Orange County Supervisors last Tuesday appointed Catherine Santiago as the new director for the Office of Independent Review, an agency tasked with oversight of county law enforcement and social service departments. The appointment occurred months after supervisors, including Doug Chaffee, publicly described the office as "a toothless tiger on a leash" that lacked meaningful power.
Established in 2008, the Office of Independent Review has faced consistent questions regarding its effectiveness. It operates with only five staff members overseeing roughly 10,000 county workers across departments such as the Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney’s office, and the Social Services Agency. This limited staffing has been a long-standing point of contention.
Concerns peaked in June during county budget discussions, where a $75 million shortfall was noted. Supervisor Chaffee suggested defunding the office, asserting it had "never really been productive in anything I thought was meaningful." Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento echoed these criticisms, calling the office "window dressing" and noting, "It has no powers, it has no leverage," suggesting it be eliminated and reintroduced with more authority. Supervisors Katrina Foley and Janet Nguyen, however, cautioned against defunding, with Foley stating the office "is not coming back" if eliminated.
Despite these significant debates about the office's structure and utility, supervisors voted unanimously last Tuesday, without discussion, to appoint Ms. Santiago. She previously served as Senior Deputy County Counsel for Los Angeles County, where Orange County staff reported she advised the Sheriff’s Department on policy, litigation, and training. Ms. Santiago also has nearly seven years with the U.S. Air Force and remains in the Air Force Reserve. Her annual compensation package, including benefits, is set at over $420,000, which includes a base salary of $275,000—an $82,000 increase from her prior position.
Her predecessor, Robert Faigin, left quietly last November after his three-year contract expired. During his tenure, the Office of Independent Review's recommendations related to use of force for sheriff’s deputies were ignored. However, the Sheriff's Department did adopt several recommendations to improve women prisoners' access to family planning and health products. The office also carries a backlog of custodial death reports, with cases from recent years still unreviewed, stretching back to 2023.
Discussions among supervisors about altering the office's mandates or powers have not resurfaced since the June budget debate. Supervisor Chaffee declined to comment on the new appointment. Supervisor Sarmiento offered that Ms. Santiago’s hiring marks a "recommitment to the work of the office" and expressed hope it would serve as a "springboard for the enhanced oversight that our residents deserve." However, he did not address questions about expanding the office’s legal authority. The future scope and capabilities of the Office of Independent Review remain uncertain.