SJ leaders reject stronger police oversight despite independent auditor’s call for more

SAN JOSE’S INDEPENDENT police auditor wants to review every use-of-force case — a level of oversight the county sheriff already accepts. But city officials unanimously rejected the idea at Police Chief Paul Joseph’s request.

Out of 400 total incidents where San Jose police used their weapons or hands on people in 2024, 13 resulted in great bodily injury, according to a new report by Independent Police Auditor (IPA) Eddie Aubrey. It’s the first year his office has reviewed these cases in-depth after scoring expanded oversight authority after voters approved Measure G in 2020. But Aubrey argued numbers don’t tell the full story and wants to review all incidents where police used force on someone — regardless of whether or not civilians were injured. Yet the City Council voted against that Tuesday, arguing it would cost too much and open hundreds of new cases up for review.