Riverside County candidate responds to Sheriff Bianco’s recent remarks on oversight proposal

After social justice groups in Riverside County announced an initiative to place a measure on the 2026 ballot for a sheriff’s civilian oversight committee, the sheriff called them “pro-criminal activists.”

Lisa Matus, candidate for District 5 of the Riverside County Supervisors, said Sheriff Chad Bianco is trying to twist accountability into an attack.   

“Calling grieving families and community advocates ‘anti-law enforcement’ is both false and divisive,” Matus said. “True public safety requires transparency, honesty and compassion not political blame games. Riverside County has lost too many lives in its jails and in the community for anyone to pretend everything is fine. Seeking answers and oversight is not being ‘pro-criminal.’ It’s being pro-community.”

Social justice groups Riverside All of Us Or None, Starting Over Strong Inc. and the Riverside Sheriff Accountability Coalition announced they have filed a notice of intent with the Registrar of Voters Office to circulate a petition.

Bianco said in a statement, “Riverside County has elected me to keep them safe regardless of who they vote for. We will not be controlled or bullied by anti-law enforcement, pro-criminal activists distorting and misrepresenting facts for their own agenda. Truth matters.”

The Riverside sheriff is running for governor in next year’s election and is currently leading in polls. 

The measure would also create an office of inspector general.