Report 2021-105 Recommendation 64 Responses
Report 2021-105: Law Enforcement Departments Have Not Adequately Guarded Against Biased Conduct (Release Date: April 2022)
Recommendation #64 To: Stockton Police Department
To ensure that it adequately investigates possible biased conduct and implements effective corrective actions, Stockton Police's policies should require that investigations
include a formal determination that makes clear whether biased conduct occurred or not, as well as the rationale for reaching the determination.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From April 2026
fully implemented January 2021 - system only allows last year of 2024
SPD requires that all investigations involving possible biased conduct include a formal determination clearly stating whether biased conduct occurred and the rationale for the finding.
Policies and Procedures Implemented
Policy 1009 - Personnel Complaints
Mandates that investigators:
- Document a clear finding
- Provide a written rationale
- Cite supporting evidence
- Identify bias indicators considered
- Document required corrective action or discipline
Policy 401 - Bias Based Policing
Provides the standards investigators must apply when determining whether biased conduct occurred.
Supervisory and Command Review
All determinations undergo:
- Division level review
- Professional Standards Section review
- Command level approval
IAPro Documentation
Ensures transparency, auditability, and consistent application of standards.
- Completion Date: January 2024
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending
The policy Stockton cites in its response is not in alignment with the recommendation. Specifically, Policy 1009 does not require the department's investigators to make formal determinations about bias and provide a rationale for their conclusions.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2023
Stockton Police Department thoroughly investigates all complaints of misconduct. Once the investigation is complete, a determination memorandum is authored that documents the allegation/s and the recommended finding.
- Completion Date: January 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending
Stockton PD reported to us that it does not have a formal policy, but that it will soon have a new policy regarding bias-based policing. If its new policy addresses all aspects of the recommendation, we will consider the recommendation to be fully implemented.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
All Recommendations in 2021-105
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.