The Vallejo Evaluation Team (VET) is responsible for assessing the compliance of the City of Vallejo (City) and the Vallejo Police Department (VPD) with the Settlement Agreement entered into by the Parties – the California Department of Justice (CALDOJ), the City and VPD. 

The Settlement Agreement identifies a series of police reforms aimed at improving policing practices in Vallejo to protect individuals' statutory and constitutional rights, treat individuals with dignity and respect, and promote public safety in a manner that is responsive to the community's priorities. 

Our role is to provide technical assistance and to evaluate and assess VPD’s progress in meeting the reform mandates. The VET will evaluate compliance and provide advice and technical assistance in achieving the reform goals.

An important part of the Evaluator’s role is to evaluate whether the police practices have improved under the Agreement. To this end, we will conduct audits and outcome assessments to determine compliance and whether measurable improvements in community perceptions of policing have occurred. We will report annually on the progress that VPD makes as it works through the Agreement requirements. Our website will be updated to reflect this progress, news and other pertinent information as it becomes known.

We recognize our role in building community trust, establishing open lines of communication and working collaboratively to facilitate reform. We will seek to ensure stakeholders, community members and VPD personnel are heard.

We have an important role in Vallejo’s future as does the community of Vallejo. The VET will engage with stakeholders, organize community meetings and provide educational forums for the community throughout the evaluation process. Updated information on community listening sessions and opportunities to engage with this process can be found under “Upcoming Events” on this website. Similarly, summaries of previous listening sessions can be found under “Community Voices.”

While our role is directly engaged with the reform process, the VET does not direct the actions of the City, the Chief of Police or VPD. The Evaluator does not have the authority to take police action or receive complaints to investigate. However, we believe that under the Agreement, our role in ensuring the implementation of lasting systemic change within VPD will benefit all communities and stakeholders.