MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County has officially chosen its first-ever Inspector General, establishing a brand-new, independent office to oversee the Sheriff’s Office in what officials are calling a major move for public transparency and accountability that will work alongside the existing Civilian Oversight Commission.
John Alden brings more than 25 years of legal experience, including almost 20 years focused on law enforcement oversight. He most recently directed Sonoma County’s Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach and has held leadership roles with the Oakland Community Police Review Agency and the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.
Alden graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law and started his legal work as a Deputy District Attorney in Marin County. He also sits on the board of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement.
“John has demonstrated a clear commitment to objective oversight, fairness, thoughtful analysis, and meaningful community engagement,” said Marin County Executive Derek Johnson. “His leadership will be essential in building the Office of Inspector General from the ground up and ensuring it serves as a trusted, independent resource for the community and the County.”
The new Office of Inspector General was created by Ordinance 3824, which County officials said reflects their dedication to building community trust.
In his new, independent role, Alden will manage community complaints, conduct audits of police practices, and issue public reports. He is tasked with looking for systemic trends in complaints, aiming for proactive rather than just reactive governance.
Alden starts the week of May 25. To meet the public, he plans a series of community meet-and-greet events across all five supervisorial districts. Residents can sign up for updates on these sessions through the County’s official communication portal.
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