The Office of Inspector General (OIG) can be reached by telephone at 916-874-0980, or by correspondence sent to:

Office of Inspector General
520 9th Street, Suite 202
Sacramento, CA 95814

The OIG encourages early intervention in recognizing the potential for employee misconduct. Members of the public as well as Sheriff’s Department employees are invited to seek assistance in this regard through the OIG.

Who may file a complaint?

Anyone is entitled to file a complaint against an employee of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. A complaint may be made by the person involved, or by a friend, family member or other third party who has knowledge of the incident.

Who should I contact?

The Sheriff’s Department Internal Affairs Bureau is designated to receive citizen complaints. The Bureau’s primary responsibility is to investigate all complaints of misconduct made against Sheriff’s Department employees. You may initiate a complaint either in person, by phone or in writing. Obtain a copy of the Sheriff's Department Citizen Complaint Form. The Sheriff’s Department Internal Affairs Bureau is located at 520 9th St. suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814, telephone (916) 874-5007.

The OIG also accepts and documents complaints directly from the public concerning Sheriff’s Department personnel. The OIG will forward these complaints to the Sheriff’s Department Internal Affairs Bureau for investigation.

What information do I need?

The following information will be helpful; however, if you do not have all this information you may still file a complaint:

• Date, time, location and specifics of the incident
• Employee’s name and badge number
• The names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses

What happens to my complaint?

Your complaint will be assigned to an Investigator in the Sheriff’s Internal Affairs Bureau. That Investigator is responsible for completing a thorough investigation and for keeping you informed of the status of your complaint. You may also contact the OIG directly in order to:

• Obtain timely updates on the status of investigations, excluding disclosure of any information which is confidential or legally protected.
• Serve as your liaison if you are unfamiliar with or intimidated by the complaint investigation process.

Once the investigation of your complaint is completed by the Sheriff’s Internal Affairs Bureau, it is reviewed internally by the employee’s chain of command for appropriate findings and actions. The OIG monitors complaint investigations to ensure that they are unbiased, factually accurate and complete, and that the disposition is consistent with fairness and equity. You will be advised in writing by the Sheriff’s Department of the outcome of your complaint.

Citizen Complaint Form