SERVICIO

File a complaint about police services

Start the complaint process about an SFPD officer or police policy.

Qué saber

Privacy

We will keep your information safe. 

Courts and the public can sometimes request records. Before we share the records, we try to remove anything that could identify you. But it’s sometimes possible to work out who filed a complaint.

Your safety

Police officers cannot retaliate based on complaints.

¿Qué hacer?

You can make a complaint about any police policy or incident. You do not need to have been directly involved in the incident. 

You can file a complaint any time after the incident. But we have only 1 year to finish an investigation after you’ve filed.

Know your rights around a police officer in San Francisco.

Tell us what happened

You’ll need to tell us about the incident. We need to know:

  • Date 
  • Time
  • Location

Anything else you can tell us about what happened will make it easier to investigate. We’ll ask you for:

  • Officer names
  • Witness names 
  • Incident report or citation numbers

Report an incident

An investigator will contact you for further information afterwards. We will need a phone number or email address.

You can call our offices to file a complaint.

415-241-7711
With your permission, we will record the interview for the investigation. Free translation services are available.

You can come to our offices, or any police station, to file a complaint.

1 South Van Ness Ave 8th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
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Update: Our office is currently closed until further notice for health and safety reasons. Please file your complaint online, by mail, or by phone.

You can mail a complaint by either sending us a letter or printing and filling out the complaint form:

We can also mail you a blank complaint form. Return postage will be included.

1 South Van Ness Ave 8th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
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Información complementaria

Casos especiales

Anonymous complaints

You can file a complaint anonymously. But it’s hard to investigate if we can’t ask you more questions.

Privacy in records requests

You can file a complaint anonymously. But it’s hard to investigate if we can’t ask you more questions.

We will keep your information safe. 

Courts and the public can sometimes request records. Before we share the records, we try to remove anything that could identify you. But it’s sometimes possible to work out who filed a complaint.

If you do not speak English

We have staff who speak other languages including Spanish, Tagalog, Mandarin, Cantonese and Burmese. If we don’t speak your language, we will provide a free interpreter.

After you file a complaint

Once we review your complaint, an investigator may contact you for more information. We’ll also notify any officers involved and their supervisors. 

Mediation

If you request mediation or if it’s an option for your case, a mediation coordinator may contact you. The coordinator will explain the differences between mediation and investigation. You will also be able to ask any questions you have. 

Investigation

If your case isn’t going to mediation, we’ll investigate whether the officer followed the rules. When we finish the investigation, we’ll let you know the outcomes. 

We’ll also consider policy suggestions related to your complaint.

Why is this transaction good for the community?

Findings from your complaint can be used to influence SFPD policy.

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Phone
Department of Police Accountability415-241-7711