RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Thursday requiring Riverside County to separate its coroner's office from the Sheriff's Department, a move supporters say will eliminate conflicts of interest in jail death investigations and improve transparency.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco had harsh words for the move, which will put his department under the scrutiny of an independent medical examiner's office when suspects and inmates die in custody. In recent years, Riverside County jails have reported the highest homicide rate among large California jails, according to an investigation by The New York Times.
The offices must be separated by July 1, 2027, with the Riverside County Board of Supervisors establishing an independent medical examiner's office run by a licensed physician and surgeon qualified in pathology, The Press-Enterprise reported.
The sheriff's and coroner's offices have been combined since 1999.
County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen told the Press-Enterprise that while the law outlines the new office's structure and includes protections for affected county employees, it also carries significant costs not covered by the state.
He said the county will work closely with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and other stakeholders to ensure continuity of critical services during the transition.
The separation has been under review since late 2023, when the Riverside County Board of Supervisors directed staff to examine the advantages and disadvantages of dividing the sheriff's and coroner's duties.
"Separating the offices of the coroner and sheriff will enhance transparency and mitigate the appearance of a conflict of interest," Beaumont resident Lisa Matus told the board at the time.
Matus' son, Richard, died while in Sheriff's Department custody.
"The loss of my son was a painful chapter in my life. Not being able to see his body after his death was tragic. The body was not released from the sheriff's custody. They're really still in custody even after death," Matus said.
From 2020 through 2023, Riverside County reported the highest homicide rate among large California jails, according to state data cited by the Times. In 2022 alone, at least 19 detainees died in county custody, marking the highest annual total reported by the California Department of Justice in more than three decades.
As of now, the coroner's office currently remains under Riverside County Sheriff's Department oversight.
State Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, who represents California's 31st Senate District, said the new law is intended to reduce potential conflicts of interest in investigations involving deaths in county jails.
"Senate Bill 1379—which is a targeted solution to fix a long-broken system in my home county of Riverside—has been a long time coming," Cervantes said.
To Cervantes, the goal of this new law is simple.
"When an individual dies in custody in a Riverside County jail, their family and the public deserve transparency," she said. "We owe the families the truth; we owe our communities accountability; and we owe county taxpayers a system they can trust."
Chani Beeman, a member of the Riverside Sheriff Accountability Coalition, also praised the change.
"Removing the conflict of interest created when the Sheriff also oversees in-custody death determinations is a significant victory for transparency, accountability, and justice—and a vital step toward supporting families seeking answers after the death of a loved one in custody," Beeman said.
Bianco was blunt in his criticism of the change.
"Unfortunately, elections have consequences. Our board of supervisors and executive office made the right decision to reject separating the offices because it is not what is best for residents. Lies, identity politics, and a dysfunctional state government have now forced this upon us," he told Patch. "We will work diligently with the executive office and other county partners to meet the deadline to separate the offices. This new political division in Riverside County will continue until the 60 percent of voters who sit out elections realize their vote does matter."
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