Police Department Data & Statistics

Use of Force Data

Use Of Force 2021

Use of Force 2020

Use of Force 2019

Personnel Complaints and Investigations

All Police Departments in the State of California are required by law to have a process by which a civilian may make a complaint against Petaluma Police Department personnel. This information will assist anyone who has occasion to make a complaint against any member of the Petaluma Police Department.

The Petaluma Police Department civilian complaint process is committed to providing quality service to the community and we welcome feedback, including critical comments about employee performance.  The Petaluma Police Department investigates complaints taken from community members, known as civilian complaints.  Personnel complaints received from community members are managed and investigated by Professional Standards through the Office of the Chief of Police.

There are four potential findings related to personnel investigations which are as follows:

• Unfounded - When the investigation clearly established that allegation is not true.   Complaints that are determined to be frivolous will fall within the classification of unfounded (Penal Code § 832.8).
• Exonerated - When the investigation clearly established that the actions of the personnel that formed the basis of the complaint are not in violation of law or agency policy.
• Not sustained - When the investigation fails to disclose sufficient evidence to clearly prove or disprove the allegation in the complaint to fully exonerate the employee(s).
• Sustained – When the investigation disclosed sufficient evidence to prove truth of allegation in the complaint by preponderance of evidence.

Once an investigation is complete, depending on the findings, the Deputy Police Chief takes the appropriate disciplinary action.  Investigations resulting in sustained findings can result in employee discipline ranging from written reprimands up to and including termination.

Consistent with the Task Force Report on 21^st Century Policing, the Petaluma Police Department reports civilian complaints to the public.

For more information on civilian complaints or commendations click here.

Arrest and Citation Demographics

Petaluma PD Arrest Data 2020

Police Department Demographics

Petaluma Police Officer Demographics 2021

Petaluma Police Officer Demographics 2020

Racial & Identity Profiling Act (RIPA)

On July 1, 2021, the Petaluma Police Department began collecting and reporting all data on traffic stops and officer contacts as required by The Racial and Identity Profiling Act of 2015 or California Assembly Bill 953.  This implementation was voluntarily completed earlier than legislatively required as agencies, such as PPD, that employ less than 334 officers are not required to provide an annual stop data reports until April of 2023. This proactive effort has led to our agency to be identified as a Wave 4 Early Adopter agency by California Department of Justice (DOJ).  The Petaluma Police Department initiated the project through the Sonoma County Public Safety Consortium and DOJ in 2020.

The purpose of RIPA is to eliminate racial and identity profiling and improve diversity and racial and identity sensitivity in law enforcement. RIPA is also an important initiative in strengthening law enforcement and community relations through enhanced transparency and accountability.  RIPA mandates that all police-initiated contacts capture and report perceived demographic data, including race, gender, age, sexual orientation, language fluency, and disability, as well as the reason for all contacts, actions taken during the contact, and ultimately the result of the contact.

The California Department of Justice’s RIPA Board publishes an annual statewide report that will eventually include Petaluma’s data.