Director of Police Accountability

The City of Berkeley, California is seeking a principled and collaborative leader to serve as its next Director of Police Accountability. Reporting directly to the City Council, the Director leads Berkeley’s independent civilian police oversight function and works closely with the Police Accountability Board (PAB) to promote transparency, accountability, and public trust in policing. This highly visible role oversees complex misconduct investigations, evaluates police policies and procedures, and helps strengthen systems of civilian oversight and constitutional policing.

The Director oversees a team of three and an approximate $1.7 million budget while serving as a trusted advisor and community-facing leader. The ideal candidate will bring substantial experience in police oversight, investigations, and policy evaluation, along with exceptional communication, political acumen, stakeholder engagement, and relationship-building skills.

The Director of Police Accountability leads the operational arm of the City’s independent civilian oversight function and oversees the daily operations of the Office of the Director of Police Accountability (ODPA). The Director manages three dedicated staff members in their work, which includes both investigatory and policy components: the Director and ODPA staff conduct complex and sensitive investigations involving allegations of police misconduct and bring their findings to the Police Accountability Board (PAB) for review;

they also conduct policy and trend analysis and develop findings and recommendations for the PAB and City Council. The Director also oversees complaint intake processes, departmental operations, and budget administration for the ODPA and the PAB.

This role requires close collaboration with community members, City leadership, the Berkeley Police Department, labor representatives, and advocacy organizations to ensure oversight processes are fair, transparent, and responsive. The Director represents the City externally and regularly presents before the City Council, Police Accountability Board, and community stakeholders, playing a central role in advancing best practices in civilian oversight and constitutional policing.

The ideal candidate is an experienced and collaborative police oversight professional with strong expertise conducting complex misconduct investigations, evaluating police policy and procedure, and navigating highly sensitive public issues with integrity and professionalism. They are a skilled communicator and bridge-builder who can establish credibility and trust with community members, elected officials, law enforcement representatives, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders with highly diverse perspectives on policing.

The successful Director is a strong yet collaborative leader who can project confidence, remain flexible and solutions-focused, and balance tenacity with compromise.

A deep understanding of the historical impacts of over-policing in marginalized communities, and a demonstrated ability to apply that understanding in community engagement, oversight, and policy work, is essential in this role. Prior experience strengthening community outreach and increasing public awareness of civilian oversight resources is highly desirable. Overall, the ideal candidate will bring a demonstrated commitment to transparency, fairness, and accountability, along with a genuine commitment to meaningful engagement with diverse communities and stakeholders.

• Integrity: Demonstrates fairness, transparency, accountability, and strong ethical standards in all oversight activities.
• Relationship Building: Builds trust and productive partnerships with community members, City officials, City Council, law enforcement, and advocacy organizations.
• Political Acumen: Navigates complex and politically sensitive environments with diplomacy and professionalism.
• Communication: Clearly conveys complex investigative findings, policy recommendations, and public safety issues to diverse audiences.
• Conflict Management: Facilitates constructive dialogue and manages difficult conversations with professionalism and…