As the San Diego Police Department struggles with a series of major officer-misconduct allegations, the North County Times asked other regional law enforcement agencies about their methods for rooting out misconduct among their officers.
Police departments in Carlsbad, Escondido and Oceanside have systems to deal with civilian complaints and conduct internal affairs investigations typical of agencies their size, police oversight experts said.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department, with nearly 2,200 deputies, is the largest law enforcement agency in the county and has a more sophisticated system in place.
"Every department, or most departments across the nation, are microcosms of their communities," said Assistant Sheriff Michael McNally, who is in charge of the department's human resources and internal affairs. "There are going be bad apples in a lot of agencies, and we do everything we can to prevent it."
There are plenty of ways an agency can find out about officer misconduct ---- through citizen complaints, for one. These reports could be as minor as an officer making a snide remark or as serious as excessive force or sexual assault.
Some agencies perform audits ---- internal reviews to make sure all evidence and seized items are accounted for, officers aren't lying on time cards and all equipment is in order.
On occasion, an officer might be arrested just like anyone else. And in all agencies, police officials are expected to report any misconduct by their fellow officers.
The way the agencies respond to reports of misconduct often depends on how serious the allegations are and how they are reported.
In the case of a rude officer, for instance, a resident might elect not to file a formal complaint ---- paperwork and all ---- but might just want to notify a supervisor. In those cases, the officer could just get a talking-to.
At smaller agencies, formal complaints have a higher chance of traveling up the chain of command to land on the chief's desk, especially if the allegations are serious. The chief may then decide whether to open up an internal affairs investigation.
Smaller agencies
For the Carlsbad and Oceanside police departments, the internal affairs or professional standards unit is a one-person operation. At both agencies, the lone professional standards sergeant reports directly to the chief.
The Escondido Police Department has a sergeant and a part-time retired sergeant who report directly to the chief, said Lt. Chris Wynn.
Lt. Kelly Cain of the Carlsbad Police Department said the agency's supervisors have recently gone through a refresher course on internal affairs issues. He said no complaints are turned away.
In Oceanside, the department sometimes outsources internal affairs investigations to a private contractor, said Oceanside police Lt. Leonard Mata. This is typically done if the case is exceedingly complex or has potential for a conflict of interest, he said.
Although other local agencies don't typically outsource internal affairs investigations, it isn't an uncommon practice among smaller police agencies, said Merrick Bobb, the president and founding director of the Police Assessment Resource Center.
Some small police departments have entered into agreements with others, where each agency investigates another's internal affairs issues to avoid conflicts of interest, though none of the local department spokesmen mentioned having such an arrangement.
"At smaller departments, it's not unusual to have one or two (officers) working internal affairs," said Michael Gennaco, chief attorney for the Los Angeles County Office of Independent Review, which scrutinizes the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Gennaco's office also performed a detailed audit on the San Diego County Sheriff's Department in 2007, prompted by a string of deadly deputy-involved shootings.
The attorney lamented that smaller departments typically lack external and independent oversight, aside from occasional reviews by their local district attorney's office.
Sheriff's Department
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department ---- a larger agency than the Carlsbad, Escondido and Oceanside departments combined ---- has seven sergeants who investigate internal affairs and report to a lieutenant under McNally.
McNally also said that the department conducts extensive background investigations before hiring prospective deputies.
The department added more accountability measures and internal review mechanisms after a series of deputy-involved shootings in 2005.
Three Latino men in Vista were killed in unrelated encounters with deputies over a five-day span that summer.
The shootings and other incidents prompted the department to call on Gennaco to review its use-of-force policies, which led to changes in the policies and organization.
The Sheriff's Department's Division of Inspectional Services was created after the review. The division includes three sergeants and a manager, who examine department policy in the wake of major incidents and can call for changes or launch an internal affairs investigation.
The division also serves as a liaison to the San Diego County Citizens' Law Enforcement Review Board, which independently reviews complaints against members of the county Sheriff's and Probation departments.
Gennaco praised the Sheriff's Department for making his review and the results available to the public on its website.
San Diego Police Chief William Landsdowne responded swiftly, even issuing an apology, after nine members of his department were placed under investigation of misconduct ranging from to sexual battery to domestic violence to drunken driving.
For complaints about the county Sheriff's or Probation departments.
1168 Union St., Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92101-3819
Phone: 619-238-6776
Fax: 619-238-6775
Email: clerbcomplaints@sdcounty.ca.gov
www.sdcounty.ca.gov/clerb
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
Formal complaints accepted at any local station or headquarters.
Internal Affairs Unit: 858-974-2065
Or mail to:
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
Internal Affairs Unit
P.O. Box 939062
San Diego, CA 92193
Oceanside Police Department
Formal complaints accepted at headquarters: 3855 Mission Ave., Oceanside
Patrol supervisor: 760-435-4980
Professional Standards Unit: 760-435-4455
Chief of police: 760-435-4450
http://www.oceansidepolice.com/psu.asp
Carlsbad Police Department
Formal complaints accepted at headquarters: 2560 Orion Way, Carlsbad
Business line: 760-931-2100
Escondido Police Department
Formal complaints accepted at headquarters: 1163 N. Centre City Parkway, Escondido
Internal Affairs: 760-839-4438
Police departments in Carlsbad, Escondido and Oceanside have systems to deal with civilian complaints and conduct internal affairs investigations typical of agencies their size, police oversight experts said.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department, with nearly 2,200 deputies, is the largest law enforcement agency in the county and has a more sophisticated system in place.
"Every department, or most departments across the nation, are microcosms of their communities," said Assistant Sheriff Michael McNally, who is in charge of the department's human resources and internal affairs. "There are going be bad apples in a lot of agencies, and we do everything we can to prevent it."
There are plenty of ways an agency can find out about officer misconduct ---- through citizen complaints, for one. These reports could be as minor as an officer making a snide remark or as serious as excessive force or sexual assault.
Some agencies perform audits ---- internal reviews to make sure all evidence and seized items are accounted for, officers aren't lying on time cards and all equipment is in order.
On occasion, an officer might be arrested just like anyone else. And in all agencies, police officials are expected to report any misconduct by their fellow officers.
The way the agencies respond to reports of misconduct often depends on how serious the allegations are and how they are reported.
In the case of a rude officer, for instance, a resident might elect not to file a formal complaint ---- paperwork and all ---- but might just want to notify a supervisor. In those cases, the officer could just get a talking-to.
At smaller agencies, formal complaints have a higher chance of traveling up the chain of command to land on the chief's desk, especially if the allegations are serious. The chief may then decide whether to open up an internal affairs investigation.
Smaller agencies
For the Carlsbad and Oceanside police departments, the internal affairs or professional standards unit is a one-person operation. At both agencies, the lone professional standards sergeant reports directly to the chief.
The Escondido Police Department has a sergeant and a part-time retired sergeant who report directly to the chief, said Lt. Chris Wynn.
Lt. Kelly Cain of the Carlsbad Police Department said the agency's supervisors have recently gone through a refresher course on internal affairs issues. He said no complaints are turned away.
In Oceanside, the department sometimes outsources internal affairs investigations to a private contractor, said Oceanside police Lt. Leonard Mata. This is typically done if the case is exceedingly complex or has potential for a conflict of interest, he said.
Although other local agencies don't typically outsource internal affairs investigations, it isn't an uncommon practice among smaller police agencies, said Merrick Bobb, the president and founding director of the Police Assessment Resource Center.
Some small police departments have entered into agreements with others, where each agency investigates another's internal affairs issues to avoid conflicts of interest, though none of the local department spokesmen mentioned having such an arrangement.
"At smaller departments, it's not unusual to have one or two (officers) working internal affairs," said Michael Gennaco, chief attorney for the Los Angeles County Office of Independent Review, which scrutinizes the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Gennaco's office also performed a detailed audit on the San Diego County Sheriff's Department in 2007, prompted by a string of deadly deputy-involved shootings.
The attorney lamented that smaller departments typically lack external and independent oversight, aside from occasional reviews by their local district attorney's office.
Sheriff's Department
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department ---- a larger agency than the Carlsbad, Escondido and Oceanside departments combined ---- has seven sergeants who investigate internal affairs and report to a lieutenant under McNally.
McNally also said that the department conducts extensive background investigations before hiring prospective deputies.
The department added more accountability measures and internal review mechanisms after a series of deputy-involved shootings in 2005.
Three Latino men in Vista were killed in unrelated encounters with deputies over a five-day span that summer.
The shootings and other incidents prompted the department to call on Gennaco to review its use-of-force policies, which led to changes in the policies and organization.
The Sheriff's Department's Division of Inspectional Services was created after the review. The division includes three sergeants and a manager, who examine department policy in the wake of major incidents and can call for changes or launch an internal affairs investigation.
The division also serves as a liaison to the San Diego County Citizens' Law Enforcement Review Board, which independently reviews complaints against members of the county Sheriff's and Probation departments.
Gennaco praised the Sheriff's Department for making his review and the results available to the public on its website.
San Diego Police Chief William Landsdowne responded swiftly, even issuing an apology, after nine members of his department were placed under investigation of misconduct ranging from to sexual battery to domestic violence to drunken driving.
Making a complaint
San Diego County Citizens' Law Enforcement Review BoardFor complaints about the county Sheriff's or Probation departments.
1168 Union St., Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92101-3819
Phone: 619-238-6776
Fax: 619-238-6775
Email: clerbcomplaints@sdcounty.ca.gov
www.sdcounty.ca.gov/clerb
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
Formal complaints accepted at any local station or headquarters.
Internal Affairs Unit: 858-974-2065
Or mail to:
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
Internal Affairs Unit
P.O. Box 939062
San Diego, CA 92193
Oceanside Police Department
Formal complaints accepted at headquarters: 3855 Mission Ave., Oceanside
Patrol supervisor: 760-435-4980
Professional Standards Unit: 760-435-4455
Chief of police: 760-435-4450
http://www.oceansidepolice.com/psu.asp
Carlsbad Police Department
Formal complaints accepted at headquarters: 2560 Orion Way, Carlsbad
Business line: 760-931-2100
Escondido Police Department
Formal complaints accepted at headquarters: 1163 N. Centre City Parkway, Escondido
Internal Affairs: 760-839-4438