KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS
- Government oversight and investigative methods relating to law enforcement or inquiries pertaining to field and administrative operations, policies, and practices for effective constitutional policing and community-police relations.
- Law, research, policy, or advocacy related to policing and community-police relations from a legal, criminal justice, or civil rights perspective.
- Organization and management practices and methods
- Administrative review of use of force incidents by police officers and understanding of criminal law and the elements of offenses.
- Principles of the administration of discipline in policing organizations, public administration, as well as current trends and issues affecting policing.
- City and police practices, policies, and procedures; criminal law, state civil law, civil rights law, and Police Officer and Firefighter Bill of Rights.
- Identify, analyze, and interpret trends or patterns in large and/or complex data sets.
- Prepare and analyze detailed written reports.
- Use of modern office equipment, including computers, computer applications, and computer software, to accomplish a variety of tasks.
The City of Sacramento’s Office of Public Safety Accountability (OPSA) encompasses oversight practitioners responsible for the investigation, review, and audit of allegations of misconduct involving the Sacramento Police Department (SPD) and the Sacramento Fire Department (SFD) personnel. OPSA ensures that investigations have been completed fairly, thoroughly, and objectively. The Office of Public Safety Accountability continues its efforts in the improvement of policing and better serving the interests of the public. The goals and objectives of the office involves creating meaningful opportunities for the community to influence decisions that impact them, incorporating innovative and progressive ideas to resolve issues, explaining challenges and limitations, and ensuring outcomes meet goals while remaining inclusive and accessible.
IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT
The ideal candidate will be a skilled and experienced investigator with an infallible track record of the highest degree of integrity, professionalism, sound judgement, political acumen, and savvy. Candidates should have knowledge of the principles of administration of discipline in policing organizations, as well as current trends and issues affecting policing to independently investigate officer involved shootings, police use of force that results in death or serious bodily injury, and in-custody deaths. An excellent communicator who can remain objective, think quickly, and respond appropriately, be able to effectively handle very stressful and sensitive circumstances, with tact and diplomacy, including public scrutiny and criticism.
The purpose of this position is to conduct special investigative assignments, independent investigations, report findings, and make recommendations.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Office of Public Safety Accountability (OPSA) Deputy Inspector General is a single position journey-level classification. Incumbents are responsible for conducting investigations into serious use of force. This classification is distinguished from the Office of Public Safety Inspector General in that the latter is responsible for greater complexity of assignment and has lead supervisory responsibilities.
Some positions in the Inspector General classification series are flexibly staffed from the lower level of Office of Public Safety Accountability Deputy Inspector General. Appointment to the higher classification requires that the employee be performing substantially the full range of duties for the classification and meet the qualification standards for the classification.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Direction is provided by the Assistant Director of Public Safety Accountability or other higher-level personnel. Lead responsibilities include the guidance and coordination of lower-level personnel.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This information is intended to be descriptive of the key responsibilities of the classification. The list of essential functions below does not identify all duties performed by any single incumbent in this classification. Additionally, please be aware of the legend below when referring to the physical demands of each essential function.
- Conduct independent investigations of serious use of force, any incident involving serious bodily injury or death incidents, and in-custody deaths in accordance with S.B.1421 categories.
- Participate in and formulate recommendations regarding the investigation and adjudication of serious use of force incidents.
- Plan, coordinate, and conduct thorough interviews with public safety employees and witnesses to gather evidence.
- Interview complainants and witnesses regarding allegations of misconduct by public safety personnel; inspect, review, and research all aspects of the Police and Fire Department’s operations regarding employee misconduct.
- Serve as a liaison for the office on police and police accountability oversight matters with elected and appointed officials, police and criminal justice stakeholders, community organizations, and the public.
- Issue written reports of inspection, evaluation, and review findings and recommendations.
- Perform related work of a similar nature and level as assigned.
The above job responsibilities represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.