A relationship of trust and confidence between members of the Sebastopol Police Department and the community we serve is essential to effective law enforcement. Police officers and department members must be free to exercise their best judgment and to initiate law enforcement action in a reasonable, lawful and impartial manner, without fear of reprisal. Likewise, police officers and department members have a special obligation to respect the rights of all persons.
 
The Sebastopol Police Department acknowledges its responsibility to establish a system that allows our community to provide commendations, complaints, and comments, along with procedures that recognize the good work they do and recommendations for improvement. The Sebastopol Police Department also acknowledges its responsibility to establish a system of accountability and corrective action when a department member conducts himself/herself improperly, but also will protect him/her from unwarranted criticism when he/she discharges his/her duties properly. It is the purpose of these procedures to provide a prompt, equitable, open and expeditious disposition of commendations, complaints, and comments regarding the conduct of any members of the Department and the Department as a whole.
 
The below complaint data reflects information regarding complaints that resulted in internal affairs investigations. The complaint types resulting in internal affairs investigations are determined based on the Sebastopol Police Department's Standards of Conduct as defined in the Sebastopol Police Department Policy Manual. The following definitions are provided to help clarify the information listed in the below complaint data table. 
 
Definitions:
 
Affiliation:  Business, Resident, Non-Resident
 
Unfounded: When the investigation discloses that the alleged act(s) did not occur or did not involve Department personnel. Complaints which are determined to be frivolous will fall within the classification of unfounded.
 
Exonerated: When the investigation discloses that the alleged act occurred, but that the act was justified, lawful and/or proper.
 
Not Sustained: When the investigation discloses that there is insufficient evidence to sustain the complaint or fully exonerate the employee.
 
Sustained: When the investigation discloses sufficient evidence to establish that the act occurred and that it constituted misconduct.
 
 

Affiliation	Complaint Type	Year	Disposition
Non-Resident	Discourteous, Exceeding Lawful Peace Ofc. Powers, Failure to Conduct an Initial Investigation	2021	Unfounded; Unfounded; Unfounded