Executive Summary
SFPD San Francisco Police Department
Key Findings: During Q2 2025, the San Francisco Department of Police Accountability received 231 SFPD complaints involving 472 allegations (received) and investigated 570 allegations. The DPA closed 238 SFPD cases during the quarter with an average processing time of 101 days. The majority of SFPD complaints (35.5%) were submitted via phone, with Neglect of Duty being the most common allegation type (41.23%). The DPA sustained 41 allegations across 15 SFPD cases, with a sustained rate of 7.2%.
SFSO San Francisco Sheriff's Office
SFSO Key Findings: During Q2 2025, the DPA received 10 SFSO complaints involving 37 allegations and 10 complainants (all identified). The DPA closed 14 SFSO cases during the quarter. The majority of SFSO allegations (60%) involved claims of misconduct by SFSO personnel. Following the investigation, one finding of improper conduct was made against SFSO personnel in Q2 2025, with 29.7% of allegations exonerated (meaning the conduct occurred but was found to be justified, lawful, and proper).
Three-Year Comparison and Trends
Tracking Progress Over Time - SFPD Focus
This section compares Q2 SFPD data across three consecutive years (2023, 2024, 2025), revealing important trends in complaint volume, investigation outcomes, and department performance.
SFPD Key Performance Metrics - 3-Year Trends
| Metric | Trend | Q2 2023 | Q2 2024 | Q2 2025 | % Change (2024 vs 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints Opened | 188 | 204 | 231 | +13.2% | |
| Allegations | 386 | 356 | 472 | +32.6% | |
| Cases Closed | 178 | 266 | 238 | -10.5% | |
| Sustained Cases | 16 | 16 | 15 | -6.3% | |
| Sustained Allegations | 38 | 51 | 41 | -19.6% | |
| Sustained Rate | 3.7% | 2.6% | 7.2% | +176.92% | |
| Avg Processing Days | 124 | 127 | 101 | -20.5% | |
| Cases Pending | 277 | 215 | 217 | +0.9% | |
| Identified Complainant Rate | 99.0% | 98.0% | 86.6% | -11.6% |
Stacked view of quarterly complaint volumes across three years, showing seasonal patterns and year-over-year growth
| Quarter | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Q Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 (Jan-Mar) | 191 | 164 | 226 | 194 |
| Q2 (Apr-Jun) | 188 | 204 | 231 | 208 |
| Q3 (Jul-Sep) | 200 | 175 | — | 188 |
| Q4 (Oct-Dec) | 206 | 194 | — | 200 |
| Year Total | 785 | 737 | 457 | 660 |
SFPD Top SFPD Stations - 3-Year Comparison
Geographic patterns of complaints over time reveal which districts experience consistently high volumes and may benefit from targeted interventions or additional resources.
| SFPD Station | 3-Year Trend | Q2 2023 | Q2 2024 | Q2 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenderloin | 15 | 18 | 32 | |
| Southern | 15 | 17 | 41 | |
| Central | 13 | 16 | 28 | |
| Mission | 13 | 20 | 20 | |
| Northern | 12 | 13 | 15 |
Trend Analysis: Key Insights
Complaint Volume Changes: The volume of complaints shows steady growth over the past three years. After an 8.5% increase from Q2 2023 to Q2 2024, complaints increased by 13.2% in Q2 2025, reaching the highest level for the second quarter in this period.
Complaint and Investigation Analysis
Complaint Submission Methods - Combined Analysis
SFPD complaints favor online and phone submissions (62%), while SFSO complaints in Q2 2025 were primarily received through referrals (60%).
| Submission Method | SFPD | SFSO | Combined Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | 80 (34.6%) | 3 (30.0%) | 83 (34.4%) |
| Phone | 82 (35.5%) | 0 (0%) | 82 (34.0%) |
| Referral | 8 (3.5%) | 6 (60.0%) | 14 (5.8%) |
| Other | 20 (8.7%) | 1 (10.0%) | 21 (8.7%) |
| In Person | 35 (15.2%) | 0 (0%) | 35 (14.5%) |
| 6 (2.6%) | 0 (0%) | 6 (2.5%) | |
| Total | 231 (100%) | 10 (100%) | 241 (100%) |
Submission Method Analysis
SFPD Patterns: Phone and online accessibility remain strong with 35.5% phone and 34.6% online submissions. Referrals (3.5%) and in-person visits (15.2%) provide additional access channels.
SFSO Patterns: With only 10 complaints, SFSO submissions came primarily through referrals (60%) and online (30%), with one complaint via other methods.
Combined Impact: The DPA received 241 complaints through multiple channels, ensuring accessibility for both community members and individuals in custody.
Complainant Demographics
Identified vs. Anonymous Complaints - Combined
Of the 241 complaints received across both departments, 210 (87.1%) were filed by identified complainants, while 31 (12.9%) were submitted anonymously. SFPD: 200 identified (86.6%), 31 anonymous (13.4%). SFSO: 10 identified (100%), 0 anonymous (0%). This demonstrates strong community willingness to engage with the accountability process across both departments.
Gender Demographics - Combined Data
| Gender | SFPD | SFSO | Combined Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 87 (37.7%) | 5 (50.0%) | 92 (38.2%) |
| Declined to State | 88 (38.1%) | 4 (40.0%) | 92 (38.2%) |
| Female | 53 (22.9%) | 0 (0%) | 53 (22.0%) |
| Genderqueer/Non-binary | 2 (0.9%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (0.8%) |
| Transgender | 1 (0.4%) | 1 (10.0%) | 2 (0.8%) |
| Total | 231 (100%) | 10 (100%) | 241 (100%) |
Race/Ethnicity Demographics - Combined Data
| Race/Ethnicity | SFPD | SFSO | Combined Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Declined to State | 110 (47.6%) | 4 (40.0%) | 114 (47.3%) |
| White | 43 (18.6%) | 1 (10.0%) | 44 (18.3%) |
| Black or African American | 24 (10.4%) | 2 (20.0%) | 26 (10.8%) |
| Other | 22 (9.5%) | 1 (10.0%) | 23 (9.5%) |
| Asian | 17 (7.4%) | 0 (0%) | 17 (7.1%) |
| Hispanic or Latinx | 15 (6.5%) | 2 (20.0%) | 17 (7.1%) |
| Total | 231 (100%) | 10 (100%) | 241 (100%) |
Demographic Analysis
Key Observations: With a small sample size of 10 SFSO complaints in Q2, demographic patterns should be interpreted cautiously. The SFSO complainants were 60% male and 30% declined to state, with 30% identifying as Hispanic/Latinx. SFPD complaints continue to show patterns consistent with broader community engagement. Both departments show privacy-conscious complainants with significant percentages declining to provide demographic information. Note: "Identified" complainants refers to individuals who provided their name when filing a complaint, as opposed to "anonymous" complaints where no identifying information was provided.
SFPD Allegation Types and Investigation Outcomes
SFPD SFPD Processing Time Achievement
Performance: The DPA achieved an average SFPD case processing time of 101 days in Q2 2025, significantly under the 180-day target. This represents a 43.9% improvement over the target. The DPA maintained 100% compliance with the Government Code 3304 one-year deadline for completing investigations.
SFPD SFPD Allegation Types and Findings
During Q2 2025, the DPA investigated 570 allegations. Neglect of Duty was the most frequent allegation type, making up 41.23% of all investigated allegations. This was also the most common finding in sustained cases. The overall sustained rate of 7.2% reflects 41 sustained allegations out of 570 investigated.
| Allegation Type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Neglect of Duty | 235 | 41.23% |
| Unwarranted Action | 108 | 18.95% |
| Conduct Unbecoming | 100 | 17.54% |
| Referral | 56 | 9.82% |
| Use of Force | 48 | 8.42% |
| Informational | 20 | 3.51% |
| Policy/Procedure | 3 | 0.53% |
Investigation Outcomes by Allegation Type
The DPA completed investigations on 570 allegations during Q2 2025, with findings ranging from "Proper Conduct" to "Improper Conduct" (sustained). The table below shows how each type of allegation was resolved, providing transparency into the investigative process and outcomes.
| Finding | Conduct Unbecoming | Neglect of Duty | Unwarranted Action | Use of Force | Informational | Referral | Policy/Procedure | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Improper Conduct (Sustained) | 6 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 |
| Informational | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Insufficient Evidence | 14 | 22 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
| Mediated | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| No Finding | 24 | 24 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 58 |
| Policy Failure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Proper Conduct | 24 | 97 | 59 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 213 |
| Referral to Other Agency | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 2 | 64 |
| Supervision Failure | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Training Failure | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unfounded | 22 | 29 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 77 |
| Withdrawal | 7 | 26 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 44 |
| Total | 100 | 235 | 108 | 48 | 20 | 56 | 3 | 570 |
*Sustained findings indicate officer misconduct was determined
*See Sustained Cases section for detailed case summaries and DPA recommendations.
Key Findings Analysis
Investigation Findings: 213 allegations (37.37%) were found to be proper conduct. Sustained Findings: 41 allegations across 15 cases (7.2%) were sustained as "Improper Conduct," meeting the threshold for disciplinary action. Policy and Supervision Issues: 1 allegation resulted in a policy failure.
Sustained Cases
Cases Where Improper Conduct Was Found
During Q2 2025, the DPA sustained 41 allegations across 15 cases, meaning the investigation found sufficient evidence that misconduct occurred and violated SFPD policy. Each case summary provides context while protecting privacy.
| # | Police Station | Case Summary | DPA Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tenderloin | An officer conducted a DUI traffic stop and inaccurately reported that the driver refused testing after receiving required admonitions. The driver was not offered the test, was not read the admonitions, and the officer activated the body-worn camera late. The officer also used inappropriate language and behavior, violating department rules and regulations. | The DPA recommended an officer receive a 3 day suspension and another officer receive a 90 days suspesion and retraining. |
| 2 | Tenderloin | An officer behaved inappropriately toward a strong-arm robbery victim. | The DPA recommended an officer receive a 1-day suspension. |
| 3 | Central | An officer failed to accept a private person's arrest and did not prepare an incident report as required by department policy. The officer also failed to properly investigate the matter. | The DPA recommended an officer receive a written reprimand. |
| 4 | Central | The officer towed the complainant's car because it had been unregistered for more than six months. The officer failed to return the car title, which prevented the complainant from recovering his impounded car. | The DPA recommended an officer receive a written reprimand. |
| 5 | Mission | Officers failed to properly investigate and document a battery and theft incident. They failed to provide interpretation services for a Spanish-speaking victim and did not arrange for medical attention. | The DPA recommended an officer receive a 1-day suspension and retraining and another officer receive a 1-day suspension and retraining. |
| 6 | Southern | An officer detained a passenger without reasonable suspicion, placed the passenger in a marked police vehicle, and made inappropriate comments during the incident. The detention amounted to a de facto arrest. As a Field Training Officer, the officer failed to properly supervise a recruit by allowing an improper search and failing to ensure the completion of Stop Data requirements. | The DPA recommended an officer receive a 3-day suspension. |
| 7 | Richmond | Officers violated Department policy by failing to de-escalate a situation resulting in a subsequent use of force. Additionally, an officer failed to report a complaint of pain rendering the force used, reportable, and a superior officer on-scene failed to properly supervise. | The DPA recommended an officer receive an 11-day suspension. |
| 8 | Central | An officer behaved inappropriately towards a reporting party. | The DPA recommended an officer receive a 1-day suspension and retraining. |
| 9 | Bayview | The officer failed to activate her BWC at the scene of a traffic collision. | The DPA recommended an officer receive an admonishment and retraining and the other officers receive a written reprimand and retraining. |
| 10 | Park | An officer drove past a protest and used a vehicle megaphone to make a statement. The officer acknowledged the conduct but expressed no remorse, stating the comment was moral rather than political. This behavior did not align with department standards for professionalism. | The DPA recommended an officer receive a 1-day suspension and retraining. |
| 11 | Southern | The officers failed to provide their names and star numbers upon request. | The DPA recommended the officers receive an admonishment. |
| 12 | Tenderloin | An officer failed to activate the body-worn camera while responding to a call for service, which is a violation of department policy. | The DPA recommended an officer receive an admonshment and another officer receive a written repreimand. |
| 13 | Northern | An officer investigated a traffic collision but failed to submit an incident report. | The DPA recommended an officer receive a written reprimand. |
| 14 | Southern | An officer drove improperly and was involved in a vehicle collision. The officer also improperly activated department vehicle's emergency lights. | The DPA recommended an officer receive an admonishment. |
| 15 | Southern | An officer failed to activate the body-worn camera while responding to a call for service, violating department policy. | The DPA recommended the officers receive an admonishment. |
SFPD Station Distribution
Cases Closed by SFPD Station
The distribution of cases closed across SFPD Stations reflects where incidents leading to complaints occurred geographically during Q2 2025. This data should not be interpreted as a measure of station or officer performance. Tenderloin Station had the highest number of cases closed (28), followed by Southern Station (26) and Central Station (22). Cases were distributed across all areas of the city, with referrals and informational cases comprising a significant portion of the total.
| SFPD Station | DPA Cases Closed | % of DPA Total |
|---|---|---|
| Tenderloin | 32 | 13.4% |
| Southern | 41 | 17.2% |
| Central | 28 | 11.8% |
| Mission | 20 | 8.4% |
| Northern | 15 | 6.3% |
| Ingleside | 18 | 7.56% |
| Taraval | 9 | 3.8% |
| Park | 3 | 1.3% |
| Richmond | 13 | 5.5% |
| Bayview | 16 | 6.7% |
| Airport Bureau | 3 | 1.3% |
| Not Applicable/Info | 6 | 2.5% |
| Unknown/Referral | 44 | 18.5% |
| Total | 238 | 100.00% |
Geographic Pattern Analysis
Case Distribution: Tenderloin (32), Southern (41), and Central (28) stations account for 42.4% of all cases closed, reflecting where complaints originated in Q2 2025. Referrals and Administrative: A significant portion (21%) consists of referrals and informational cases, indicating inter-agency coordination and comprehensive case categorization.
SFSO Oversight - Q2 2025
SFSO SFSO Oversight
The DPA has investigated certain types of serious complaints against deputies of San Francisco Sheriff's Office (SFSO) since 2018, ensuring independent oversight, reinforcing transparency, and promoting accountability across jail operations, courthouse security, and broader SFSO activities. Through formal agreements and evolving mandates, including oversight of in-custody deaths and the use of military equipment, the DPA has expanded its role to support investigations, critical incidents, and community engagement.
SFSO DPA Authority Under Letter of Agreement
Under a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with the San Francisco SFSO's Office, DPA investigates serious misconduct cases involving SFSO's deputies. DPA's oversight authority includes independent investigations of:
- In-custody deaths
- Complaints of:
- Use of force - injury or death
- Use of a weapon or control device
- Sexual misconduct
- Reckless disregard for health or safety
- Pattern or practice of harassment, bias, or retaliation by SFSO's Deputies
- Additional misconduct at SFSO discretion
DPA submits investigative findings to the SFSO and provides quarterly reports to the SFSO's Oversight Board on complaint statistics and investigation status.
SFSO SFSO Key Metrics - Q2 2025
SFSO SFSO Allegations and Findings
SFSO complaints in Q2 2025 generated 37 total allegations across the 10 complaints received.
| Allegation Type | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Misconduct | 26 | 70.27% |
| Neglect of Duty | 8 | 21.62% |
| Referral | 3 | 8.11% |
| Total | 37 | 100.0% |
SFSO SFSO Case Findings
The disposition of SFSO allegations in Q2 2025 shows a pattern of thorough investigation, with the majority being exonerated.
| Finding Type | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Exonerated - SFSO | 11 | 29.7% |
| Unfounded | 8 | 21.6% |
| Insufficient Evidence | 6 | 16.2% |
| Referral to Other Agency | 3 | 8.1% |
| Proper Conduct | 6 | 16.2% |
| No Finding | 2 | 5.4% |
| Improper Conduct | 1 | 2.7% |
| Total Findings | 37 | 100.0% |
SFSO Findings Analysis
Exoneration Rate: 29.7% of allegations were exonerated, meaning the alleged conduct occurred but was justified, lawful, and proper. Sustained Findings: Q2 2025 had 1 sustained finding against SFSO personnel. Referrals: 8.1% of cases were referred to other agencies for appropriate jurisdiction or handling.
SFSO SFSO Cases by Facility
The 14 SFSO cases closed in Q2 2025 were distributed across detention and related facilities as follows:
| Facility/Location | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail #3 | 7 | 50.0% |
| County Jail #2 | 4 | 28.6% |
| ZSFGH (Jail Hospital) | 0 | 0.0% |
| City Hall | 0 | 0.0% |
| County Jail #1 | 1 | 7.1% |
| Other | 2 | 14.3% |
| Total | 14 | 100.0% |
SFSO Facility Analysis
Facility Distribution: County Jails #3 closed 7 cases (50%), and County Jail #2 closed 4 cases (28.6%).
SFSO Analysis
Allegation Patterns: The majority of SFSO allegations in Q2 2025 were categorized as "Misconduct" (70.27%, 26 of 37 allegations). With only 14 closed cases generating 37 allegations, the small sample size limits broader pattern analysis. The exoneration rate was 29.73%.
Facility Distribution: County Jails #3 closed 7 cases, and County Jail #2 closed 4 cases. The volume of closed cases was 14 in Q2 2025.