One year after a consultant said San Jose should expand the powers of the city’s police watchdog, city leaders have shot down the recommendation. The San Jose City Council rejected a proposal 8-2 Tuesday to give the Independent Police Auditor’s (IPA) office increased authority, including the right to directly investigate some alleged police misconduct cases....
San Jose targets retail theft with new police unit
Thieves hoping to snatch items off the shelves of San Jose retailers may have a tougher time this holiday season. City policymakers this week launched a new police team to stop retail theft after the city saw a 25% spike in the crime from 2021 to 2022. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved creating...
UPDATE: San Jose officials vote against police auditor expansion
San Jose’s interim independent police auditor does not want to expand oversight powers to bolster investigations into police misconduct, despite previously saying she was in favor of doing just that. Several city leaders took the same position during the Public Safety, Finance, and Strategic Support Committee meeting on Thursday—with four out of five councilmembers voting...
San Jose’s fallen police officers honored with new monument
White roses adorned a newly unveiled monument at the San Jose Police Department this past week, dedicated to officers who died in the line of duty. City leaders, including Mayor Matt Mahan, and police officers attended an Oct. 4 memorial service debuting the monument. It honors the 13 SJPD officers who have died from 1924...
San Jose wants to stop bad police behavior before it happens
San Jose is spending half a million dollars to identify potentially problematic police officer behavior sooner—and work to swiftly correct it. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a three-year, $479,000 contract with Chicago-based Benchmark Analytics for its Police Early Intervention Solution system. Councilmembers also approved a $50,000 contingency for any possible change orders, bringing...
San Jose spent $58M on police overtime last year
Scores of San Jose police are making six-figures from overtime pay due to a shortage of sworn officers, and it’s straining the city’s tight budget. The city paid out $58 million in overtime to San Jose Police Department officers last fiscal year, according to City Auditor Joe Rois—a 19% spike compared to the $47 million...
San Jose builds bridge between police and lowriders
San Jose’s rocky relationship with lowriding is taking an unexpected turn—the city will have a police car converted into a cruise-ready piece of art. The San Jose City Council voted Tuesday to donate a Ford Crown Victoria Interceptor to be transformed into a lowrider, a customized car with hydraulics that allow it to bounce or...
UPDATE: Concerns remain after San Jose leaders approve police watchdog reforms
San Jose leaders moved forward with recommendations on how to improve the city’s police department, despite lingering concerns and drama around the resignation and retirement of the two top police auditors. San Jose City Council today approved all five recommendations from the Office of the Independent Police Auditor: tracking when an officer points a firearm...
San Jose police auditor had drunken argument with officers ahead of retirement
San Jose’s former police watchdog was allegedly set to be investigated for spouting off at a police officer while drunk at a public event, before she abruptly retired. Shivaun Nurre, who served as the independent police auditor from late 2018 until June this year, told San José Spotlight she “had some drinks” at the San...
‘Without real power’: Another San Jose police watchdog leaves
San Jose’s assistant independent police watchdog quit months after the top police auditor stepped down, according to a letter obtained by San José Spotlight today. Eva Roa, the city’s assistant independent police auditor since 2020, sent a scathing letter to city officials on Friday sharing her frustrations with city management for consistently ignoring the IPA...