheriff and undersheriff caught at an illegal brothel.

A 400-page report detailing the “lies, secrecy, intimidation, retaliation, conflicts of interest, and abuses of authority” that ruined the former sheriff’s term in office.

Teenagers who are leery of interacting with law enforcement due to the fear of being profiled.

Deputies and county residents have no independent place to turn when they have complaints.

More than $13 Million dollars paid out in the past 5 years due to sheriff office misconduct.

More than a dozen pending claims and lawsuits totaling more than $48 million due to alleged misconduct by the former sheriff.

When will we stop the scandals? No matter who the sheriff is, we need an inspector general to create institutional guardrails to ensure accountability.

Student volunteers with Fixin’ SMC launched the"Stop the Scandals" initiative to increase awareness about the need for an inspector general who can bring transparency, accountability, and fairness to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

An inspector general is a professional who monitors the sheriff’s office and can address issues before they spiral out of control. They can investigate problems and complaints, do independent reviews and audits, and help keep our law enforcement transparent and accountable.

Beyond accountability, an inspector general is also a smart financial investment for taxpayers. Misconduct left unchecked leads to costly lawsuits, multi-million dollar settlements, and legal fees that drain public funds. By taking complaints, investigating critical incidents, catching problems early, and deterring misconduct before it escalates, an inspector general can save taxpayers far more than it costs to operate, often paying for itself many times over.

Fixin’ SMC is almost entirely volunteer-led and run. However, raising awareness surrounding this initiative has a variety of logistical costs including educational forums and events that include interpretation, paying for websites and zoom, communications support, producing information pamphlets and outreach materials, and much more which your donations will help support!

Please note: As Fixin’ SMC is a 501(c)4 social welfare nonprofit, your contribution is not tax-deductible, but it does help us make San Mateo County an even greater place to live.