Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
Internal Investigations Manual
RM 220.01
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
REFERENCE MANUAL
Page 2 of 18
11-17-2025
Internal Investigations Manual
TO: ALL PERSONNEL
It is essential that our community has confidence in the internal investigation procedures of the
Sacramento Police Department (SPD). Therefore, investigations of allegations of employee
misconduct and poor job performance shall be complete, impartial, an d timely.
It is equally important that accused employees are afforded every right guaranteed by the
Constitution of the United States, the State of California and local laws including Government
Code Sections 3300 -3309, Sections 3500 -3510, California Penal Codes Sec tions 832.5 and
832.7, Civil Service Board Rules, applicable labor agreements, general orders (GO), and this
manual.
GOs 110.01, 220.01, and 220.05 implement this manual and require that all employees read,
understand, and adhere to its contents.
To keep this manual contemporary, viable, and useful, all employees shall report through their
chain of command to the Chief of Police (COP) any discrepancies between the contents of this
manual, current law, and acceptable police procedure.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
REFERENCE MANUAL
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER I – DEFINITIONS ………………………………………………………………………… 3
CHAPTER II - PERSONNEL COMPLAINTS ……………………………………………………… ..5
CHAPTER III - INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS……………………………………………………… ..7
CHAPTER IV - EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES……………………………… ...9
CHAPTER I – DEFINITIONS ………………………………………………………………………… 4
CHAPTER V - ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW ……………………………………………………… .10
CHAPTER VI - DISPOSITION OF COMPLAINTS ……………………………………………… ..12
CHAPTER VII - DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS ……………………………………………………… ..12
CHAPTER VIII - OVERSIGHT …………………………………………………………………… …16
CHAPTER IX - NOTIFICATIONS ………………………………………………………………… ...16
CHAPTER X - CIVIL CLAIMS AND SUITS ……………………………………………………… . 17
CHAPTER XI - PITCHESS MOTIONS …………………………………………………………… 17
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
REFERENCE MANUAL
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CHAPTER I
DEFINITIONS
A. Definitions
1. COMPLAINT – An allegation against any department employee involving a violation of
any law, rule, regulation, policy, or other improper job performance.
2. COMPLAINT INTAKE FORM (SPD Form 328) – Form used to initially document all
complaints and shall be routed, tracked, and retained by the Internal Affairs Division
(IAD).
3. COMPLAINT INTAKE SUPPLEMENT FORM (SPD Form 331) – Documentation of IAD’s
initial review of a complaint intake form, which includes, but is not limited to, complainant
statement, review of reports and logs, preliminary review of pertinent police video, or
computer record checks.
4. COMPLAINT INTAKE REVIEW CLASSIFICATIONS – Initial classification rendered by
the Office of the Chief (OOC), Special Services captain after reviewing completed
Complaint Intake Forms (SPD Form 328) and Complaint Intake Supplement Forms
(SPD Form 331).
5. COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION – An investigation conducted by the IAD involving an act
or omission by any department employee that is in violation of department or city policy,
procedure, rules, regulations, or the law, which if proven true, may result in discip linary
action.
6. DIVISION REFERRAL – Non-disciplinary incidents referred to an employee’s division
manager for review.
7. CLOSED – NO ACTION – Employee conduct or behavior that does not violate
department or city policy, procedure, rules, regulations, or the law and does not require
further action.
8. FOLLOW -UP REQUEST – Additional information is required to properly classify the
intake review.
9. COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION FORM (SPD Form 330) – Form utilized to initiate a
complaint investigation and shall be routed, tracked, and retained by the IAD.
10. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS -
a. Letter of reprimand.
b. Suspension.
c. Withholding in -grade salary increase.
d. In-grade salary reduction.
e. Demotion.
f. Termination.
11. NON -DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS -
a. Verbal counseling.
b. Documented counseling.
c. Employee supplemental training.
12. DIVISION REFERRAL – Incidents referred to an employee’s division manager for review
and an outcome determination.
13. DIVISION REFERRAL OUTCOMES – An employee’s division manager determination
after receiving completed division referral complaint reviews.
a. No action.
b. Handled at watch level.
c. Referred to IAD.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
REFERENCE MANUAL
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CHAPTER II
PERSONNEL COMPLAINTS
A. General
1. Complaints are allegations of misconduct against any Department employee involving a
violation of any law, rule, regulation, policy, or other improper job performance.
2. All complaints shall be investigated.
3. The Internal Affairs Division (IAD) is responsible for maintaining the software, which is
used to record personnel complaint data, manage internal investigations, automate
forms, and provide statistical reports.
4. All complaints shall be retained by the IAD in accordance with Department records
retention schedules.
a. The IAD shall record and assign all complaints