A controversial drafted ordinance that would restrict the activities of the San Mateo County Sheriffâs Office in Half Moon Bay has stalled, but city leaders are looking at installing a local police chief that could potentially have some oversight of the law enforcement contract and deputy behavior.
City staff requested at last weekâs City Council meeting that the drafted policy changes, which would restrict how the San Mateo County Sheriffâs deputies enforce the law, deal with altercations and conduct traffic enforcement, be sent to the Public Safety Subcommittee for further review. The Sheriffâs Office and some in City Hall believe that the proposed policy changes arenât possible simply by drafting an ordinance. Instead, the council opted to examine the option of hiring a police chief who could enact some kind of police reform through the Sheriffâs Office.