Demonstration Complaint Dashboard
2020 Protest Investigations
From May 30, 2020 through the end of the year, OPA was contacted over 19,000 times about SPD's conduct at and response to various demonstrations. The web complaints, emails, phone calls, and other feedback resulted in 145 investigations, listed below. Some of these investigations are comprised of thousands of complaints about a single incident.
Please note that only protest-related complaints from 2020 incidents will show on the Demonstration Complaint Dashboard.
- Allegations of excessive force are abbreviated as "EF".
- Generally, for discipline to be imposed, OPA must complete its investigation and issue findings within 180 days. Certain circumstances allow OPA to request an extension to the 180-day timeline or "toll" the timeline during a period when OPA cannot work on it. Examples of these circumstances include unavailability of the involved/witness employee or union representative; the OPA Director position becomes vacant due to unforeseen exigent circumstances; the case has been referred to an external agency for criminal investigation; or another reason beyond the control of SPD.
- Some complaints do not follow the standard investigation steps listed below, such as complaints where OPA is unable to identify the involved employee(s).
- Receiving/processing complaint information (0% to <5%)
- Collecting and reviewing known videos & documents (5% to <15%)
- Attempting to interview complainants/eyewitnesses (15% to <25%)
- Identifying involved officers and/or chain of command (25% to <30%)
- In-depth analysis of videos, documents, & statements (30% to <45%)
- Classifying policy violation allegations (45% to <50%)
- Interviewing named and witness employees (50% to <65%)
- Completing investigation report; submitting for review by the Office of Inspector General (65% to <80%)
- Reviewing investigation; drafting findings (80% to <95%)
- Transmitting findings to the chain of command (95% to <100%)
- Findings issued - OPA case completed (100%)
Completed Investigations
Each not sustained finding is accompanied by one of five explanations, which you can learn more about in the Findings section of the Complaint Process page.
| Date Posted | Case # | Complaint | Date Occurred | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/4/20 | 2020OPA-0337 | Radio threat against protesters | 6/2/20 | Not Sustained |
| 9/18/20 | 2020OPA-0322 | EF - child pepper sprayed | 5/30/20 | Not Sustained Video link |
| 9/18/20 | 2020OPA-0324 | EF - officer knee on necks | 5/30/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 9/18/20 | 2020OPA-0348 | Inappropriate comment | 6/4/20 | Sustained |
| 9/18/20 | 2020OPA-0350 | EF - officers pushed protesters back from barricade | 6/5/20 | Not Sustained |
| 9/18/20 | 2020OPA-0375 | EF - officers pushed down elderly man | 5/30/20 | Not Sustained |
| 10/23/20 | 2020OPA-0323 | EF - officers punching during arrest | 5/29/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 10/23/20 | 2020OPA-0363 | Bicycle officers moved protesters | 6/7/20 | Partially Sustained Video link |
| 10/23/20 | 2020OPA-0383 | EF - physical force & unprofessionalism at barricade | 6/6/20 | Not Sustained Video link |
| 10/23/20 | 2020OPA-0402 | EF - gun pointed at peaceful protester | 6/2/20 | Not Sustained |
| 10/23/20 | 2020OPA-0438 | Biased arrest of protester | 6/5/20 | Not Sustained |
| 11/13/20 | 2020OPA-0352 | Unprofessional comment on open radio | 6/7/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 11/13/20 | 2020OPA-0353 | Retaliatory arrest of man who filmed child pepper sprayed | 6/6/20 | Not Sustained |
| 11/13/20 | 2020OPA-0395 | EF - baton strike to face while clearing CHOP | 7/1/20 | Not Sustained Video link |
| 12/4/20 | 2020OPA-0331 | Officers damaging storefront | 5/30/20 | Not Sustained |
| 12/4/20 | 2020OPA-0362 | Almost striking protesters with vehicle | 6/1/20 | Not Sustained |
| 12/4/20 | 2020OPA-0564 | EF - forceful arrest by SPD and outside agency officers | 5/30/20 | Not Sustained |
| 12/23/20 | 2020OPA-0325 | Officer identification issues | Multiple | Not Sustained |
| 12/23/20 | 2020OPA-0326 | Body-worn video not activated | Multiple | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 12/23/20 | 2020OPA-0371 | Almost striking protesters with vehicle | 5/29/20 | Not Sustained |
| 12/23/20 | 2020OPA-0379 | EF - 40mm projectile deployment | 6/1/20 | Not Sustained |
| 12/23/20 | 2020OPA-0406 | Protester arrested for violating curfew, property missing | 7/1/20 | Not Sustained |
| 12/23/20 | 2020OPA-0417 | EF - individual pepper sprayed | 5/30/20 | Not Sustained |
| 12/23/20 | 2020OPA-0420 | EF - individual pepper sprayed | 5/31/20 | Not Sustained |
| 12/23/20 | 2020OPA-0454 | EF - officer lunged at, knocked over protester with baton | 5/30/20 | Not Sustained |
| 12/23/20 | 2020OPA-0457 | EF - gun pointing and protesters tackled | 6/1/20 | Not Sustained |
| 12/23/20 | 2020OPA-0548 | EF - officer threw plastic bottle at protester | 6/3/20 | Not Sustained |
| 12/23/20 | 2020OPA-0553 | EF - officers used bikes to shove protesters, deployed rubber bullets & pepper spray | 5/30/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0330 | EF - officers punching during arrest | 5/31/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0332 | EF - neck restraint | 5/31/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0333 | EF - blast ball injury to reporter | 6/1/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0334 | EF - overly aggressive crowd dispersal tactics | Multiple | Partially Sustained *Reversed by Chief |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0335 | EF - blast ball injury to man sleeping | 6/1/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0343 | EF - pepper spray during arrest | 6/5/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0344 Part 1 Part 2 |
EF - blast balls hit woman & targeted medic tent (June 7) | 6/7/20 | Partially Sustained Management Action |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0367 | EF - officer shoved protester & other officers ignored (May 30) | 5/30/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0373 | EF - pepper spray & knee on neck | 6/4/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0377 | EF - individual targeted with 40mm projectile | 6/2/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0419 | EF - blast ball foot injury | 5/31/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0423 | EF - protester shoved with bike | 6/7/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0425 | EF - blast ball foot injury & dishonest social media report | 6/7/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0427 | EF - grabbing umbrella from protester & foul language | 6/7/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0428 | EF - protesters hit with blast balls, baton | 6/6/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0429 | Failure to render timely aid to protester shot by driver | 6/7/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0437 | Bike officer false arrest of woman for assault | 5/31/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0439 Part 1 |
EF - protester trampled, shoved, pepper sprayed | 6/7/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0486 | SWAT officers unprofessional | 6/8/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0543 | EF - officer rode bike into protester, pepper sprayed another | 5/31/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0550 | EF - blast balls & tear gas used on individual in wheelchair | 6/6/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/15/21 | 2020OPA-0571 | Officer cut straps to arrestee's backpack | 5/31/20 | Not Sustained |
| 2/5/21 | 2020OPA-0328 | EF - blast ball deployment & thumb injury | 5/30/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 2/5/21 | 2020OPA-0403 | Unlawful arrest of journalist while clearing CHOP | 7/1/20 |
Not Sustained |
| 2/5/21 | 2020OPA-0489 | EF - officers tackled, injured, arrested complying protester | 7/2/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 2/5/21 | 2020OPA-0538 | EF - neck restraint during arrest | 7/2/20 | Not Sustained |
| 2/26/21 | 2020OPA-0389 | EF - injury during arrest | 7/1/20 | Not Sustained |
| 2/26/21 | 2020OPA-0398 Part 1 |
SPD facilitated FBI interview without lawyer present | 7/1/20 | Not Sustained |
| 2/26/21 | 2020OPA-0471 | EF - nurse in scrubs pepper sprayed | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 2/26/21 | 2020OPA-0477 | EF - journalists pepper sprayed | 7/25/20 | Partially Sustained Management Action |
| 2/26/21 | 2020OPA-0490 | EF - protester pepper sprayed | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 2/26/21 | 2020OPA-0561 | EF - forceful arrest while clearing CHOP | 7/2/20 | Not Sustained |
| 3/19/21 | 2020OPA-0358 | EF - several baton strikes | 6/1/20 | Not Sustained |
| 3/19/21 | 2020OPA-0469 | EF - blast ball thrown at journalist | 7/25/20 |
Not Sustained |
| 3/19/21 | 2020OPA-0483 | EF - individual injured by projectiles & chemical gas (July 25) | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 3/19/21 | 2020OPA-0484 Part 1 Part 2 |
EF - protester dragged, hit with baton | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 3/19/21 | 2020OPA-0491 | EF - officer tackled protester, placed knee on neck | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 3/19/21 | 2020OPA-0510 | EF - officers grabbed umbrella, pepper sprayed protester | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 3/19/21 | 2020OPA-0524 | False arrest of protester | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 3/19/21 | 2020OPA-0526 | EF - officers retaliated against protesters | 8/12/20 | Not Sustained |
| 3/19/21 | 2020OPA-0529 | EF - force used on volunteers in Cal Anderson park | 8/15/20 | Not Sustained |
| 3/19/21 | 2020OPA-0536 Part 1 Part 2 |
EF - blast balls & arrest of compliant protester | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/9/21 | 2020OPA-0494 | EF - officers grabbed umbrella, pepper sprayed protesters | 7/25/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 4/9/21 | 2020OPA-0512 | EF - protesters shoved, kicked in Cal Anderson park | 8/15/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/9/21 | 2020OPA-0531 | Inappropriate comment by officers in unmarked car | 8/14/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 4/9/21 | 2020OPA-0533 | EF - bike officers made forceful arrest | 8/16/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/9/21 | 2020OPA-0544 Part 1 |
EF - protester pepper sprayed | 6/1/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/9/21 | 2020OPA-0555 | EF - officers pepper sprayed, shoved peaceful protester | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/9/21 | 2020OPA-0556 | EF - officers shoved, arrested protester while clearing CHOP | 7/1/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/9/21 | 2020OPA-0557 Part 1 |
EF - journalist pepper sprayed | 8/26/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 4/9/21 | 2020OPA-0665 | EF - force during arrest | 9/7/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0430 | EF - blast balls, 40mm launcher used on protester | 6/8/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0451 | EF - blast ball buttock injury & pepper spray | 6/8/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0467 Part 1 |
EF - officers falsely arrested, dragged woman having seizure | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0495 | EF - blast ball injury to protester | 7/26/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0515 | Officer drove onto sidewalk, nearly hitting protesters (August 13) | 7/25/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0522 | Officer played "Bad Boys" song, taunting protesters | 7/26/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0569 | EF - officers tackled male in Cal Anderson Park | 9/1/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0585 | EF - officer shoved woman who hit her head | 9/7/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0586 | Officer antagonized protesters | 9/7/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0587 Part 1 |
EF - officers charged at protesters outside of SPOG | 9/7/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0611 | EF - pepper spray directed at a group | 7/19/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0613 | Officer pictured posing with pepper spray | 9/15/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0644 | EF - blast ball ankle injury | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0664 | Hostile comments to arrestee | 9/15/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/30/21 | 2020OPA-0666 | EF - force during arrest | 10/17/20 | Not Sustained |
| 5/21/21 | 2020OPA-0628 | EF - protester shot with rubber bullet | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 5/21/21 | 2020OPA-0636 | Arrest of individual providing supplies to protesters | 10/3/20 | Not Sustained |
| 5/21/21 | 2020OPA-0660 | Officer took no action after witnessing assault | 10/16/20 | Not Sustained |
| 5/21/21 | 2020OPA-0673 Part 1 |
EF - officer threw man to the ground | 9/23/20 | Not Sustained |
| 5/21/21 | 2020OPA-0739 | EF - pepper spray used on non-combative subject | 7/1/20 | Sustained |
| 6/11/21 | 2020OPA-0674 | Officer sparked Taser in a threatening manner | 9/15/20 | Not Sustained |
| 6/11/21 | 2020OPA-0684 | EF - officer tackled protester | 10/31/20 | Not Sustained |
| 6/11/21 | 2020OPA-0707 | EF - officer failed to document baton strike | 5/31/20 | Not Sustained |
| 6/11/21 | 2020OPA-0717 | EF - protester pushed while handcuffed | 10/14/20 | Not Sustained |
| 6/11/21 | 2020OPA-0726 | False arrest of peaceful protesters | 11/14/20 | Not Sustained |
| 6/11/21 | 2020OPA-0732 | EF - Officers tackled man with cane | 11/27/20 | Not Sustained |
| 6/11/21 | 2020OPA-0741 | Misuse of Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) | 11/27/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 7/2/21 | 2020OPA-0759 | EF - neck restraint and unlawful arrest | 12/18/20 | Not Sustained |
| 7/2/21 | 2020OPA-0762 | EF - pepper spray and slamming protester's head into ground | 8/26/20 | Not Sustained |
| 8/12/21 | 2020OPA-0588 | EF - neck restraint | 9/7/20 | Not Sustained |
| 10/4/21 | 2020OPA-0354 | Neglect of duty to protect & serve East Precinct | 6/8/20 | Not Sustained |
| 10/4/21 | 2020OPA-0601 | EF - baton strike | Unknown | Not Sustained |
| 10/27/21 | 2020OPA-0439 Part 2 |
EF - protester trampled, shoved, pepper sprayed | 6/7/20 | Not Sustained |
| 11/16/21 | 2020OPA-0582 | EF - officers fractured protester's head | 9/7/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 11/16/21 | 2020OPA-0443 | EF - protester shoved for refusing to move | 6/7/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 12/7/21 | 2020OPA-0436 | EF - bike officer intentionally knocked protester over | 6/6/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 12/7/21 | 2020OPA-0606 | EF - officer rolled bike over protester's head | 9/23/20 | Partially Sustained |
| 12/16/21 | 2020OPA-0357 | EF - protester punched & pepper sprayed | 5/30/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/5/22 | 2020OPA-0749 | False radio transmission on Proud Boys activity | 6/8/20 | Sustained |
| 1/27/22 | 2020OPA-0376 | Officers told people to get off of their own rooftops | 6/2/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/27/22 | 2020OPA-0441 | EF - blast balls struck protester attempting to disperse | 6/7/20 | Not Sustained |
| 1/27/22 | 2020OPA-0463 | SPD did not follow up with 911 caller in CHOP | 6/14/20 | Not Sustained |
| 2/8/22 | 2020OPA-0583 Part 1 |
EF - SPD incited violence at protest outside of SPOG | 9/7/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 2/8/22 | 2020OPA-0618 Part 1 |
EF - protesters pepper sprayed, shoving with bikes | 9/26/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 2/11/22 | 2020OPA-0474 | EF - officer grabbed umbrella, pepper sprayed protesters | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 2/11/22 | 2020OPA-0492 | EF - blast ball leg injury | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 2/11/22 | 2020OPA-0607 | Officer accelerated rapidly to intimidate protesters | 8/14/20 | Not Sustained |
| 2/25/22 | 2020OPA-0470 | EF - officers tackled, arrested bicyclist | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 2/25/22 | 2020OPA-0549 | EF - blast balls & tear gas used on peaceful protesters | 6/6/20 | Not Sustained |
| 2/25/22 | 2020OPA-0617 | EF - less lethal tools used to disperse crowd | 9/23/20 | Not Sustained |
| 3/25/22 | 2020OPA-0329 | Unsecured rifles in SPD vehicles | 5/30/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
| 3/25/22 | 2020OPA-0499 | EF - bike used to strike protester in the head | 7/26/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/14/22 | 2020OPA-0466 | EF - NLG legal observers targeted | 7/25/20 | Not Sustained |
| 4/22/22 | 2020OPA-0513 | Officers broke vehicle window | 8/14/20 | Not Sustained Management Action |
2020 Demonstration Case Progress
Last updated 11/15/22