Independent Police Auditor

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

Benefits offered by this job

CalPERS retirement

Defined contribution plan

Job summary

The City of San José seeks an Independent Police Auditor to lead the civilian oversight office, ensuring objective review of police misconduct investigations and strengthening trust in the complaint process. The IPA reports to the City Council and oversees a small team, including an Assistant IPA, with a $1.7 million budget for FY 2026-2027.

Ideal candidates have a strong record in investigations, legal research, and public outreach, with substantial leadership experience and Bar admission.

Qualifications

• A minimum of five years of experience in criminal law and criminal procedure.
• Experience or knowledge of investigations, legal research, and analyzing criminal, constitutional, labor, and civil rights law.
• Prior management and supervisor experience.
• Member in good standing with a state bar; California Bar license may be required.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent oversight of SJPD investigations to ensure completeness, thoroughness, objectivity, and fairness.
• Supervise intake of complaints and engage with the community to build public trust in the IPA.
• Review all complaints alleging excessive force and participate in oversight panels and reports.
• Collaborate with City leadership to advance policy recommendations and accountability.

Skills

Investigations

Legal research

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Law degree desirable

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

The City of San José 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’s 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 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 POSITION

The IPAs conduct 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.

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.

• Competitive defined benefit retirement plan with full reciprocity with CalPERS
• Defined contribution plan available as an option

Federal Law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in the country. Please be informed that the City of San José 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.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

Application Deadline: Monday, October 12, 2026

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

QUALIFICATIONS

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.

• 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.

• Member in good standing with a state bar
• 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.

• 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
• 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