The Pleasanton Police Department strives to provide the highest quality of service in a courteous and professional manner. Those whom we serve are an important source of information and feedback about the quality of our service. Also, and unfortunately in the course of police operations, conflicts or misunderstandings may arise between Police Department Employees and community members. Recognizing this fact we have an established procedure that permits members of the community to report Police Department employee conduct that they feel is exemplary or unprofessional.
Compliments and Commendations
Everyone enjoys receiving recognition for their efforts and there is no question that most of the 120 employees of the Pleasanton Police Department are committed to doing an outstanding job for the community of Pleasanton.
We realize that many of our residents and visitors to Pleasanton would like to know how to compliment our employees for a job well done. Compliments and commendations, either verbal or written are one of the best ways to let our employees know that you appreciate their good work and extraordinary customer service. Compliments and commendations for an employee of the Pleasanton Police Department can be sent directly to the Office of the Police Chief, the on-duty Watch Commander, or the employee’s supervisor. The compliment or commendation will be communicated to the employee by his or her supervisor and a copy will be placed in the employee’s personnel file.
A compliment or commendation may address any event that you feel demonstrates any effort on the part of the employee that deserves special recognition. This may include such acts as: unusual courtesy or compassion, significant life saving measures, or other extraordinary acts that you believe exhibited exemplary performance.
Compliments and commendations may be made in person, by phone, by email or fax, or through a letter or informal note to the Pleasanton Police Department or City of Pleasanton Human Resources Department.
Who do I contact to make a compliment or commendation?
Where do I mail my compliment or commendation?
Concerns, Complaints and Criticisms
The City of Pleasanton and your Police Department take great pride in being responsive to the needs and concerns of all citizens and guests of our community. Concerns, Complaints and Criticisms of our service are accepted as meaningful indications of the job we are doing and provide us with an opportunity to enhance our understanding of how we can better serve our community.
While we strive to provide the highest quality of service, we realize that with our high volume of public contact, coupled with the nature of our job, not everyone will be completely satisfied. Alternatively, it is also common for people to not clearly understand the reasons for actions taken by police employees which may be a cause for concern or clarification regarding police procedures.
We encourage residents and guests of our community to immediately ontact the on-duty Watch Commander whenever they have a concern about an employee’s behavior or a police related action.
What is a Concern or Criticism?
What is a Procedural Question?
What is a Complaint?
Who may make a Complaint?
How do I make a Complaint?
Who do I contact to make a complaint?
Where do I mail my complaint?
Will I have to testify?
Who investigates police department employee misconduct?
What should I expect when I file a complaint?
Is it a violation of law to knowingly file a false allegation against a police officer?
Can I get additional information?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I contact to make a compliment or commendation?
Call the Police Department (925) 931-5100 and ask to speak with the On-Duty Watch Commander or the employee’s immediate supervisor…
or ask for the On-Duty Watch Commander or the employee’s immediate supervisor at the front counter of the Police Department…
Where do I mail my compliment or commendation?
Police Chief
Pleasanton Police Department
P.O. Box 909
Pleasanton, CA 94566
What is a Concern or Criticism?
You may have had contact with a Police Department employee where their conduct or actions, in your opinion, did not rise to the level of a formal complaint. You may feel a need to discuss the employee’s behavior or actions with a supervisor and may not require any further involvement with the matter.
What is a Procedural Question?
There are times when the actions of an employee may have the appearance of being inappropriate, but are procedurally and legally correct. This happens sometimes with issues of search and seizure, or self-incrimination warnings (Miranda admonitions). We invite you to ask these types of questions of our supervisory staff or the on-duty Watch Commander.
What is a Complaint?
A complaint is any dissatisfaction, grievance, accusation, or allegation, which if true could be a violation of a city and/or department policy or legal statute.
Who may make a Complaint?
Any person who was involved or witnessed an incident, who feels the Police Department treated the individual or another person in an adverse manner, or has direct or well founded knowledge of inappropriate actions by any police employee, may make a complaint.
How do I make a Complaint?
Concerns, Criticisms, and/or Complaints may be made verbally or in writing at any time of day or night to any police supervisory personnel. Usually, a detailed explanation of the situation in person, by telephone, or by mail is all that is needed to initiate a review or investigation of the matter. If you call or come to the Police Department, you will be referred to the on-duty Watch Commander or the on-duty supervisor.
Alternatively, you can obtain and/or drop off complaint forms with the City of Pleasanton Human Resources Department located at 123 Main St. Pleasanton, CA 94566. (Compliments and complaints received by Human Resources will be placed in a sealed envelope and will be forwarded directly to the Police Chief)
Who do I contact to make a complaint?
Call the Police Department (925) 931-5100 and ask to speak with the On-Duty Watch Commander…
or ask for the On-Duty Watch Commander at the front counter of the Police Department…
or alternatively, you may obtain and/or drop off complaint forms during normal business hours with the City of Pleasanton Human Resources Department located at 123 Main St. Pleasanton, CA 94566. (Compliments and complaints received by Human Resources will be placed in a sealed envelope and will be forwarded directly to the Police Chief)
Where do I mail my complaint?
Police Chief
Pleasanton Police Department
P.O. Box 909
Pleasanton, CA 94566
Will I have to testify?
A complainant generally does not have to testify during formal hearings.
An exception to this is if you inform us of actions taken by employees that are criminal in nature, and the complaint is sustained. There is a chance that your testimony would be used in a court proceeding against the employee, if the District Attorney chooses to file a criminal complaint.
Additionally, employees are entitled to an administrative appeal to any imposed disciplinary action. If your complaint is sustained and the employee is disciplined and then appeals the discipline, you may be contacted and requested to testify in an administrative hearing before an arbitrator.
Who investigates police department employee misconduct?
Per California Penal Code Section 832.5 (a): "Each department or agency in this State which employs peace officers shall establish a procedure to investigate citizens' complaints against the personnel of such departments or agencies, and shall make a written description of the procedure available to the public."
Our supervisory and management personnel are committed to ensuring complete, fair and impartial investigations of all citizens’ complaints. The investigation of all citizen complaints is strictly regulated by the California Government Code and police department policy. Additionally, all administrative investigations are reviewed by the appropriate Division Commander and by the Police Chief to ensure a thorough and unbiased investigation was completed.
What should I expect when I file a complaint?
The person assigned to investigate your complaint will ask you to provide as much information as possible regarding the incident. If you were involved in or witnessed the incident, it is extremely important to the investigation that a statement be obtained from you. From your statement, a Citizen Complaint Contact form may be completed.
Depending upon the circumstances of your complaint, it may be investigated in one of two ways. It will either be assigned to the employee's supervisor for inquiry or to the appropriate manager, with oversight of the employee and his supervisor, for investigation. Each allegation is examined on its own merits.
Administrative and criminal investigations resulting from a complaint will require investigators to make an effort to contact all available witnesses (including police officers), examine any relevant physical evidence and gather all information pertinent to each allegation made in the complaint.
Despite our best efforts to make Administrative Investigations our top priority, it can take up to a year to complete an investigation based upon the complexity of issues being investigated. Though, typically the majority of our administrative investigations are completed within a two month period.
Upon completion of the Administrative Investigation a finding will be rendered for each allegation. There are four possible findings:
SUSTAINED: The investigation disclosed enough evidence to clearly prove the allegation.
NOT SUSTAINED: The investigation failed to reveal enough evidence to clearly prove the allegation.
EXONERATED: The act which provided the basis for the complaint did occur; however. the investigation revealed the act was justified, lawful and proper.
UNFOUNDED: The investigation has produced sufficient evidence to prove that the acts alleged did not occur. This finding shall also apply when individual personnel names in the complaint were not involved in an act that did occur.
You will be notified of the findings for each allegation in writing at the conclusion of the investigation.
When a finding of SUSTAINED is determined, corrective action will be taken by the department. Discipline may include counseling, training, and action up to and including termination. If your complaint is sustained and punitive discipline is imposed, the employee has appeal rights. Therefore, you may be required to testify at one or more administrative proceedings.
Is it a violation of law to knowingly file a false allegation against a police officer?
Yes, to knowingly file a false allegation of misconduct is a violation of a criminal statute. However, this fact should not discourage residents or guests visiting our city from addressing their legitimate concerns in regards to a police department employee. Your valid concerns and criticism helps us protect the community from possible misconduct by employees. At the same time, a thorough and impartial investigation procedure helps protect employees from unwarranted charges when they perform their duties properly.
Penal Code Section 148.6(a)(1) states Every person who files any allegation of misconduct against a police officer knowing the allegation to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Penal Code Section 148.6(a)(2) states that any law enforcement agency accepting a concern of misconduct against a peace officer shall require the complainant to read and sign the following information advisory:
You have the right to make a complaint against a police officer for any improper police conduct. California law requires this agency to have a procedure to investigate citizens' complaints. You have a right to a written description of this procedure. This agency may find after investigation that there is not enough evidence to warrant action on your complaint; even if that is the case, you have the right to make the complaint and have it investigated if you believe an officer behaved improperly. Citizen complaints must be retained by this agency for at least five years.
It is against the law to make a complaint that you know to be false. If you make a complaint against an officer knowing that it is false, you can be prosecuted on a misdemeanor charge.
Can I get additional information?
To download a Citizen Complaint Procedure brochure click on the link below:
