A newly released monitoring report is raising alarms about misconduct trends inside the Bakersfield Police Department, showing that a small group of officers is responsible for a disproportionately large share of complaints.
In 2024, just 18 officers roughly 9% of the force accounted for 26.1% of all misconduct complaints. That number is up from 14 officers the previous year. Even more striking: one officer received 12 complaints alone, double the highest individual total recorded in 2023.
Serious Misconduct on the Rise
The report documents a notable shift in the types of allegations being filed. Lower-level complaints such as discourtesy dropped by nearly half, while more serious accusations surged:
- Dishonesty: 2% → 8.3%
- Use of Force: 7.1% → 10.3%
- Criminal Conduct: 1.6% → 4.3%
Tiffany a member of the independent monitoring team overseeing compliance, emphasized that these trends require immediate attention.
Oversight Under State Order
The Bakersfield Police Department has been under a stipulated judgment with the California Department of Justice following allegations of civil rights violations — including excessive force, unlawful stops, and improper supervision. As part of that agreement, the department must release an annual progress report.
Despite this requirement, the monitoring team noted a key compliance failure: BPD is still operating without a mandated personnel complaints policy…