Department of Police Accountability

DPA's Response to today's verdict in the Rittenhouse trial.

A message from DPA's Executive Director Paul Henderson

Read our full message

File a complaint about police services

Start the complaint process about an SFPD officer or police policy.

Know your rights around a police officer

What to do if an SFPD officer stops you on the street, in a car, or at your home.

Our divisions

Find out what each division does to support police oversight and policy change.

In this page:

Services

Policing concerns

File a complaint about police services

Start the complaint process about an SFPD officer or police policy.

Request an investigative hearing

What to do if you disagree with the findings of your complaint against a police officer.

Request records of complaints about police

Learn about public records and how to request them.

Recommend a police department audit

Suggest ideas for reviewing the San Francisco Police Department’s performance.

Volunteering

Apply for an internship with DPA's Law and Justice Reform Internship Program

The Department of Police Accountability has opportunities for students interested in public service. We accept applications all year.

Apply to be a mediator for complaints about police officers

Help the Department of Police Accountability handle complaints about police conduct.

Check out the DPA Dashboard

Our dashboard includes case statistics from 2016 -2021. Users can review metrics about DPA opened cases, closed cases and sustained cases, as well as allegations and findings.

Learn more

News

San Francisco Police Commission adopts improved Use of Force policy

January 13, 2022

The Department of Police Accountability launches new website

August 31, 2021

Resources

Reports on complaints against police in 2021

Reports on the number, types, and findings of complaints against police.

Reports on policing complaints

See reports on how many complaints were filed and what we found. You can also see SB 1421 released cases.

Request records of complaints about police

Learn about public records and how to make requests.

Investigation or mediation of complaints against a police officer

Explains the different ways we could handle your report.

Know your rights around a police officer

What to do if an SFPD officer stops you on the street, in a car, or at your home.

Know your rights around Immigration and Customs Enforcement

What to do if you are stopped by an ICE agent in public or at your home.

Investigations of police services

What happens after you file a complaint about police officers or policies.

Young people's rights around police officers

What to do if you are under 18 and stopped by a police officer in San Francisco.

DPA Dashboard

To showcase the numbers pertaining to the complaints we received and closed.

About

DPA is an oversight agency that investigates complaints about SFPD officers. DPA investigates SFPD officer-involved shootings and audits SFPD practices. We recommend new policies and policy changes to the Police Commission and SFPD. DPA and SFPD are separate agencies that both report to the Police Commission.

Learn more about us