May 25, 2004

Complaints about San Jose police decline for fifth straight year
Ten-year Police Auditor report shows steady downward trend

Community complaints about police conduct in San Jose have plummeted by 60 percent over the past five years according to statistics in the 2003 annual report released by the San Jose Independent Police Auditor in May.

Independent Police Auditor Teresa Guerrero-Daley also reported a steady downward trend over the past 10 years of officer-involved shootings that result in injuries or death to either police or the public in San Jose. Officer-involved shootings have decreased from a high of eight in 1999 to four in 2003. In 2002, there were none.

In 2003, San Jose police officers handled approximately 639,000 police contacts and calls for service. As a result of these contacts, the police auditor and police department received only 323 complaints. In 1999, the IPA handled 819 complaints.

“Our police officers are among the best-trained in the nation to provide effective policing that is sensitive to San Jose residents and community priorities,” said San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales. “The excellent cooperation with our police department working with the Independent Police Auditor has become a successful model for other cities and departments.”

Over the past several years the IPA and San José police have implemented changes that focused on keeping the use of deadly force by police to the minimum needed to ensure community and officer safety. Changes have affected policies, communications and training regarding the proper use of force to handle volatile and dangerous situations.

Earlier this year San Jose purchased 639 electric Taser stun guns for all patrol officers to provide a non-lethal alternative weapon, becoming the largest city in California to take this step. The $819,000 purchase was funded through federal grants to supplement the department’s 162 Tasers already in service.

“The decrease in officer-involved shootings is the result of our focused efforts to improve training and reduce risks,” said Guerrero-Daley. “Our police oversight system has enabled our residents, elected officials and police officers to work well together to resolve critical issues and make this community safer for all our residents.”

The Independent Police Auditor was established in 1994 on a trial basis and has become a recognized leader in civilian oversight of law enforcement throughout the country. The 2003 IPA report provides a comprehensive overview of the role, recommendations, accomplishments and trends over the past 10 years. The report can be found on the city of San Jose Web site at: www.ci.san-jose.ca.us/ipa/home.html.

Among the issues covered in the report are the changes in the practices of the SJPD Internal Affairs Unit, the results of IPA policy recommendations to improve trust, respect, credibility and support for policing, and a 10-year review of police complaints.

“Police oversight is an essential mechanism to prevent problems over the long-term,” said Guerrero-Daley. “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made with the community to identify solutions that both keep San Jose residents safe and build their trust in the police.”

According to SJPD Chief Rob Davis, the continuing reduction in complaints is positive news for the department. “We’re absolutely committed to making sure our police force follows the highest professional standards to serve our community. I commend the work done by Teresa Guerrero-Daley and her staff that has helped us accomplish this goal.”