City of Santa Rosa
Independent Police Auditor’s
Status Chart re Santa Rosa Police
Department Complaint Cases
October 2023
Michael Gennaco
Stephen Connolly
Teresa Magula
Brian Corr
2023 SRPD Personnel Investigations:
IPA monitoring as of 9-30-23
Allegation Status IPA Input Other
Homeless woman alleged officer had
triggered her PTSD during an
encounter near her encampment.
Admin. investigation complete;
investigator did due diligence
but could not find a police
contact that matched the
woman's allegations. Concur
Homeless man complained about
various aspects of SRPD conduct
when he and his wife were arrested.
Admin. investigation complete;
BWC showed the officers had
been professional and followed
protocol in post-arrest
procedures
Concur with
findings.
SRPD opened a case after an officer
negligently discharged a weapon
downward that was being
confiscated during a call for service
(no injuries).
Complete; officer was found to
have violated policy and conduct
was formally addressed.
Department initiated an investigation
over concerns about the handling of
a call for service, with a focus on
officer decision-making and use of
force.
Admin. investigation complete;
violations of policy were
identified. Final outcome
pending.
Consulted
with P.D.
regarding
resolution of
sustained
allegations;
concur with
outcome.
Department identified concerns with
officer's handling of a handcuffed
detention.
Admin. investigation complete;
violations of policy were
identified. Final outcome
pending.
SRPD officer negligently discharged
a less lethal weapon at the
conclusion of a call for service. (No
injuries.)
Complete; officer was found to
have violated policy and conduct
was formally addressed.
Allegation Status IPA Input Other
SRPD officer inadvertently damaged
a gas pump after getting fuel for
patrol vehicle.
Complete; officer was found to
have violated policy and conduct
was formally addressed.
SRPD initiated the case after officer's
data entry error caused the wrong
person to be briefly taken into
custody.
Officer asserted due diligence
during administrative interview;
records did not definitively
establish negligence on the
officer's part.
Concur with
outcome.
SRPD has
identified a
related
technological
issue.
Complainant expressed various
grievances over SRPD's response to
her security concerns.
BWC showed officers had
engaged professionally with
complainant, who was extremely
contentious.
Concur with
outcome.
Complainant challenged the
legitimacy of a traffic stop (which had
only resulted in a warning).
BWC showed officer had been
appropriate and within his
authority in conducting the stop.
Concur with
outcome.
Complainant alleged that traffic stop
and citations were retaliatory, and
that SRPD officers had harassed him
during the encounter.
Complete, officers exonerated.
Concur with
outcome.
Complainant alleged that officers
were wasting taxpayer money by
leaving city limits while on duty.
Complete, officers exonerated.
Records showed officers were in
fact responding to a call on city
owned property that was located
in an adjoining jurisdiction.
Concur with
outcome.
Victim of stolen property alleged that
follow-up by officers was insufficient
and that his attempts to further the
criminal investigation had been
handled rudely and dismissively.
Review determined that
handling had fallen short of
expectations. Conduct was
addressed by supervisor.
Concur with
outcome.
Officer was involved in a traffic
collision; Department initiated a
formal review.
Complete. Allegation was
sustained and remedial
measures were implemented.
Concur with
outcome.
Complainant alleged that officer
response to an attempted break in
lacked appropriate documentation
and regard for victim safety.
Department determined that a
report had been discretionary
under the circumstances (and
that no policy violations had
occurred). An officer eventually
did provide one at the
complainant's request.
Concur with
outcome.
IPA asked for
follow-up on
additional
aspects of
officer
response,
Allegation Status IPA Input Other
which was
done.
SRPD officer inadvertently damaged
a gas pump after getting fuel for
patrol vehicle.
Complete; officer was found to
have violated policy and conduct
was formally addressed.
Arrestee challenged several aspects
of responding officers' behavior
(including violation of Miranda rights
and speeding during transport.)
Sergeant review complete;
pending IPA review.
Complainant accused a civilian
volunteer of making a racially hostile
comment in the context of a dispute
over parking citations.
Department determined that the
allegations were not sustained,
based on lack of proof.
Concur. No
body-worn
camera for
volunteer,
and
complainant's
evidence was
not
conclusive.
An unhoused individual questioned
the legitimacy of an enforcement
action against himself and another
person, whose belongings were
disposed of. Pending.
Third party witness questioned the
necessity of officer actions during an
arrest at a public park, which had
included drawn weapons.
Complete; complaint was
deemed unfounded based on
body-worn camera recordings
and dispatch information as to
the alleged crime.
Concur. IPA
also asked
for further
review of a
subsequent
use of force
that was
associated
with the same
incident (and
unknown to
complainant);
SRPD
conducted
the requested
follow-up.
Complainant claimed that a
responding SRPD officer had been
The officer's body-worn camera
recording established that he
Concur with
outcome.
Allegation Status IPA Input Other
wrong in "taking the side" of a car
dealership when responding to a
dispute over service for his vehicle.
had been professional and
consistent with agency
expectations in encouraging the
man to leave the premises at
the request of the manager.
After several weeks had passed, a
mother complained about the
treatment of her six-year-old son
during the period between her
husband's arrest after a car stop and
the son's release to a family
member.
Body-worn camera recordings
captured the entire half hour
duration before a relative came
to get the boy. It showed the
officers making a good faith
effort to reassure him and tend
to his needs. Allegations
exonerated.
Concur with
outcome;
requested
follow-up
review of one
portion of the
encounter,
which was
conducted.
Third party alleged that SRPD sweep
of an encampment, including
disposal of property for
approximately 15 people, had been
improper. Pending.
Complainant
notified IPA of
concerns.
Motorist challenged the legitimacy
and accuracy of a traffic citation he
received.
Investigation complete; IPA
review pending.
Third party submitted a detailed
complaint alleging procedural flaws
and improprieties in SRPD's handling
of a homeless encampment sweep
that affected approximately 10
people.
Complete. Allegations
exonerated based on body-worn
camera recordings and
explanations of officer actions
and decision-making.
Concur.
Complainant alleged that two officers
had grabbed her without justification
and improperly confronted her during
an encounter in public. Pending.
Complainant
also reached
out to IPA
Allegation Status IPA Input Other
Complainant emailed the
Department to allege that an officer
had been abrasive and threatening
to her while she working at a
convenience store.
Complete. SRPD successfully
identified the officer and
exonerated him after review of
body-worn camera recording.
Concur with
outcome after
meeting with
SRPD re the
overall
context of the
encounter
(which
related to
liquor sales at
the store).
Complainant was upset about the
lack of apparent police response to
multiple calls regarding illegal
fireworks in his neighborhood.
Investigation complete; SRPD
response was reasonable during
a high-volume night of similar
calls. Concur.
Complainant contacted SRPD with
concerns in the aftermath of a minor
collision with a Department patrol
car.
Investigation complete, final
outcome pending.
IPA
participated
in the
administrative
interview of
the subject
officer.
A hearing-impaired individual felt he
was treated insensitively at a
Department-sponsored social event.
Complete. An interview with the
complainant established the
nature of his broader concerns,
which did not allege specific
misconduct.
Concur;
Department
provided
explanation
about its
efforts at
accommodati
on.
Complainant alleged that two
separate encounters with SRPD
officers that occurred within hours
(and several months ago) had been
mishandled and improperly led to her
arrest.
Complete. Officers were
exonerated on the basis of
body-worn camera recordings.
IPA
requested
additional
investigation,
which SRPD
conducted.
Concur with
outcome.
Complainant
also contacted
IPA regarding
her concerns.
Allegation Status IPA Input Other
Complainant alleged that an SRPD
officer had treated him unfairly and
disrespectfully in the context of
multiple calls for service at his home
(where he had recurring disputes
with a roommate).
Investigation complete, final
review pending
Third party alleged that officers had
wrongfully harassed and detained a
homeless individual.
Complete. Officers were
exonerated based on body-worn
camera recordings and other
available evidence as to the
incident.
Concur;
complainant
was not
aware of the
background
of (and legal
justification
for) the stop.
Complainant alleged dangerous
driving behavior by an SRPD officer
at a specific date and time. Pending.
Complainant accused responding
SRPD officers of bias, excessive
force, and false arrest when they
took her into custody after a physical
fight with a juvenile that occurred
under disputed circumstances.
Investigation complete. Review
of body-worn camera recordings
showed officers gathering
evidence objectively and making
appropriate determinations
about the incident.
Concur. IPA
asked for
secondary
review of
officers'
"fault"
determination
. It was
conducted.
Complainant alleged inappropriate
use of the carpool lane by an SRPD
officer during morning commute
hours. Pending
Complainant alleged that the
Department was responsible for
leaving repeated and unwarranted
notices on her RV. Pending
Internal matter from SRPD
management regarding a
supervisor's ensuring of proper shift
coverage.
Addressed through a
documented counseling.
Allegation Status IPA Input Other
Internal matter generated by SRPD:
supervisor was alleged to have
improperly limited the police
involvement in a call for service
regarding a deceased person.
Investigation complete; final
outcome pending.
Complainant identified several
concerns regarding a police
encounter involving herself and an
unhoused companion, which resulted
in the lengthy detentions of both. Pending.
Complainant made numerous
allegations of misconduct against
SRPD officers (and other legal
officials), dating back several years. Pending
Complainant
has
corresponded
with IPA; was
referred to
PD.
SRPD officer inadvertently damaged
a gas pump after getting fuel for
patrol vehicle.
Complete; officer was found to
have violated policy and conduct
was formally addressed.
SRPD officer inadvertently damaged
a gas pump after getting fuel for
patrol vehicle.
Complete; officer was found to
have violated policy and conduct
was formally addressed.
Attorney filed a complaint on behalf
of his client, alleging that multiple
"hate crimes" being perpetrated
against her by neighborhood youth
are not being addressed
appropriately by SRPD. Pending.