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Our POLICE DEPARTMENT

FAQs

Transparency is Our Mission

The Pleasanton Police Department continuously strives to be a progressive leader among law enforcement agencies. The City wants to ensure useful public information is accessible, available and comprehensible by the community. Access to operational and policy information is a priority as public trust is essential to good community policing strategies and maintaining accountability.

The Pleasanton Police Department is here to answer any and all questions you may have about policing in our community. Residents are encouraged to contact us to help you better understand what Pleasanton PD does for you. Please email your questions to our public outreach team and someone from the Pleasanton Police Department will respond in a timely manner.

Exceptional Needs Registry for IDD & Elderly Residents

The Exceptional Needs Registry serves as a valuable resource for our police department to support community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and/or the elderly. This tool grants officers swift access to vital information, enabling them to provide improved assistance in various situations, including cases involving individuals who are lost, found, or in need of immediate help.

Sign up for the Exceptional Needs Registry for IDD & Elderly Residents

Police Department

No, the Pleasanton Police Department does not own a military tank nor has the department purchased or been provided any excess equipment or weapons from the United States military. 

The Law Enforcement Support Office is a division of the United States Logistics Agency that is responsible for operating the 1033 Program which transfers excess military equipment to law enforcement agencies. The Pleasanton Police Department is not a registered subscriber and has not, nor does not currently, participate in the 1033 Program.

The police department does own an armored rescue vehicle which is a standard Ford vehicle chassis equipped with armored plating. This vehicle allows officers to enter hazardous areas where gunfire may be present to rescue officers or residents who may be in potentially hazardous locations.

Pleasanton Police Department is committed to building strong relationships with the youngest members of our community. Through programs such as DARE, Pop-Up Storytime, Teen Academy, Every 15 Minutes, Youth in Government Day and the Explorer Program, we maintain our connection to the youth in our community.

The Pleasanton Police Department connects with the community through programs and events such as National Night Out, Neighborhood Watch, Cone with a Cop, Coffee with a Cop, Citizen’s Academy and station tours. It is important for police staff to stay in tune with our residents and businesses by providing the most up-to-date news, alerts and advisories through our social media platforms, AC Alerts and in-person conversations. 

In January 2002, the Pleasanton Police Department and the Pleasanton Unified School District implemented the School Resource Officer Program as a joint effort to make Pleasanton schools safer and have a positive police presence in the schools. SROs collaborate with administrators and counselors to develop comprehensive safety plans ensuring each school site is a safe place for students to learn.

Yes. 86% of PPD officers have attended the 40-hour Critical Incident Training course. The remaining 14% are new hires and will attend training as soon as classes become available. The goal is for officers to be CIT-certified within the first 18 months of being hired.

TOPICS INCLUDE: The below topics are taught by subject matter experts in their respective field: 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder & Traumatic Brain InjuryCommunity ResourcesReport Writing
Substance Use & Co-occurringProtective CustodyExcited Delirium
SchizophreniaDe-escalation SkillsSuicide by Cop
Personality DisordersDe-Escalation Role PlaysTrauma Informed Care
Family Perspective (Nami)Bi-polar DisorderYouth in Crisis
Petition LawSuicideRecipient Rights
AutismOfficer WellnessMedication and Side Effects

Yes, since September 2015 all PPD officers are issued body worn cameras.

Before becoming a Pleasanton police officer, applicants must complete an extensive and rigorous hiring and training process which can take 18 months to complete. The department carefully screens all qualified candidates and specifically looks for individuals who demonstrate a high degree of integrity, leadership, compassion and are of high moral character. Once hired, new recruits must successfully complete 1,064 hours of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)-certified training including principled policing, criminal law and patrol techniques.

Pleasanton Police Department makes continuous training a priority. Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) requires every officer complete 24 hours of training every two years. Pleasanton police officers exceed POST standards and complete a minimum of 120 hours of training (every two years). Between 2017-2019, Pleasanton police officers received updated training in procedural justice, racial and cultural diversity/principled policing and verbal and reality-based de-escalation techniques.

Officers are responsible for activating their body worn cameras prior to making contact with members of the public, or as soon as reasonably possible under the circumstances in a number of incidents as identified in the Body Worn Camera policy.

Future contracts for body worn camera systems will allow for automatic activation in certain circumstances. Recorded data including video and audio recorded by a body worn camera system shall be retained minimally for detentions and searches, misdemeanor and felony cases, incidents and for pending reviews as outlined in the policy.

Yes. The City’s Two-Year Operating Budget can be found here.

A taser, also known as a Conducted Energy Device, is designed to incapacitate the muscles in the human body by overriding the Central Nervous System with electrical pulses. When the central nervous system is flooded with electrical pulses that are similar to their natural frequency and strength, normal signals get drowned out and muscles contract uncontrollably. The intent of these devices is not to elicit pain but to contract muscles in order to provide time for police officers to safely restrain the individual. An electrical cycle from a conducted energy device generally lasts five seconds and upon completion there are no lingering effects.
Over the past several years, one of the department’s goals has been to increase diversity in our police officer candidate pool. Our Personnel & Training Unit has worked collaboratively with the department’s Recruitment Team and the City’s Human Resources Department to expand our reach. As a result of these efforts, more than half of the applicants to the department have represented ethnic minorities and more than 10 percent were women candidates.
The Pleasanton Police Department has an extensive Peer Support program that is led by a licensed clinician and includes critical incident stress debriefings following intense incidents that employees may face.

Animal Control

If your pet becomes ill or injured call your veterinarian or the one nearest to you. After normal business hours, on weekends or holidays call a local emergency clinic at Vetcare Emergency & Specialist Care Center or SAGE.

Dead animals found in a roadway, park or any public place should be reported to the Pleasanton Police Department at (925) 931-5100. If your pet dies, contact your veterinarian to arrange services at your expense or take it to the East County Animal Shelter for disposal.

Pleasanton Municipal Code requires that you clean up after your dog (when in public) by immediately removing any feces left by the animal and disposing of it in a sanitary manner. The code also states that you must be prepared to pick up feces, so carry something with you. First time offenders may be given a warning, receive a courtesy citation, or be issued an administrative citation. Administrative Citations carry a fine of $100 for a first offense to $750 for the fourth and any subsequent offenses.

Yes. State law (Title 17.CCR 2606) requires reporting domestic animal bites to the police department. The biting animal must be quarantined for 10 days and a report must be given to the Alameda County Vector Control Services within 48 hours to monitor the animal for rabies.

If you or your pets are bitten by a wild animal, containment and rabies testing of the wild animal is recommended. Since rabies testing involves examination of the biting animal’s brain, the wild animal must be euthanized and refrigerated (not frozen) prior to testing. If the biting animal cannot be located, you will be referred to your doctor and you may need post-exposure rabies shots.

Pets bitten by wild animals may need to be quarantined if the wild animal cannot be located for rabies testing. If your pet is currently vaccinated against rabies the quarantine period is one month. If your dog/cat is not currently vaccinated against rabies, the quarantine is six months.

If an animal needs to be quarantined they must be properly confined in a place where its health can be monitored. This quarantine may be at the animal’s home, vet hospital, or the East County Animal Shelter as determined by the Animal Services Officer. This decision is based on several details, including whether the animal is vaccinated against rabies and if the animal can be securely confined at home.

Rabies is a serious disease that can be fatal if untreated. Each year several animals in the Tri-Valley area have tested positive for the rabies virus. The most common carriers of rabies are raccoons, skunks, bats and other rodents. Pets that have not been vaccinated against rabies can come down with the disease and pass it on to people or other animals. Pets that are bitten by wild animals are required to be quarantined to monitor for the disease.

Dog barking is the most common complaint received by Animal Services (Animal Control). The complaints are first addressed by issuing a Courtesy Citation to the dog owner. It’s helpful if the officer can speak with the reporting person so they can ask specific questions. The identity of the reporting person is kept confidential in this process. For first time complaints we are simply educating the dog owner and making them aware of the barking problem. The officer will give the dog owner information on dog barking. 

If the complaint is not resolved with Courtesy Citations and education, a citizen may ask that an Administrative Citation be given to the dog owner. This citation is a form of citizen’s arrest and requires the signature of the person filing the complaint. This may require the person who filed the complaint to appear before a hearing officer to support the complaint.

Administrative Citations carry a fine ($100 for a first offense to $750 for fourth and subsequent offenses) that must be paid within 30 days from the date of the citation. The dog owner has a right to contest the citation by requesting a hearing. To request a hearing the dog owner must complete a Request for Hearing Form available at the City Clerk’s office.

Stray or lost/found animals should be reported to the Pleasanton Police Department at (925) 931-5100. An officer will respond to evaluate the animal and the situation. If we can determine ownership we will reach out to the owner in an effort to return the animal. Other animals will be taken to the East County Animal Shelter.

The Pleasanton Police Department does not offer trapping services for feral cats (or other problematic wildlife). Humane traps can be purchased or rented through a variety of sources. Trapped cats must be taken to the East County Animal Shelter. When attempting to trap a feral cat please follow these recommendations:

  • Do not set the trap at night. You are much for likely to trap wildlife if you attempt to trap at night. Wildlife cannot be trapped without a tag number issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
  • Cover the trap with a blanket or towel to help keep the cat calm. Ensure the trap is protected from the elements.
  • The trap may only be set on your personal property or with written consent of the property owner and must be checked/emptied a minimum of once daily.
  • Tell your neighbors that you intend to trap cats so they can keep their cats inside and are wearing proper identification.

Yes. The Pleasanton Municipal Code (PMC) states that any person having a dog over four months old shall obtain a dog license for each dog. If the dog is brought into the area after it is four months old, the owner has 10 days to get the license and must continue to be licensed as long as ownership continues (on an annual basis).

Please refer to How to Apply for a Dog License

Whether licensed or unlicensed, friendly or timid, big or small – all dogs must be on a leash when in public. The Pleasanton Municipal Code prohibits dogs at large. The only exception to this law is for dogs that are herding (more details about this exception are in the code).
If you are experiencing nuisance wildlife problems contact Alameda County Vector Control, to evaluate the nuisance. Under state law, nuisance wildlife cannot be relocated. Even when an animal is legally trapped, it must be released onsite or euthanized immediately. There are several requirements that must be met in order to legally trap wildlife under Title 14.CCR 465.5 (Use of Traps). Since most of these requirements would be difficult for most people to address it’s best to work with Vector Control. They offer information on non-lethal resolutions and deterrents. Lindsay Wildlife Museum is another excellent resource.

Compliments & Concerns

Call the Police Department (925) 931-5100 and ask to speak with the On-Duty Watch Commander or the employee’s immediate supervisor. Or ask for the On-Duty Watch Commander or the employee’s immediate supervisor at the front counter of the Police Department.

Police Chief
Pleasanton Police Department
P.O. Box 909 
Pleasanton, CA 94566

You may have had contact with a Police Department employee where their conduct or actions, in your opinion, did not rise to the level of a formal complaint. You may feel a need to discuss the employee’s behavior or actions with a supervisor and may not require any further involvement with the matter.
There are times when the actions of an employee may have the appearance of being inappropriate, but are procedurally and legally correct. This happens sometimes with issues of search and seizure, or self-incrimination warnings (Miranda admonitions). We invite you to ask these types of questions of our supervisory staff or the on-duty Watch Commander.
A complaint is any dissatisfaction, grievance, accusation, or allegation, which if true could be a violation of a city and/or department policy or legal statute.
Any person who was involved or witnessed an incident, who feels the Police Department treated the individual or another person in an adverse manner, or has direct or well founded knowledge of inappropriate actions by any police employee, may make a complaint.

Concerns, Criticisms and/or Complaints may be made verbally or in writing at any time of day or night to any police supervisory personnel. Usually, a detailed explanation of the situation in person, by telephone, or by mail is all that is needed to initiate a review or investigation of the matter. If you call or come to the Police Department, you will be referred to the on-duty Watch Commander or the on-duty supervisor.

Alternatively, you can obtain and/or drop off complaint forms with the City of Pleasanton Human Resources Department located at 123 Main St. Pleasanton, CA 94566. (Compliments and complaints received by Human Resources will be placed in a sealed envelope and will be forwarded directly to the Police Chief).

Call the Police Department (925) 931-5100 and ask to speak with the On-Duty Watch Commander… Or ask for the On-Duty Watch Commander at the front counter of the Police Department… Or alternatively, you may obtain and/or drop off complaint forms during normal business hours with the City of Pleasanton Human Resources Department located at 123 Main St. Pleasanton, CA 94566. (Compliments and complaints received by Human Resources will be placed in a sealed envelope and will be forwarded directly to the Police Chief).

Police Chief
Pleasanton Police Department
P.O. Box 909 
Pleasanton, CA 94566

A complainant generally does not have to testify during formal hearings. 

An exception to this is if you inform us of actions taken by employees that are criminal in nature and the complaint is sustained. There is a chance that your testimony would be used in a court proceeding against the employee, if the District Attorney chooses to file a criminal complaint.

Additionally, employees are entitled to an administrative appeal to any imposed disciplinary action. If your complaint is sustained and the employee is disciplined and then appeals the discipline, you may be contacted and requested to testify in an administrative hearing before an arbitrator.

Per California Penal Code Section 832.5 (a): “Each department or agency in this State which employs peace officers shall establish a procedure to investigate citizens’ complaints against the personnel of such departments or agencies and shall make a written description of the procedure available to the public.” 

Our supervisory and management personnel are committed to ensuring complete, fair and impartial investigations of all citizens’ complaints. The investigation of all citizen complaints is strictly regulated by the California Government Code and police department policy. Additionally, all administrative investigations are reviewed by the appropriate Division Commander and by the Police Chief to ensure a thorough and unbiased investigation was completed.

The person assigned to investigate your complaint will ask you to provide as much information as possible regarding the incident. If you were involved in or witnessed the incident, it is extremely important to the investigation that a statement be obtained from you. From your statement, a Citizen Complaint Contact form may be completed.

Depending upon the circumstances of your complaint, it may be investigated in one of two ways. It will either be assigned to the employee’s supervisor for inquiry or to the appropriate manager, with oversight of the employee and his supervisor, for investigation. Each allegation is examined on its own merits.

Administrative and criminal investigations resulting from a complaint will require investigators to make an effort to contact all available witnesses (including police officers), examine any relevant physical evidence and gather all information pertinent to each allegation made in the complaint. 

Despite our best efforts to make Administrative Investigations our top priority, it can take up to a year to complete an investigation based upon the complexity of issues being investigated. Though, typically the majority of our administrative investigations are completed within a two month period.

Upon completion of the Administrative Investigation a finding will be rendered for each allegation. There are four possible findings:

  • SUSTAINED: The investigation disclosed enough evidence to clearly prove the allegation.
  • NOT SUSTAINED: The investigation failed to reveal enough evidence to clearly prove the allegation.
  • EXONERATED: The act which provided the basis for the complaint did occur; however. the investigation revealed the act was justified, lawful and proper.
  • UNFOUNDED: The investigation has produced sufficient evidence to prove that the acts alleged did not occur. This finding shall also apply when individual personnel names in the complaint were not involved in an act that did occur.

You will be notified of the findings for each allegation in writing at the conclusion of the investigation. 

When a finding of SUSTAINED is determined, corrective action will be taken by the department. Discipline may include counseling, training and action up to and including termination. If your complaint is sustained and punitive discipline is imposed, the employee has appeal rights. Therefore, you may be required to testify at one or more administrative proceedings.

Police General

No. The Pleasanton Police Department does not require a permit to operate an alarm (commercial or residential). If you use an alarm as part of a security system, be familiar with the Alarm Ordinance.
If you are builder and need your permit card signed by the police department, please call the Crime Prevention Unit at (925) 931-5233 or (925) 931-5240 and ask for a site sign-off. These must be scheduled, please call in advance.

While you are away from your home, a Pleasanton Police Department employee (Police Officer, Community Service Officer, or Volunteer) will check on your home. This is done when calls for service and report writing allow and is free of charge. To sign up, call (925) 931-5100 before you leave.

The Pleasanton Police Department loans at no cost to residents and business owners who wish to mark their property. Recovered stolen property that is marked is more likely to be returned to the owner. Engravers are available for pick up at the front desk of the police department. Mark property with your driver’s license number. Never use your social security number.