Professional Standards Division
These services include: Recruitment; pre-employment testing; polygraph and computer voice stress analysis testing; hiring; maintenance of personnel records; assistance in developing and coordinating promotional examinations; managing worker’s compensation claims; insuring compliance with federal and state mandated laws and programs; investigation of all complaints against staff; developing and implementing lawful personnel practices; managing the performance evaluation system; and serving as the primary liaison with the County’s Human Resources Department, Risk Management and Worker’s Compensation providers.
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The Internal Affairs Unit is responsible for conducting internal investigations, prompted either by citizen complaints or by internal concerns. Two Sheriff’s Sergeants are assigned to conduct Internal Investigations. This Unit also handles Public Records requests and is the custodian of records. This Unit works closely with the Office of County Counsel and also reviews civil matters involving claims and litigation.
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The Background Investigators are responsible for completing background investigations on all Sheriff’s Office personnel. This includes safety personnel, professional staff, temporary staff and volunteers. The background investigation process can be quite lengthy, especially for sworn personnel, who by Government Code Standards must be deemed “of good moral character” to hold a law enforcement position in California. Investigators thoroughly check an applicant’s history by conducting interviews, making home visits and reviewing records from several sources. During this process, they may potentially make contact with references, former employers, schools, and local law enforcement agencies as well as research court records. Every effort is put forth to thoroughly screen all qualified applicants and hire only those who meet Sheriff’s Office standards.
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The Training Unit is tasked with the responsibility of providing mandated training for all personnel who work for the Sheriff. In addition to ensuring that mandated training is received the unit is tasked with maintaining necessary equipment.
Much of the training deputies attend is mandated by Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). POST requires that all deputies attend a minimum of 24 hours of advanced training bi-annually. Of these 24 hours 12 hours must consist of perishable skills training that includes Arrest and Control, Driver Training and Awareness and Tactical Firearms. Additionally, 2 hours of Tactical Communications training is required. It is the Sheriff’s policy that once a new deputy completes his/her Field Training that they be sent to an advanced officer safety school.
Standards and Training in Corrections (STC) is the unit within the State Board of Corrections that mandates the training received by deputies assigned to the Custody Bureau. STC requires that deputies receive 24 hours of training annually. Because all sheriff’s deputies are Peace Officers much of the training COB deputies receive through STC is also recognized by POST. This ensures that all our personnel meet the standards under the Continuous Professional Training guidelines.
In addition to the above training, many assignments require additional training that must be completed within certain time parameters. Such assignments could be promotions to sergeant and commander. Additional assignments requiring advanced training are Field Training Officer and Detectives assigned to investigate crimes against children.
The Training Unit also works in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Professional Staff who are not safety personnel, but whose contribution to the overall operation of the Office cannot be overlooked. Much of what Professional Staff personnel deal with is the maintenance and release of public records. Because this area is ever changing, as is the manner of entering data into the many federal and state databases, ongoing training is need in these core areas of law enforcement.
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This page lists instructions to view Monterey County's POST Trainings.
Visit: opendata.post.ca.gov.
In the "Presenter Name" field enter "MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE".
Click the "Search" button.
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In addition, we are responsible for satisfying the training needs of the entire department and are responsible for the development, certification and presentation of a vast majority of in-service training which is presented to sworn members of the department, as well as many officers from allied agencies.
This is achieved in conjunction with The State of California, Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and the State of California, Board of Corrections (STC). This training is provided to every sworn member by providing a minimum of 48-hours of advanced officer training annually through in-service training. Areas of training include perishable skills such as firearms, use of force, emergency vehicle operations, and arrest and control tactics.
If you would like to compliment a member of the Sheriff’s Office, you may do so by:
Email Deputy Chief Eddie Anderson.
If you would like to report any concern or suspected misconduct by a member of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, start by visiting our complaint procedure page.
Complaint Process
California Penal Code Section 832.5(a) requires that “Each department or agency in this state which employs peace officers shall establish a procedure to investigate citizen’s complaints against the personnel of such department or agency, and shall make a written description of the procedure available to the public.” The Sheriff’s policy/procedure is available upon request.
The purpose of our policy is to provide a prompt, just, open and expeditious disposition of citizen’s concerns regarding the conduct of Sheriff’s Office personnel. The Sheriff welcomes and encourages citizens to bring their concerns about the Department’s operations and the conduct of its employees to his attention.
A relationship of trust and confidence between members of the Sheriff’s Office and the community they serve is essential to effective law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office encourages and fosters the respect, confidence and support of the community in order to effectively discharge its duties and responsibilities.
The public has a right to expect and receive fair and impartial law enforcement services. In providing these services, Deputy Sheriffs must be free to exercise their best judgment and initiate action in a responsible, lawful and impartial manner without fear of reprisal.
The Sheriff’s Office acknowledges its responsibility to provide a system of complaint and disciplinary procedures, which not only will subject Sheriff’s personnel to corrective action when they conduct themselves improperly, but also will protect them from unwarranted criticism when they discharge their duties properly.
All employees of the Department are required to accept required inquires or complaints from the public at any hour of the day. Minor complaints may be referred to the employee’s supervisor, however, major complaints will be referred to the on-duty watch commander or bureau commander. If a citizen wishes to make a formal written complaint, a complaint form will be provided either in person or by mail, or you may download a copy of the complaint form here. Click here to download a Spanish version of the complaint form.
You may then complete the form at your convenience and either mail it in or bring it with you to the Sheriff’s Office. The completed complaint form should be returned to the Custodian of Records who will coordinate the investigation and be the citizen’s liaison with the Department during the investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, the Bureau Commander of the employee will notify the citizen in writing of the results thereof. The citizen may contact the Custodian to discuss the complaint at any time within the parameters of California Penal Code Section 832.7 which requires that Sheriff’s Office personnel records and citizen complaint information be kept confidential except by court order.
If, after an investigation is conducted and it is concluded that an employee has acted improperly, discipline may be imposed which may range from counseling to termination depending on the severity of the complaint. If a citizen disagrees with the results of an investigation, he/she may appeal to the Sheriff.
Code of Ethics
AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice. I WILL keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty. I WILL never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities. I RECOGNIZE the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession...law enforcement. -Monterey County Sheriff's Office