IPA GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1. The IPA strives to ensure that all concerns reported by members of the public are classified
and investigated at the appropriate level based upon the premise that any case brought forward
containing misconduct issues will be classified as a complaint with associated allegations,
findings and officer names tracked.
2. The IPA reaches out to inform the community about the complaint process and to listen and
respond to broader community concerns.
3. The IPA carefully considers aggregate data from complaints, community concerns and public
policy in crafting recommendations aimed toward improving the quality services of the San Jose
Police Department.
NEWS, NEWS, NEWS ...
1. A Students’ Guide to Police Practices (Guide)
has been revised and is available now. The goal of the Guide is to provide
youth with information to help them make smart decisions if they are stopped by the police.
Parents and teachers also find the Guide helpful. It contains basic information about legal rights,
common crimes that sometimes involve youth, and how to avoid becoming the victim of a crime. The
revised Guide contains new sections that discuss serious social issues facing youth today, such as:
gangs, hate crimes, internet safety, and dating abuse. A copy may be obtained by calling the IPA office or by downloading it from our website. See “Youth Guide” (English, Spanish, Vietnamese).
2. Forum on youth and law enforcement a BIG SUCCESS.
The San Jose City College (SJCC) Community Arts & Lectures Program presented a forum featuring San Jose’s
Independent Police Auditor Barbara Attard, Assistant Police Chief Dan Katz, and members of the
San José Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit on September 25, 2008 at SJCC.
The event was attended by a diverse group of almost 200 students and other interested parties.
Attendees received an advanced copy of the recently updated and improved Student’s Guide to Police
Practices. The guide contains valuable information regarding basic legal issues, police practices,
safety tips, and community resources. Among other things, panelists at the forum discussed youth
safety, the police misconduct complaint process, careers in law enforcement, and community policing in San Jose.
3. We have not moved but our address has changed! Same offices, same building, but the official address is now: 75 East Santa Clara Street, Suite P-93 (lower level), San José, CA 95113.
4. Community outreach & presentations are available.
The IPA Office conducts presentations to educate the community about the complaint process and the
role of the Independent Police Auditor. Youth presentations introducing the
“Student Guide to Police Practices”
inform youth about dealing with interactions with law enforcement. If your school, church, neighborhood association,
community group, organization, or agency is interested in such a presentation, please do not hesitate to
call us. For further information, contact Diane Doolan at (408) 794-6231.
5. The IPA Adopts the National Association for
Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) Code of Ethics (Code). At the 12th Annual
Conference in Boise in 2006, NACOLE adopted a Code of Ethics for practitioners of oversight
of law enforcement. Oversight agencies were asked to adopt the Code and abide by the standards.
The IPA is proud to be a part of this important step in the development of the civilian oversight
profession.
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