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Vallejo, CA -The City of Vallejo and the Vallejo Police Department (VPD) announces substantial progress in advancing police reform and strengthening community trust under a five-year Settlement Agreement with the California Department of Justice (CalDOJ).
The Settlement Agreement, entered in April 2024, builds on the foundation of a three-year Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI) launched in June 2020 following 45 recommendations from the OIR Group. To date, 27 of those original recommendations have been fully implemented, demonstrating VPD’s commitment to meaningful and lasting reform. Work continues on the remaining CRI recommendations, while the Settlement Agreement provides a comprehensive blueprint for further improving services to the community.
Under the Settlement Agreement, VPD is implementing reforms across nine categories and more than 100 individual measures designed to strengthen best practices, increase transparency, enhance accountability, and deepen community partnerships.
Key areas of reform include:
Use of Force Policies, Practices, Reporting, and Review
VPD has overhauled its Use of Force policy to emphasize the sanctity of life and require de-escalation when feasible. A robust Critical Incident Review process, which includes a community member, now ensures timely and comprehensive evaluations of critical events, examining training, tactics, supervision, equipment, and response. VPD also tracks and publishes monthly data on incidents where officers display a firearm.
Officer-Involved Shooting Protocol
VPD’s procedures for investigating officer-involved incidents have been significantly strengthened. The Department no longer conducts its own criminal or administrative investigations. In 2020, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office established the Solano County Major Crimes Task Force (SCMCTF), which is now responsible for conducting independent criminal investigations into all officer-involved uses of deadly force by VPD. This process ensures investigations are thorough, transparent, and free from any perceived conflicts of interest. To keep the community informed, VPD has implemented a robust communication protocol that provides timely and accurate public updates, including a comprehensive town hall meeting held within 7 to 14 days of an incident. In addition, the City of Vallejo contracts with an outside, independent investigator to conduct administrative investigations and determine whether any policy violations occurred. Finally, as noted above, each incident is reviewed through a Critical Incident Review Board (CIRB) to evaluate whether improvements are needed in training, tactics, supervision, equipment, or response.
Bias-Free Policing
Revised policies and mandatory annual training reinforce VPD’s commitment to constitutional, bias-free policing, ensuring fair and equitable treatment of all community members.
Stops, Seizures, and Searches
Officers must identify themselves by name, rank, and badge number during detentions, including vehicle and pedestrian stops, and provide business cards with instructions for submitting feedback, whether that is a complaint or commendation. Supervisors also conduct randomized body-worn camera audits to ensure compliance with policy and accountability standards.
Response to Behavioral Health and those in Crisis
VPD has expanded alternative response options by integrating the Integrated Health and Resources Team (IHART) crisis response team into daily operations. IHART provides specialized support for individuals in crisis, allowing officers to remain focused on violent crimes and enforcement-related calls.
To coordinate and sustain these reforms, VPD created the Compliance, Integrity, and Accountability Division (CIAD), a dedicated unit managing reform design, policy development, implementation, and reporting. The division is staffed by one lieutenant, two sergeants, two corporals, and five analysts, ensuring data-driven accountability and measurable progress across all reform areas.
“Vallejo is committed to building a modern police department that reflects best practices, prioritizes community trust, and holds itself accountable to the people it serves,” said Vallejo Chief of Police Jason Ta. “While reform is an ongoing process, many of these changes are already in place, delivering measurable improvements in transparency, accountability, and service to our community.”
The City of Vallejo and VPD remain dedicated to completing all reforms outlined in both the CRI and the Settlement Agreement. Regular reports will continue to be provided to CalDOJ and to the community to ensure transparency. VPD will begin publishing periodic progress reports highlighting reform milestones and outcomes.
A detailed CRI Progress Report is available at:
Collaborative Reform Initiative Progress — Vallejo Evaluator
A detailed progress report outlining the Settlement Agreement progress to date is under development and will be released by VPD in the near future. We will publish information on this progress tracker when it is released.
The Vallejo Police Department is committed to forging a new era of policing built on accountability, transparency, and trust. Each reform represents more than a policy change; it is a commitment to the people we serve. VPD’s mission is clear: Safeguard Vallejo with integrity, confront challenges with courage, and build lasting trust through service and partnership.
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