San Jose Police Department (SJPD) officers were involved in a greater number of use of force incidents and faced more misconduct allegations last year, according to the recently released 2025 annual report from the Office of the Independent Police Auditor (IPA), the city's police watchdog agency.
The report found that use of force incidents involving SJPD officers rose by approximately 5% in 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 598 incidents. This marks the fourth consecutive year of increases after a significant decline in 2021 following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also identified 20 critical incidents in 2025, an increase from 15 in the prior year. These incidents included three police shootings, one in-custody death, and 16 incidents resulting in serious injuries.
Misconduct allegations filed against officers also increased to 1,034 in 2025, representing a 39% rise from 2024. The most frequent types of allegations included violations of police procedures, discourteous or unprofessional behavior, discriminatory policing, and complaints related to arrests and detentions. Interim Police Auditor Dwight White, who presented the findings to the San Jose City Council on a Tuesday, noted that an increase in allegations does not automatically indicate an increase in actual misconduct. However, he stated that these trends help identify areas where additional training, clearer policies, or improved communication could benefit the public.
In most cases, 58% of allegations led to officers being exonerated following an investigation. In 11% of cases, investigations determined a violation likely occurred, leading to disciplinary action. The IPA conducted 330 reviews of Internal Affairs investigations, and its appeals resulted in revised findings in three instances. Criminal justice reform advocates expressed concern regarding the rising use of force cases. Sean Allen, president of NAACP San Jose/Silicon Valley and a former county correctional officer, commented that these patterns indicate issues with officer experience levels and the department's leadership, training, and mentoring.
The IPA report includes 12 reform proposals for the SJPD. These recommendations range from stricter controls governing police interactions to measures ensuring policy updates are distributed to officers in a timely manner. A significant recommendation, echoing a recent push from councilmembers, calls for new rules prohibiting officers from using personal devices to access data from the city's network of automated license plate readers (ALPRs). This proposal follows news last month that an SJPD officer was fired for using ALPR data to help a family member track a woman involved in a domestic violence dispute.
The report also reiterates longstanding calls to grant the auditor's office more investigatory power. Specifically, for police incidents involving injuries or gunfire, the report requests that SJPD provide auditors full access to all investigative materials, such as body camera recordings, photographs, and interviews, within 30 days of the department's investigation completion. Police Chief Paul Joseph affirmed the department's agreement with the goals of the recommendations, stating that many have already been enacted or are in the process of implementation. He added that the department is always striving for improvement and values the IPA’s partnership in enhancing accountability.
Mayor Matt Mahan commended the watchdog agency’s work after the IPA presentation, emphasizing that greater transparency in police conduct contributes to public safety. He noted that if residents do not trust the department and City Hall, they are less likely to report crimes, share evidence, or serve as witnesses, which makes the community less safe. The Office of the Independent Police Auditor, established in 1993, serves as a civilian check on SJPD's internal investigations into officer misconduct, aiming to ensure these investigations are complete, thorough, and fair. The office has previously been a point of contention in San Jose's police reform discussions due to complaints that its limited investigative authority hinders its oversight capabilities. The report also follows the abrupt September departure of the previous auditor, Eddie Aubrey, for which San Jose officials have provided no public explanation.
