How much is this union giving to Riverside County supervisors?

A test took place July 29 in downtown Riverside.

It didn’t involve pens, paper or classrooms. Instead, the test at the daylong Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting measured the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association ’s influence.

In the end, the union representing thousands of sheriff’s deputies won. Three supervisors — Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez left the meeting early — declined to advance a plan for greater oversight of the county Sheriff’s Department.

For frustrated criminal justice reform advocates, the supervisors’ actions, or lack thereof, prove money — specifically, what’s spent by the union on campaign donations to supervisors — speaks louder than the will of the people.

“I would say yes,” Vonya Quarles, whose reform-minded group, Starting Over Strong , is part of the