Vallejo officials present revised personnel-complaints policy; residents press for clearer notice and oversight

Vallejo officials presented a draft personnel-complaints policy during a Police Oversight Advisory Commission session, outlining new tracking, reporting and complaint-access features while prompting public criticism about short notice and clarity of materials.

Deputy Chief Knight of the Vallejo Police Department said the revised policy aims to increase “accountability and transparency,” define serious misconduct (including “excessive force, bias, dishonesty, and failure to intervene”) and provide multiple filing methods. “Complaints can be filed by anyone including anonymously and on behalf of others,” Knight said, and the department will log complaints in IA Pro so complainants can receive status updates via email or text.

The presentation traced the policy’s development to collaboration with the California Department of Justice and the Vallejo Evaluation Team (VET), an independent evaluator Jensen Hughes has operated under the settlement agreement, and explained that certain allegations must be reported to California POST (the state police officer standards and training body).

The draft and staff presentation drew repeated public criticism. A public commenter said the meeting format, short notice and the complexity of the documents undermined confidence that “real reform and accountability is going to occur,” and urged town halls in each district, plain-language summaries, taped interviews and an independent observer for complaint interviews.

Community members and POAC participants raised similar concerns at table reports and during public comment. One attendee, Jose Enrique Salas, said receiving the revised policy only hours before the meeting made substantive review impossible. Sanath Sethi, an organizer with ACLU of Northern California, said the ACLU submitted written feedback and recommended explicitly adding the POAC’s obligations and reporting timelines to the policy, simplifying definitions, and clarifying misconduct-category language.

City staff and VPD officials responded with specific next steps. Staff committed to preparing an FAQs/summary page and to post the draft policy, the current policy, and a comparison summary on MyVallejo for electronic feedback. Deputy Chief Knight and others announced a department town hall on April 30 at 6 p.m. to present the policy and capture further community input, and staff said the POAC will take a formal agenda item on the draft at its April 9 meeting.

No formal action or vote occurred at the session; staff said they would compile tonight’s comments and respond in writing and through the follow-up meetings. The meeting closed after commissioners and staff reiterated the need for clearer public communication and greater community outreach.

The department’s next public presentation on the draft is scheduled for April 30; the POAC will consider its formal recommendations at the April 9 meeting.