Independent Police Auditor

NACBA; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 195,000 - 353,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CalPERS retirement and health benefits

Defined contribution plan option

Job summary

The City of San José invites applications for the Independent Police Auditor, a role at the intersection of public trust and accountability. The IPA leads a civilian oversight office, providing objective review of investigations, engaging with the community, and advising City leadership on policies and procedures.

The IPA reports to the City Council and guides a small staff, with a $1.7 million budget for FY 2026-2027 and a four-year term from the end of the preceding term, emphasizing

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Law degree from an accredited college or university is desirable.
• Be a member in good standing with a state bar; may be required to obtain California Bar license.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the IPA Office reviews of SJPD investigations for fairness.
• Supervise intake of complaints and engage with the community to instill public confidence in IPA operations.
• Participate in SJPD’s Officer-Involved Shooting Review Panel and In-Custody Death Training Review Panel; prepare annual public reports.
• Meet regularly with the Mayor and City Councilmembers and report to the City Council.

Skills

Community engagement

Integrity & objectivity

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Law degree desirable

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

The City of San Jos\u00e9 offers a rare opportunity for an accomplished leader to serve at the intersection of public trust, accountability, and effective policing in one of the nation\u2019s largest and most diverse cities. As Independent Police Auditor, the successful candidate will lead a nationally significant civilian oversight office, working independently and objectively to strengthen confidence in the police complaint process, advance thoughtful policy and oversight, and foster constructive relationships among the community, the Police Department, and City leadership.

THE CITY OF SAN JOS\u00e9

Known as the \"Capital of Silicon Valley\", the City of San Jos\u00e9 plays a vital economic and cultural role anchoring the world\u2019s leading region of innovation. Encompassing approximately 181 square miles at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, San Jos\u00e9 is Northern California\u2019s largest city and the 13th largest city in the nation. With nearly one million residents, San Jos\u00e9 is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States. San Jos\u00e9\u2019s quality of life is unsurpassed. Surrounded by the Diablo and Santa Cruz mountain ranges and enjoying an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, residents have easy access to the beaches along the California coast including Santa\u00a0Cruze, Monterey, and Carmel; Yosemite and Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada; local and Napa Valley wine country, and the rich cultural and recreational life of the entire Bay region. San Jos\u00e9 is proud of its rich cultural diversity and global connections, and the essential role the City plays in connecting residents and businesses to the nation and the world.

THE OFFICE OF THE INDEPENDENT POLICE AUDITOR

The Office of the Independent Police Auditor (IPA) was established by the San Jos\u00e9 City Council in 1993 with the enactment of a City ordinance codified in the San Jos\u00e9 Municipal Code. On November\u00a060,\u00a01996, the voters of San Jos\u00e9 amended the City Charter to establish the Office of the Independent Police Auditor as a permanent arm of city government.

The mission of the IPA is five-fold: (1) to provide independent oversight of and instill confidence in the complaint process through objective review of police misconduct investigations; (2) to review Police Department investigations of complaints against police officers to determine if the investigation was complete, thorough, objective and fair; (3) to conduct outreach to the San Jos\u00e9 community; (4) to propose thoughtful policy recommendations to the City Council; and (5) to strengthen the relationship between the San Jos\u00e9 Police Department (SJPD) and the community it serves.

The San Jos\u00e9 IPA is supported by a small team of approximately seven extremely committed staff members, including an Assistant IPA who oversees the day-to-day operations. The Office received a proposed budget allocation of $1.7 million for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.

THE POSITION

The IPA conducts objective reviews of police misconduct investigations. The role of the IPA is to provide independent oversight of and instill confidence in the complaint process. Each IPA appointment is for a term ending four (4) years from and after the date of expiration of the immediately preceding term.

Reporting to the City Council, the IPA is charged with the following responsibilities, but not limited to planning, organizing, and supervising the work of the IPA Office in the review of SJPD investigations of complaints against police officers to determine if the investigations were complete, thorough, objective, and fair; supervising the Office\u2019s intakes of complaints from members of the public and engages with the community to instill public confidence in the IPA\u2019s operations; reviewing all complaints from members of the public that allege excessive or unnecessary force by police officers; supervising the preparation of an annual public report to the City Council; participating in SJPD\u2019s Officer-Involved Shooting Review Panel and In-Custody Death Training Review Panel; and meeting regularly with the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

The IPA will possess unquestionable integrity and objectivity; be able to further the mission of the Office with impartiality and independent conviction within the boundaries defined by the City Charter and under intense pressure and scrutiny; be politically astute but apolitical; have a solid record of community engagement, working with a diverse community; and have the ability to establish and maintain a mutually respectful working relationship with the Police Department.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $194,670 to $352,806 per year, which includes an approximate five percent ongoing non-pensionable compensation. The actual salary will be determined by the final candidate\u2019s qualifications and experience. The City also provides an excellent array of benefits including a competitive defined benefit retirement plan with full reciprocity with CalPERS; a defined contribution plan available as an option.

For additional benefit information, interested candidates are encouraged to review the detailed recruitment brochure at mosaicpublic.com/careers and visit the City\u2019s Human Resources Benefits website.

Federal Law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in the country. Please be informed that the City of San Jos\u00e9 will not sponsor, represent, or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa that requires an employee application.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Completion of a Bachelor\u2019s Degree from an accredited college or university. A law degree from an accredited college or university is desirable.

Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in criminal law and criminal procedure. Must be experienced in or knowledgeable of investigations, legal research, and analyzing criminal, constitutional, labor, and civil rights law. Must have prior management and supervisor experience.

Licensing

Be a member in good standing with a state bar. The selected applicant may be required to obtain a California Bar license.

Special Requirements

(1) Has not been a sworn law enforcement officer (e.g. police officer, reserve officer, probation officer, parole officer, or DEA agent), for at least ten years prior to appointment as the Independent Police Auditor, and (2) Does not have any immediate family members (defined as spouse, parent, domestic partner, sibling, child or grandparent) who are sworn law enforcement officers with any law enforcement agency. Be a member in good standing with a state bar. The selected applicant may be required to obtain a California Bar license.

This recruitment will be handled with strict confidentiality. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.

Greg Nelson | [e-mail] | [phone].