*** MEDIA RELEASE ***
Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board
Introduces Inaugural Inspector General
San Francisco, CA – The Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board (SDOB) today introduces Mr. Terry Wiley as its inaugural Inspector General at San Francisco City Hall.
“After a diligent process lasting almost a year and a nationwide search, we are pleased to be able to announce that the Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board has selected an outstanding inaugural Inspector General in Terry Wiley,” said Julie D. Soo, president of the Board.
“Terry brings a sharp legal mind who is experienced with the criminal justice system and has a lauded history of working on reforms. Just as important, he has a demonstrated deep commitment to serving diverse communities. We were looking for someone who could hit the ground running and engage well with constituents,” Soo highlighted.
Wiley grew up in the South Bay and received his A.B. in Political Economy of Industrial Societies from U.C. Berkeley and his J.D. from University of San Diego School of Law. He spent his legal career with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and prosecuted the notorious police misconduct case known as the “Riders” case. His grandmother established roots in San Francisco in 1949. [See attached for additional biographical information.]
“I am very excited about the new challenge leading the Office of Inspector General and continuing my commitment to public service, said Terry Wiley. I bring 33 years of experience and look forward to addressing reforms and accountability with the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office.”
SDOB was established under San Francisco Charter Amendment section 4.137 as approved by the voters under Proposition D in November 2020. On September 30, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill No. 1185 authorizing counties to establish a sheriff oversight board through its board of supervisors or through a vote of county residents.
SDOB’s seven members were fully seated as of December 2021, three members appointed by Mayor London Breed and four members appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Its first meeting was held on August 22, 2022, following required training and orientation on custodial law enforcement, constitutional policing, and the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department (Sheriff’s Office) policies and procedures.
SDOB’s authority and duties include appointing an Inspector General to head the Sheriff’s Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) [also known as Sheriff’s Department of Accountability – Office of Inspector General]. OIG is independent of the Sheriff’s Department and among its duties will receive, review, and investigate complaints against Sheriff’s employees and contractors. It will also make recommendations on disciplinary actions and develop and recommend to the Sheriff a Sheriff’s Department use of force policy and a comprehensive internal review process for all use of force and critical incidents.
Under the most recent Letter of Agreement signed in August 2020 between the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office and the San Francisco Department of Police Accountability (DPA), DPA now accepts complaints of misconduct directly from the public, including those incarcerated, and wider breadth of cases, notably any use of force that causes actual injury. A transition period is expected as OIG is staffed with civilian investigators and attorneys to assume the work currently handled by DPA.
SDOB will evaluate the work of the IG and OIG and move forward to conducting further community outreach on Sheriff’s Department operations and jail conditions and also evaluate and recommend law enforcement custodial and patrol best practices.
The mission of the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board (SDOB) is to provide independent, impartial, and diligent oversight of the Sheriff’s Department now known as the Sheriff’s Office. SDOB is committed to fostering a transparent, accountable, and responsive Sheriff’s Office through the Office of the Inspector General in community engagement and public reporting that includes and values all communities collectively served.
For further information on the Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board, go to:
https://www.sf.gov/departments/sheriffs-department-oversight-board/about
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Terry Wiley Esq.
December 2023
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Terry Wiley has a profound connection to San Francisco that spans generations. The Wiley family legacy in the city traces back to 1949 when Terry's grandmother and relatives first established roots in the iconic city. Despite his upbringing in neighboring San Jose, San Francisco has always held a special place in the Wiley family's collective heart.
Growing up in San Jose, Terry was immersed in the diverse tapestry of his family's history, with most relatives residing in San Francisco. This dual influence of hometowns shaped his upbringing, fostering a unique amalgamation of Bay Area cultures.
Terry pursued higher education at the prestigious University of California, where he not only excelled academically but also showcased his athletic prowess. As a committed member of the university's football team, his passion for sports extended to the track and field team, demonstrating his speed and agility.
In 1990, Terry Wiley embarked on a distinguished career with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. Over the course of 33 years, he has become a highly skilled attorney and a stalwart advocate for criminal justice reform. Terry is renowned for his unwavering commitment to justice, exemplified in his role in the case against Oakland police officers known as "the Riders."
A champion of fairness and equality within the adult and juvenile justice systems, Terry Wiley stands as a beacon for justice, irrespective of the individual involved. His dedication extends to ensuring a justice system that treats everyone with dignity and respect, particularly advocating for historically disenfranchised communities—people of color, the LGBTQ community, and women. Terry Wiley's legacy is one of commitment, empathy, and tireless efforts towards a more just and equitable society.
Terry Wiley Esq.
December 2023
PUBLICATIONS
Contributing author of CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL LAW PROCEDURE AND PRACTICE
- CAPITAL LITIGATION CASES, published by Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB).
2010 – 2013
HONORS AND AWARDS
"GAME CHANGER AWARD," 2022
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF OAKLAND
"LIVING LEGEND," HALL OF FAME AWARD, 2021
NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION
"HEMAN MARION SWEATT" CIVIL RIGHTS AWARD, 2021
NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AWARD, 2015
OAKLAND NAACP
PRESIDENT'S AWARD - AD HOC COMMITTEE ON EQUAL JUSTICE, 2015
Presented by NBA President Pamela Meanes
NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENT'S AWARD - EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE NBA, 2O15
Presented by NBA President Pamela Meanes
NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION
CLINTON WHITE ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD, 2007
CHARLES HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION
TRIAL SKILLS AND COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD, 2006
ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ALUMNI
CERTIFICATE OF SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION, 2005
CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE
OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD, 2004
CALIFORNIA DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION
OUTSTANDING AND DEDICATED SERVICE AWARD, 2002
NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, 2000
STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA, CRIMINAL LAW SECTION
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD, 1997
BAY AREA MINORITY BAR COALITION
PRESIDENT'S AWARD, 1996
CHARLES HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION
MERITORIOUS SERVICE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AWARD, 1996
ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
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