OIG Newsletter #8/October/2024

Dear San Francisco, 

I hope you are enjoying the Latino Heritage Month celebrations in San Francisco, embracing the vibrant culture and contributions of the community. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting interested and engaged members from the Mission District to delve into their interests and priorities for the OIG and its oversight role over the SFSO. I also enjoyed the festivities in City Hall honoring members of the Latino community. More about these events below. 

As we kick off October with Mental Illness Awareness Week, it is crucial to prioritize mental health concerns within the realm of correctional issues. The prevalence of mental illness and addiction among inmates poses distinctive challenges for deputies tasked with monitoring, supervising, and engaging with this vulnerable population. Additionally, the understaffing predicament leads to escalated overtime demands and prolonged work hours, potentially jeopardizing the long-term mental well-being of deputies and staff. I am committed to advocating for mental health training and support initiatives to equip the staff with the necessary resources for effectively assisting individuals with mental health conditions and recognizing when to seek help. 

Sending warm wishes for a joyful and safe Halloween to you and your loved ones. Your continuous support is greatly appreciated.

-- Terry

I had the privilege of attending the 76th SF Police-Fire-Sheriff Mass at Saint Cecilia Catholic Church on the Sunday morning of September 8th. This annual mass brings together members of San Francisco's police, sheriff, fire departments, and other public safety agencies to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. It was a solemn reminder of the dangers public safety workers face and a chance to acknowledge the dedication of the brave first responders who keep San Francisco safe. Board President Soo and I were honored to pay our respects to the public safety officers who passed away this year alongside department leaders Sheriff Miyamoto, Chief Scott, Chief Tong, and city leaders. I also want to congratulate Chief Tong on her recent appointment to Chief of the Fire Department.  

While my role as the Inspector General will sometimes involve being critical of law enforcement, it is always with the goal of improving the Sheriff's Office, and it does not diminish the utmost respect I have for the many brave people who serve within its ranks.

On the evening of Friday, September 13th, I held a town hall meeting in the Mission District to connect with and learn from members of the Latino community who are interested in the operations and challenges at the SFSO. I would like to express my gratitude to Joanna Hernandez for her assistance in organizing this meeting, for her hospitality, and for her leadership. We had a very productive conversation that was at times understandably heated and emotional. I truly value the candid opinions, passionate advocacy, and numerous excellent suggestions put forward by the group. I also want to extend my thanks to Board President Soo, Board Member Carrion, and Board Member Afuhaamango for taking part in this important discussion, which helped us gain a better understanding of the community's priorities and expectations. It was clear how deeply the issues in the jails affect the community and how essential it is to represent the communities most impacted by the challenges stemming from staffing shortages. I hope that this marks the beginning of a productive and collaborative relationship. 

As your Inspector General for the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office, I have access to monitor, examine, and report on jail operations, providing transparency to the public. One of the most frequent and persistent complaints from inmates during my regular conversations with them concerns the quality of the food in the jails. To explore these concerns, I brought my team to conduct an inspection of the food services at CJ 3 on September 26th.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Deputy Chief Quanico and the inmate kitchen staff for facilitating a comprehensive tour of the food storage, handling, and preparation processes. It was heartening to see the pride and professionalism of the inmates working in the kitchen.

Positive Observations

I was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of the food and the cleanliness of the kitchen facilities. During my visit, I sampled a meal that offered a healthy balance of food groups, and which exceeded my expectations in terms of variety and presentation. Additionally, the facility must undergo and pass an annual county health inspection for its food operations.

Areas of Focus

For my review, I focused on three primary aspects of food services: Food Safety, Nutrition and Health, and Taste and Appeal.

Food Safety

Food safety is paramount in any food service setting, and this was one of our key areas of focus. We inspected the storage, preparation, and serving processes. Key observations include:

-Proper labeling of expiration dates.

-Multiple walk-in refrigerators maintain the proper temperatures for different types of food storage.

-Clean and well-maintained food assembly areas.

-Thorough heat sanitation of trays and equipment using industrial-grade cleaners.

-Adherence to strict food safety practices by kitchen staff, including the use of gloves and other protective equipment to avoid contamination.

The facility also offers a range of meal plans tailored to specific dietary needs including Renal, Soy, Vegan, Diabetic, Lactose Intolerant, Kosher, Gluten-Free, and Dental Issue diets. The level of care in preventing spoilage and contamination, and clearly labeling special diet meals was commendable.

Health and Nutrition

The meals provided are designed to ensure nutritional balance across different food groups. I observed that the inmate diet includes:

-Breakfast: cereal or pastry, milk, and fruit.

-Lunch: sandwich, milk, and fruit.

-Dinner: a hot meal with fresh and cooked vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates, and dessert.

Based on the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 (available on MyPlate.gov), I was pleased to see that all essential food groups were represented for a balanced diet with servings of fruit (apples or other fruits in the bagged breakfasts and lunches), grains (cereals, bread, and baked goods), vegetables (both a fresh salad and cooked vegetable), proteins (chicken breast and beans), and dairy (multiple servings of milk).

Taste and Appeal

While expectations for institutional food are generally low, the meal I sampled was very edible. Highlights include the freshly baked cornbread, which was a tasty standout, and a fresh, well-dressed salad. The chicken breast, though a bit dry, provided lean protein and the overall variety in flavors and textures made the meal more appealing. However, the beans had a plasticky texture and lacked flavor, which was the only notable critique. Despite this, the meal offered decent variety and taste given the constraints of a jail setting.

Additional Insights and Future Plans

During the inspection, Deputy Chief Quanico announced that hot breakfasts would be reinstated on weekends, partially addressing complaints about the lack of hot meals. It’s worth noting that early hot breakfasts were discontinued following a 2019 lawsuit where inmates cited disruption to their sleep due to early breakfast service. The 2021 settlement required later breakfast times, which shortened the time available to prepare inmates for court on weekdays.

While the food operations at CJ 3 meet basic standards, there is always room for improvement. I plan to conduct similar inspections at CJ 2 and will continue monitoring food services to identify opportunities for fresher, healthier, and more nutritious meals. Healthier inmates reduce the risk of costly health issues and future lawsuits. Moreover, healthier diets promote better mental dispositions, and a more content inmate population leads to fewer conflicts, making jails safer for both staff and inmates. 

Finally, I look forward to participating in the review of food vendor proposals when the current contract is up for renewal to ensure we continue striving for improvement in the quality of food served.

On the evening of September 26th, I had the pleasure of attending a celebration for Latino Heritage Month at City Hall. The event was a meaningful recognition of the vital contributions of the Latino community to our city. City Hall was filled with energy, showcasing cultural performances and speeches that reflected the deep-rooted impact of Latino culture on San Francisco’s history and future.

Congratulations to those honored this evening. In recognition of their remarkable contributions, Lyanne Melendez was awarded the Dolores Huerta Lifetime Achievement Award for her distinguished career as a journalist and advocate for social justice. Carlos and Ruby Navarro received the Rosario Anaya Community Award for their years of service dedicated to uplifting the community. Joshua Arce was honored with the Cesar Chavez Labor Award for his leadership in labor rights advocacy, championing the dignity and fair treatment of workers, reflecting Cesar Chavez’s enduring legacy. Their work serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of unity and advocacy, and it was a privilege to celebrate their achievements.

To keep you informed about our ongoing activities and projects, below is a preview of what to expect in the next few months.

• Regular visits to the County Jails to hear input from the inmates and staff about the jail conditions. We will be alternating between the jail facilities in San Francisco and San Bruno.
• Regular town hall meetings to inform the community about the role of the OIG and available services and to engage the community in a dialog about where to prioritize our efforts. Please stay tuned for notices of these town hall meetings. 
• Using this newsletter to amplify the voices of the most impacted community members by creating a section for community perspectives and opinions. We want to thank Board Member Ovava Afuhaamango for assisting with this effort.

In 2020, San Francisco voters passed Supervisor Walton's Proposition D, which resulted in the formation of the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board and the Office of the Inspector General. The primary function of these entities is to provide independent oversight for the Sheriff's Office. On December 20, 2023, the board appointed Inspector General Wiley, who officially assumed his role on January 8, 2024.

We appreciate your patience and support as Inspector General Wiley builds the Office of the Inspector General to become operational. While the Inspector General seeks funds through the budget process to serve the people of San Francisco and deliver on the promise of Proposition D, the Department of Police Accountability will continue to provide independent investigations into complaints of serious misconduct against San Francisco Sheriff deputies and in-custody deaths pursuant to existing agreements.  

Please stay tuned for updates about the transition of this work.

San Francisco Office of the Inspector General website: www.sf.gov.sfoig