Sacramento Municipal Code Ch. 2.22 Office of Public Safety Accountability

There is created an office of public safety accountability, to be headed by a director appointed by the city council. The director shall be a city officer under Section 70, subdivision (d), of the charter. The office shall have such staff and budget as the city council may prescribe. The director shall appoint all other members of the office. (Ord. 2016-0054 § 2)

The city council may establish the director's qualifications by resolution. The director shall set the qualifications for subordinate staff. (Ord. 2016-0054 § 2)

The office shall:

A. Audit all complaint investigations of the police department and fire department, as the director deems necessary.

B. Monitor all complaint investigations conducted by the police department and fire department.

C. Request the police department and fire department perform further investigation in those complaint cases that require additional investigation as determined by the director.

D. Receive all documents, reports, or any other item necessary to monitor or audit a complaint investigation.

E. Assist the city council, or any duly appointed committee of the council, in performing its investigative functions under section 34 of the charter.

F. As needed, request the city council, or any duly appointed committee of the council, to issue subpoenas as provided in section 34 of the charter. The city council may, by resolution, establish the procedures for the request, issuance, and service of those subpoenas.

G. Perform such other inquiries and investigations as prescribed by council resolution.

H. Accept and document complaints directly from citizens as an alternative procedure for citizen complaints concerning public safety personnel, using a complaint form distinct from that used by the police department or fire department. All such complaints shall be promptly forwarded to the respective public safety department for investigation.

I. Provide complainants with timely updates on the status of investigations, excluding disclosure of any information that is confidential or legally protected.

J. Explain how the complaint process works to all complainants.

K. Monitor or independently investigate any other matter as directed by the city council pursuant to section 34 of the charter.

L. Serve in a public information capacity, including providing public information, excluding disclosure of any information that is confidential or legally protected, on pending investigations as directed by the city council; and making presentations in community forums.

M. Respond to critical incidents involving police or fire personnel and provide a report to city council regarding the details and concerns of those incidents. (Ord. 2016-0054 § 2)

The director shall prepare written reports as directed by council or a duly appointed committee of the council. The council may prescribe by resolution the manner of report preparation and presentation. At a minimum, the director shall prepare quarterly reports consistent with California Penal Code section 832.7(c), relating to the number, kind, and status of all citizen complaints filed against police department personnel for review by the Sacramento community police review commission and the city council. (Ord. 2016-0054 § 2)

City departments, offices, and employees shall provide the office of public safety accountability access to all sources of information, property, and personnel relevant to the performance of the office's duties under this chapter, unless restricted or prohibited by law. (Ord. 2016-0054 § 2)