Complaints Against California Highway Patrol Officers

You should first make your complaint locally. Each law enforcement agency in the state is required to establish a procedure to investigate citizens' complaints under Penal Code section 832.5. A written description of this procedure is available from the law enforcement agency. If resolution cannot be obtained through this procedure you should contact:

California Highway Patrol Commissioner's Office
Post Office Box 942898
Sacramento, California 94298-0001

Most complaints against an officer of the California Highway Patrol can be resolved in this manner. You should allow sufficient time for the Internal Affairs Division and/or the Commissioner's Office to act on your complaint.

If they do not act on your complaint, you may direct a written complaint to the Attorney General's Office. Complaints directed to the Attorney General should include the details of contacts made with the Internal Affairs Division and the Commissioner's Office in attempt to resolve the complaint. A complaint which does not contain specific information about misconduct which violates state laws cannot be acted on.