Independent Police Auditor

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

Benefits offered by this job

Defined benefit retirement plan

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

The City of San José seeks an Independent Police Auditor (IPA) to provide independent oversight of police misconduct investigations, review SJPD investigations for completeness, thoroughness, objectivity and fairness, and engage with the community to strengthen public confidence in the IPA’s work.

The IPA role leads a small team, reports to the City Council, develops policy recommendations, oversees intake and annual reporting, and collaborates with the Mayor and Council on accountability and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five years of experience in criminal law and criminal procedure; experience with investigations, legal research, and analyzing criminal, constitutional, labor, and civil rights law.
• State bar member in good standing; CA Bar license may be required.
• Special Requirements: not a sworn law enforcement officer for at least ten years; no immediate family who are sworn officers.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent oversight of police misconduct investigations.
• Review SJPD investigations for completeness, thoroughness, objectivity, and fairness.
• Engage with the community to instill public confidence in IPA operations.
• Propose policy recommendations to the City Council; strengthen relations with the Police Department.
• Oversee IPA intake, annual reporting, and coordination with the Mayor and City Council.

Skills

Criminal law

Criminal procedure

Investigations

Legal research

Constitutional law

Labor law

Civil rights law

Management experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Law degree desirable

Job description

THE CITY OF SAN JOSÉ

Known as the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” the City of San José plays a vital economic and cultural role anchoring the world’s leading region of innovation. Encompassing approximately 181 square miles at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, San José is Northern California’s largest city and the 13th largest city in the nation. With nearly one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States. San José’s 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 Cruz, 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 José 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 José City Council in 1993 with the enactment of a City ordinance codified in the San José Municipal Code. On November 6, 1996, the voters of San José 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 José community; (4) to propose thoughtful policy recommendations to the City Council; and (5) to strengthen the relationship between the San José Police Department (SJPD) and the community it serves.

The San José 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 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’s intakes of complaints from members of the public and engages with the community to instill public confidence in the IPA’s 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’s 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.

• Education: Completion of a Bachelor’s 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.

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’s 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 and visiting the City’s Human Resources Benefits website.

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

Confidential inquiries are welcomed:

Greg Nelson

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