San Mateo County's civilian advisory commission on the Sheriff's Office will hear a presentation on what happens after someone dies in county custody when it meets Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Captain William Fogarty, the Sheriff's Office liaison to the Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff's Office (ICAC), is scheduled to walk commissioners through the process following an in-custody death, according to the meeting agenda. The presentation follows a goal commissioners set at their Jan. 7 meeting to review policies and procedures aimed at reducing deaths in jail.

The meeting runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Manzanita Hall, 500 County Center, Redwood City. Residents can also join by Zoom or phone.

The Sheriff's Office will also present a transparency data dashboard at the meeting. Fogarty told commissioners at the Sept. 2 meeting that he would coordinate a presenter for the dashboard, which commissioners had requested. Assistant County Executive Adam Ely is scheduled to give a brief update on the county's Sobering Center.

The Mercury News reported five in-custody deaths in San Mateo County in the year before Sheriff Ken Binder was appointed in November 2025. Twenty-five-year-old Kyle Harrison died at the Maple Street Correctional Facility, with his family alleging a jail staff mistake led to his death, according to Almanac News reporting in August.

The ICAC itself recommended in April 2025 that the county create a permanent independent inspector general for the Sheriff's Office. Commissioner Rob Silano, who voted for the inspector general recommendation, said in August he had changed his mind, citing confidence in the Sheriff's Office.

"Do we have to spend $4 million of taxpayer money to set up a different division?" Silano said in an August report by the Almanac. "It's not out of control anymore."

The Sheriff’s Office received 50 applications for an ombudsperson position to handle complaints about its correctional facilities after applications opened July 28 and closed Aug. 11, according to the August report. The listed annual salary range was $121,264 to $151,611.

At an August retreat, commissioners set three priority goals for 2026–2027: improving the complaint process, improving how the Sheriff's Office handles people experiencing mental health crises and improving communication for incarcerated people.

The ICAC was established by the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2023. It advises the board, not the Sheriff's Office directly, and does not have formal oversight authority. Chair Kalimah Salahuddin will preside over the Oct. 7 meeting.

Residents can submit written comments to [email protected] by 4 p.m. Oct. 7 or speak during the meeting in person or via Zoom. The next ICAC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4.