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Yolo County Sheriff's Office

Honored to Serve

Internal Affairs

Professional Standards

The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office takes seriously all complaints regarding the service provided by the Office and the conduct of its members.

The Office will accept and address all complaints of misconduct in accordance with policy and applicable federal, state and local law, municipal and county rules and the requirements of any collective bargaining agreements.

It is the policy of this office to ensure that the community can report misconduct without concern for reprisal or retaliation.

Personnel Complaints

Personnel complaints include any allegation of misconduct or improper job performance that, if true, would constitute a violation of Office policy or of federal, state or local law, policy or rule. Personnel complaints may be generated internally or by the public.

Inquiries about conduct or performance that, if true, would not violate Office policy or federal, state or local law, policy or rule may be handled informally by a supervisor and shall not be considered a personnel complaint. Such inquiries generally include clarification regarding policy, procedures or the response to specific incidents by the Office.

Acceptance

All complaints will be courteously accepted by any office member and promptly given to the appropriate supervisor. Although written complaints are preferred, a complaint may also be filed orally, either in person or by telephone. Such complaints will be directed to a supervisor. If a supervisor is not immediately available to take an oral complaint, the receiving member shall obtain contact information sufficient for the supervisor to contact the complainant. The supervisor, upon contact with the complainant, shall complete an inter-office memorandum and forward it to the Division Commander via the chain of command.

Although not required, complainants are encouraged to file complaints in person so that proper identification, signatures, photographs or physical evidence may be obtained as necessary.

Administrative Investigation

Supervisors shall ensure that all formal and informal complaints are documented. The supervisor shall ensure that the nature of the complaint is defined as clearly as possible.

In general, the primary responsibility for the investigation of a personnel complaint shall rest with the member’s immediate supervisor, unless the supervisor is the complainant, or the supervisor is the ultimate decision-maker regarding disciplinary action or has any personal involvement regarding the alleged misconduct. The Sheriff or the authorized designee may direct that another supervisor investigates any complaint.

Every supervisor assigned to investigate a personnel complaint or other alleged misconduct shall proceed with due diligence in an effort to complete the investigation within one year from the date of discovery by an individual authorized to initiate an investigation (Government Code § 3304).

Disposition

Each personnel complaint shall be classified with one of the following dispositions:

Unfounded – When the investigation discloses that the alleged acts did not occur or did not involve office members. Complaints that are determined to be frivolous will fall within the classification of unfounded (Penal Code § 832.8).

Exonerated – When the investigation discloses that the alleged act occurred but that the act was justified, lawful and/or proper.

Not sustained – When the investigation discloses that there is insufficient evidence to sustain the complaint or fully exonerate the member.

Sustained – A final determination by an investigating agency, commission, board, hearing officer, or arbitrator, as applicable, following an investigation and opportunity for an administrative appeal pursuant to Government Code § 3304 and Government Code § 3304.5 that the actions of a deputy were found to violate law or office policy (Penal Code § 832.8).

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