OC supervisors name new law enforcement watchdog

Orange County supervisors unanimously appointed Catherine Santiago to lead the county’s Office of Independent Review on Tuesday, months after some board members questioned whether the law enforcement watchdog should keep operating in its current form, according to Voice of OC.

The appointment keeps in place an office that oversees agencies including the Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney’s office and Social Services Agency, but Voice of OC reported its authority remains unchanged despite criticism over its limited power.

Voice of OC reported that supervisors voted unanimously and without discussion to appoint Santiago, who previously served as senior deputy county counsel for Los Angeles County. She succeeds Robert Faigin, who left in November after his three-year contract expired.

The Office of Independent Review was created in 2008 and has five staff members assigned to monitor about 10,000 county workers, according to Voice of OC. The office has faced a backlog of custodial death report reviews dating to 2023.

During budget talks in June, supervisors weighed the office’s future as the county faced a budget that was $75 million short of structural balance, Voice of OC reported. Supervisor Doug Chaffee said at the June 9 meeting, "It’s never really been productive in anything I thought was meaningful," and added, "It’s to me a toothless tiger on a leash…it really doesn’t have any power."

Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento also criticized the office during the June meeting, saying, "It has no powers, it has no leverage," according to Voice of OC. He added, "I don’t see it providing a real benefit." Supervisor Katrina Foley warned against eliminating it, saying, "If it’s defunded, it’s not coming back," Voice of OC reported.

Santiago’s base salary will be $275,000, an $82,000 raise from her prior Los Angeles County job, according to Voice of OC. The publication reported her annual compensation is over $420,000 when insurance and other benefits are included.

Sarmiento said in a Tuesday statement, "The selection of the new Director marks a recommitment to the work of the office," according to Voice of OC. He added, "Though I have been disappointed by the lack of active oversight in the past, it is my hope that this hire serves as a springboard for the enhanced oversight that our residents deserve."

Santiago takes over an office whose basic structure and powers remain intact for now, even as supervisors who approved her appointment have publicly questioned its effectiveness.