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Independent police auditor praises SRPD oversight, recommends formalizing major‑incident follow‑through
Summary
OIR Group delivered its 2025 annual audit of Santa Rosa Police Department internal investigations, finding strong collaboration and recommending refinements to major‑incident reviews, improved documentation of corrective actions, and continued holistic review of use‑of‑force cases.
The independent police auditor (OIR Group) presented its 2025 annual report to Santa Rosa's City Council, reporting on real‑time monitoring of internal investigations, critical‑incident reviews and a set of system‑level recommendations to strengthen oversight and documentation.
Stephen Connolly of OIR Group said the office has real‑time read access to SRPD investigation files and body‑worn camera footage and can sit in on interviews and supervisory reviews. "The independent police auditor model is based on a real‑time active monitoring of all misconduct investigations at all phases," Connolly said, describing the OIR role as both a reviewer and advisor.
OIR reviewed 55 misconduct cases in calendar year 2025; 17 sustained findings resulted from those investigations. Connolly and auditors praised SRPD for improved investigative efficiencies (citing body‑worn cameras and supervisory review), an active training unit and a recently formalized major‑incident review process. He recommended that the department better document action items from major‑incident reviews and record completion of those follow‑up tasks in the case file before closure to strengthen institutional memory.
Chief John Cregan and the department welcomed OIR's findings and reiterated that SRPD now conducts thorough major‑incident reviews that examine not just whether a particular use of force was justified but also how supervision, communications and procedures performed during the event. Chief Cregan warned that the department has fewer officers than historic highs while calls and workloads have grown; he said specialty teams (gang unit, traffic, downtown enforcement) are the units most likely to be cut if deeper budget cuts are required in future years.
The report will be discussed in the city's public safety committee, where SRPD will respond to the seven recommendations with actions and timelines.
Why it matters: The OIR process gives an independent, front‑row look at internal investigations and critical incidents. Council members praised the rigor of OIR's review and said the report reinforced public confidence while highlighting areas for procedural improvement.
Ending: OIR will continue monitoring investigations; SRPD will prepare a written response to the recommendations for a fall public‑safety committee meeting.
Speakers quoted: Stephen Connolly (OIR Group), Chief John Cregan (SRPD).
