AGENCY

Audit Division

Regularly audits police officer use of force and how the police department handles claims of officer misconduct.

Resources

Use-of-Force Monitoring Processes
Audit of SFPD’s processes for monitoring use-of-force incidents.
Stop Data Audit
Audit of SFPD’s processes to ensure complete and accurate stop data
External Quality Control Review
For the period January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023
Misconduct Audit
Audit of SFPD’s handling of officer misconduct
Key Issue Report: SFPD’s Handling of Officer Discipline
Interim Report for the Audit of SFPD’s Handling of Officer Misconduct
Key Issue Report: SFPD’s Monitoring of Department Communications for Bias
Interim Report for the Audit of SFPD’s Handling of Officer Misconduct
2021 DGO 8.10 Compliance Audit
Audit of SFPD policies and practices around investigations involving First Amendment activities.
Key Issue Report: Public Reporting on Officer Misconduct and Discipline
Interim Report for the Audit of SFPD’s Handling of Officer Misconduct
DPA Audit Recommendation Status as of December 31, 2021
Update of SFPD’s action on DPA Audit Division recommendations as of December 31, 2021
2020 DGO 8.10 Compliance Audit
Audit of SFPD policies and practices around investigations related to First Amendment activities
Use of Force Data Audit
DPA and Office of the Controller collaborated on Use of Force Audit
SFPD Key Issue Report Use of Force Data Reporting
DPA Satisfaction Survey Results 2017-2019 (2020)
DPA satisfaction survey responses from complainants and officers.
First Amendment Audit
2019 First Amendment Audit
First Amendment Audit
2018 First Amendment Audit
First Amendment Audit
2017 First Amendment Audit

About

The Department of Police Accountability (DPA) reviews the police department’s performance. We audit 2 areas:

  1. The department’s use of force 
  2. How the department handles misconduct

Authority

San Francisco Charter (Section 4.136) mandates DPA to audit the San Francisco Police Department’s use of force and handling of police misconduct every 2 years.

The charter also gives us the authority to conduct performance audits and reviews. We check whether the SFPD has followed all laws, ordinances, and policies. DPA’s director decides the frequency, topics, and scope of the audits and reviews.

We use the following criteria to decide which audits we conduct:

  • Is the issue within DPA’s scope of authority?
  • Does DPA have the resources to undertake the issue?
  • Is the matter best addressed by an audit or some other type of review?

Independence

Our audits are independent and objective. We follow federal standards for audits. 

Read the Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS, also known as “Yellow Book”). 

Contact information

Address

Department of Police Accountability1 South Van Ness Ave 8th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
Get directions

Open Mon to Fri, 8 am to 5 pm

Phone

415-241-7711

Email

Request public records

Submit requests for the Audit Division.