Among the report\u2019s headline statistics, it found that use of force incidents involving San Jose Police Department officers rose by roughy 5% in 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching 598 total incidents. This marks the fourth consecutive year of increases, after a sharp decline in 2021 following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-21-101849-1024x443.jpg\")
Use of force incidents involving San Jose Police Department officers increased again in 2025, according to charts and figures from a recent report by the city\u2019s Independent Police Auditor.<\/p>\n
In addition, the report identified 20 critical incidents in 2025, including three police shootings, one in-custody death and 16 incidents involving serious injuries. The 2025 figure marks an increase from the prior year, when 15 such incidents took place.<\/p>\n
Misconduct allegations filed against officers also increased to 1,034 in 2025, a rise of 39% from 2024, the report found. The most common types of allegations were those related to violations of police procedures, discourteous or unprofessional behavior, discriminatory policing and complaints about arrests and detentions.<\/p>\n
White noted that an increase in allegations does not necessarily suggest there has been an increase in actual misconduct.<\/p>\n
\u201cNevertheless, the trends do help us identify areas where additional training, clearer policies or better communication may be beneficial to the public,\u201d White told the San Jose City Council\u00a0during a Tuesday presentation of the findings.<\/p>\n
In most cases, 58%, officers were exonerated of allegations following an investigation, according to the report. In 11% of cases, an investigation determined that a violation likely occurred, a finding that results in disciplinary action. The IPA conducted 330 reviews of Internal Affairs investigations, and its appeals resulted in revised findings in three cases.<\/p>\n
Criminal justice reform advocates offered a more blunt assessment of the report\u2019s findings, describing the increasing use of force cases as concerning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose patterns are showing to us clear issues in terms of the experience level of officers and how the leadership is teaching, training and mentoring people,\u201d Sean Allen, president of NAACP San Jose\/Silicon Valley and a former county correctional officer, told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_7534-1024x768.jpg\")
Interim Police Auditor Dwight White (left) presented his agency\u2019s annual report, which includes a summary of alleged police misconduct cases in 2025, before City Council on Oct. 20, 2026. Photo by Keith Menconi.<\/p>\n
The Office of the Independent Police Auditor<\/a>, established in 1993, is intended to provide a civilian check on SJPD\u2019s internal investigations of officer misconduct, ensuring such investigations are complete, thorough and fair. In recent years, the agency has become a flashpoint<\/a> in San Jose\u2019s police reform battles, amid complaints that the office\u2019s limited investigative authority hampers its ability to provide meaningful oversight.<\/p>\n The IPA report also includes 12 reform proposals for SJPD, ranging from recommendations that the department adopt stricter controls governing police interactions to measures intended to ensure policy updates are distributed to officers in a timely manner.<\/p>\n Police Chief Paul Joseph said the department agrees with the goals laid out in the recommendations, though in some cases he argued for alternative means of reaching them.<\/p>\n \u201cMany of these we\u2019ve already either enacted ourselves or are in the process of implementing,\u201d Joseph said at the meeting. \u201cWe\u2019re always trying to be better. We appreciate the IPA\u2019s partnership in making us better and holding us accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n Echoing a recent reform push advanced by councilmembers, the report also recommends new rules prohibiting officers from using personal devices to access data from the city\u2019s network of automated license plate readers<\/a>. The change, which Joseph said the department has already taken steps to enact, comes in response to the news last month that SJPD fired an officer after learning he used the data to help a family member track a woman involved in a domestic violence dispute.<\/p>\n The report also renews longstanding calls<\/a> to grant the auditor\u2019s office more investigatory power<\/a>. In reviews of police incidents involving injuries or gunfire, the report asks that SJPD provide auditors full access to all investigative materials \u2014 such as body camera recordings, photographs and interviews \u2014 within 30 days of completion of the department\u2019s investigation.<\/p>\n Joseph said he supports the request, adding that it is among the recommendations the department has already taken steps to address.<\/p>\n San Jose officials have still provided no public explanation for Aubrey\u2019s abrupt September departure, which he announced a week after the Mercury News reported<\/a> the city had placed him on leave.<\/p>\n Following Tuesday\u2019s IPA presentation, Mayor Matt Mahan applauded the watchdog agency\u2019s work\u00a0and said greater transparency of police conduct helps promote public safety.<\/p>\n \u201cIf people don\u2019t trust the department and City Hall more broadly, they\u2019re less likely to report crime, share evidence or serve as witnesses,\u201d Mahan said. \u201cThat makes us all less safe.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"In-line](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792640292_295_interactive-321838904008.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n