Yolo — Citizen Complaint Process

Source: https://yolocountysheriff.com/transparency/citizen-complaint-process/

Citizen Complaint Process

At the Yolo County Sheriff's Office, we value the community's feedback and concerns. We are committed to addressing all complaints regarding the service provided by our Office and the conduct of our members with utmost seriousness. Our Office accepts and thoroughly investigates all complaints of misconduct in accordance with our policies and the applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as municipal and county rules and any collective bargaining agreements. You have the right to make a complaint against a Peace Officer for any improper conduct and California law requires this agency to have a procedure to investigate those complaints. We have a strict policy in place to ensure that members of the community can report misconduct without fear of reprisal or retaliation.

Personal Complaints

Complaint Acceptance

Administrative Investigation

Disposition

Filing a False Complaint

Personal Complaints

Personnel complaints encompass any allegations of misconduct or improper job performance that, if proven true, would constitute a violation of our Office policy or of federal, state, or local laws, policies, or rules. These complaints may originate from within our organization or from the public.

Inquiries regarding conduct or performance that, if true, would not violate our Office policy or any laws, policies, or rules may be addressed informally by a supervisor and will not be considered personnel complaints. Such inquiries typically involve seeking clarification on policies, procedures, or the response to specific incidents by our Office.

Complaint Acceptance

We courteously accept all complaints from the public, which can be filed in writing or orally. Written complaints are preferred, but we also accept oral complaints in person or over the telephone. In cases where a supervisor is not immediately available to receive an oral complaint, the receiving member will obtain sufficient contact information for the supervisor to follow up with the complainant. Once contacted, the supervisor will complete an inter-office memorandum and forward it to the Division Commander through the chain of command.

Although not mandatory, we encourage complainants to file complaints in person whenever possible. This allows us to gather proper identification, obtain signatures, photographs, or physical evidence if necessary.

Click Here for the Citizen Complaint Form

Administrative Investigation

Supervisors are responsible for documenting all formal and informal complaints. They ensure that the nature of the complaint is clearly defined.

In general, the primary responsibility for investigating a personnel complaint lies with the member's immediate supervisor, unless the supervisor is the complainant, the ultimate decision-maker regarding disciplinary action, or has any personal involvement related to the alleged misconduct. The Sheriff or an authorized designee may assign another supervisor to investigate a complaint when necessary.

Every supervisor assigned to investigate a personnel complaint or other alleged misconduct must proceed diligently to complete the investigation within one year from the date it was discovered by an individual authorized to initiate an investigation (Government Code § 3304).

Disposition

The supervisor of the Professional Standards Unit ensures that within 30 days of the final disposition of the complaint, written notification of the disposition is provided to the complainant (Penal Code § 832.7(e)).

Each personnel complaint receives one of the following classifications:

Unfounded: Did not occur

Exonerated: Did occur, but was justified

Not sustained: No clear evidence of proof

Sustained: Clear evidence of proof

Filing a False Complaint

A word of caution is offered concerning persons knowingly making false complaints about peace officers. Civil Code 47.5 (View note below) allows peace officers to bring civil action against a person filing a false complaint.

Note: Section 47.5 Civil Code can be found on the California Law Website Section 47.5 Civil Code (Peace Officers; defamation action against person filing false complaint alleging misconduct, criminal conduct, or incompetence)... a peace officer may bring an action for defamation against an individual who has filed a complaint with that officer’s employing agency alleging misconduct, criminal conduct, or incompetence, if that complaint is false, the complaint was made with knowledge that it was false and that it was made with spite, hatred, or ill will.

I Want to...

Check Status of a Service

File a Complaint

Find Sex Offenders

Leave an Anonymous Crime Tip

Prevent Crime

Ride Along with a Deputy

See Who's Been Booked in Jail

Send Money to an Inmate

Set Up a Vacation Check

Contact Us

Yolo County Sheriff's Office

140 Tony Diaz Drive

Woodland, CA 95776

Get Directions

Phone Numbers

Emergency: 911

Non-Emergency: 530-666-8282

Administration: 530-668-5280

Administration Fax: 530-668-5238

Detention (Main Jail): 530-668-JAIL

CLICK FOR OTHER DIVISIONS