The City has had a records retention policy for decades and went through an update that began in early 2017. During our update, the police departments retention policy and practice was aligned with the law. The schedule update did not include an update to internal affairs records, as that already existed, nor did the retention policy update the City’s ability to produce records under SB1421. All releasable records that have been requested, have been made available and additional information on this topic can be located on our Transparency Portal. 

The Police Chief issued a letter to the community in response to a KQED article which suggested decades of records had been shredded.  A single box of old records dating back to the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, had been misfiled and was located during the project.  This box of files was out of compliance with our existing records retention policy and should have been purged in accordance years ago.  None of the records in the box would have been subject to disclosure under SB1421.  

RIPA is the Racial Identification and Profiling Act of 2015.  Assembly Bill 953, titled the racial inequity bill, set into law the requirement for California law enforcement agencies to report stop data to the Attorney General annually.  As defined, RIPA Stop Data collection is any detention by a peace officer of a person or any peace officer interaction with a person in which the officer conducts a search. The data collection is mandated and includes the actions taken and the reason for their stop.  Officers are required to document their perception (they are prohibited from asking the person stopped to self-identify), of the identity characteristics pertaining to each person stopped including their race or ethnicity, gender, age, English fluency, disability and sexual orientation.

The new law required a phasing approach, which began in 2018-2019, with California agencies with more than 1,000 officers.  Fremont will be mandated to begin collecting data in January of 2022 and our first report will be submitted in Spring of 2023.  The Department will be transitioning to a new computer aided dispatch and report management system in 2023, which will be built around the new data collection requirements.   You can read more about RIPA and the first reports from the largest agencies in California here.

Fremont PD is always striving to provide the best service to our community and will always hire the best possible candidates. We value the life experiences that our Police Officers bring with them every day to their job. They will be speaking with members of the public from all walks of life and put in many new situations each shift. Education, prior job experience, and general life experiences all equip them with skill sets that can help them navigate as a Police Officer. During the hiring process we look at each candidate's background including education, job experiences, personality traits, and how they perform on various recruitment related exams. The minimum standards for police officer candidates are established and required by CA POST.

Our recruitment strategies include reaching out to a broad candidate pool, as diversity is something we value. Prior to COVID-19, this included in-person recruiting events (which were diverse and tracked by our personnel & HR Teams), radio adds throughout the state, updating our recruiting website, advertising on various websites, and an increased social media presence. The in-person events included college campuses, military events, community events, and workout expos.  Our recruiting team has also worked diligently to create a “high-touch” environment where candidates are able to connect with members of our team easily (via email, text message, live chat, phone calls, etc.) to have their questions answered in a timely fashion.  Our goal has been to hire quality candidates who successfully make it through our rigorous hiring process and reduce the number of police officer vacancies for the department. The hiring process for police officer in the bay area is highly competitive. Through our efforts over the last two years we have reduced the number of sworn vacancies from over 20 to less than five.

More information about our recruitment process can be found on the Fremont Police Job site.

The following graph chart below that shows the number of male and female sworn personnel and the demographic break down as of July 2020.

The following is the breakdown of those sworn personnel who have been certified in another language:

• 14 Spanish
• 2 Tagalog
• 1 Farsi
• 2 Chinese Mandarin
• 1 Punjabi
• 1 Dari
• 1 Russian

The Fremont Police Department strives to administer a training program that will provide for the professional growth and continued development of its personnel. By doing so, the Department will ensure its personnel possess the knowledge and skills necessary to provide a professional level of service that meets the needs of the community.

The Department follows the standards established by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).  POST sets the minimum selection and training standards for California law enforcement.  POST receives money from penalty assessments on criminal and traffic fines.  No tax dollars are used to fund the POST program.  

The Fremont Police Department exceeds the minimum recommended standards set forth by POST. 

• POST Regular Basic Academy Training Covering Applicable Topics:
  • LD 03-Principled Policing in the Community: 26 hours of academy training
  • LD 20-Use of Force/De-Escalation: 16 hours of academy training
  • LD 37-People with disabilities: 15 hours of academy training
  • LD 42- Cultural Diversity/Discrimination: 16 hours of academy training
• Continuing Professional Training Requirement (CPT):
  • Every peace officer (other than a Level III Reserve Peace Officer), Public Safety Dispatcher, and Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor shall satisfactorily complete the CPT requirement of 24 or more hours of POST-qualifying training during every two-year CPT cycle.
• Perishable Skills/Communications Requirement for CPT:
  • Shall consist of a minimum of 12 hours in each two-year period.  Of the total 12 hours required, a minimum of 4 hours of each of the three following topical areas shall be completed:
    • Arrest and Control
    • Driver Training/Awareness of Driving Simulator
    • Tactical Firearms or Force Options Simulator
    • Communications Training, either tactical or interpersonal, shall consist of a minimum of 2 hours.
• Legislative Mandated Update Training:
  • Blood Borne Pathogens-Annually
  • Domestic Violence-Every 2 years (2 hours)
  • CPR/1st Aid-Every 2 years (8 hours)
  • High Speed Vehicle Pursuits-Pursuit Driving Update (2 hours)
  • Racial and Cultural Diversity/Racial Profiling-Every 5 years
• Fremont Police Department Training:
  • Racial Profiling/Cultural Diversity: 
    • May 2018-2 hours POST Update training
    • June 2020-2 hours POST Update training
  • Use of force/De-Escalation: 
    •  September 2018-Defensive Tactics Training
    • February 2019-Defensive Tactics Training
    • May 2020- Foot pursuit, pursuit policy update training
    • June 2020- Use of force and De-Escalation training

Our department training materials are available on this platform. 

Partnerships between law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders are essential to public safety.  It is important that local law enforcement agencies, community groups, youth, nonprofits, businesses, and residents all embrace public safety working together, as a shared responsibility. Law enforcement and community members must develop positive working relationships in order to build enduring solutions and increase trust between the police and the public. The Fremont Police Department has a long-standing commitment to professional law enforcement and has been dedicated to building community partnerships for the last several decades.  The Department provides several innovative programs and resources that help engage community, build lasting partnerships, and improve the health of our community.

Chief’s Community Advisory Group

For over 20 years, the Chief of Police has met monthly with a group of community advisors to obtain input on policy, strategy, and department direction. The purpose of the Community Advisory Board is to bring together a representative cross-section of community perspectives to serve in an advisory capacity to the Chief of Police by providing input on policy issues, department direction and prioritization.  Advisory group members also facilitate two-way communication between the Police Department and those the department serves.

Coffee with a Cop

Six times a year, the Fremont Police Department hosts a Coffee with a Cop event. These events also include our Badges and Boba events. The event offers an informal and friendly setting for community members to meet and greet with members of the department. This opportunity allows community members in attendance to discuss, public safety concerns, neighborhood concerns or just to get acquainted. Participating staff include Community Engagement Staff, Command Staff, Patrol, and Investigations.  

Community Police Academy

Twice a year, the Fremont Police Department offers opportunity to participation in the Community Police Academy. The program was initiated to offer a transparent overview into the department’s structure, services, and personnel.  The academy is an educational experience taught primarily in a classroom setting. The participants attend a three-house class, one night a week for nine weeks. Topics covered include; communications, social media, crime prevention, critical incidents, firearms training, K-9, hiring process, narcotics, traffic, enforcement, SWAT, investigation, crime scene investigations. To participate in this program all must register and complete a background check and submit fingerprints.

National Night Out

Every year the Fremont Police Department participates in “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” know as National Night Out. This event usually occurs every August on the first Tuesday of the month. The night is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and serious about combating crime. You can visit NATW for more information, about National Night Out

Neighborhood Crime Watch 

The Fremont Police Department offers Neighborhood Crime Watch to residents of the City of Fremont. This program offers partnership between residents and law enforcement to improve safety and prevent crime. The program is organized and facilitated by the Community Engagement unit. For more information regarding this program please visit our page on Neighborhood Crime Watch.

Safety Fair

Every two years, the Fremont Police Department hosts a Safety Fair in an effort to further enhance community relationships, inform community members about public safety services, increase awareness of strategies aimed at protecting citizens from certain types of crimes and to provide transparency on law enforcement equipment and policing philosophy.  The Safety Fair also allows the public to provide feedback directly to the department/officers on issues that matter to them most.

The Fremont Police Department has a wide range of programs that have been developed to support and build stronger relationships with our youngest community members. The programs range from education, exploration of careers in law enforcement, as well as those that support at-risk young people, or those who may have already taken a wrong step.

School Resource Officers (SRO Program)

The Fremont Police Department has had School Resource Officers in each of Fremont’s six high schools for more than 20 years.  One specially trained police officer is assigned to each high school in our City for a term of three years.  The mission of the SRO program is to ensure a safe learning environment for students, teachers and school administrators.  SROs afford our schools with access to an immediate law enforcement response in the rare but consequential situation of acts of violence.  They also provide a trained and equipped emergency responder able to initiate basic medical care to youth in a variety of situations.  SROs are present during conflict resolution (de-escalation) situations and assist with problem solving initiatives.  In addition to public safety, SROs develop relationships with students, parents and school staff and serve as a resource, mentor and positive role model.  Our SROs provide a safe route for young victims to report abuse and help divert student who commit crimes into our Alternative to Suspension program and Youth Diversion program, keeping students out of the criminal justice system.

Alternative to suspension Program

The alternative to suspension program administrated by School Resource Officers in partnership with our Human Services Department; this program provides students who are caught vaping an opportunity to attend a program with their parents on the dangers of vaping in-lieu of suspension.

Youth Diversion Program

Recognizing the value of youth-based programs focused on diverting children away from the justice system, the police department continues to support collaborative efforts to resolve criminal issues involving juveniles through intervention and support services.  Our department has an onsite Diversion Program Coordinator from the City’s Human Services Department who helps guide juveniles away from the justice system and toward other support programs.    

Building Bridges

The Building Bridges program is designed to develop positive student/police relationships at an early age. Each school year a large group of police department employees from a number of different assignments (sworn and non-sworn) visit each sixth-grade class in all our public schools to do an interactive presentation designed to promote positive community relationships.  The program includes education on a variety of age related of topics to include cyber bullying, social media, staying home alone and traffic safety.  Since its creation in 2017, the Fremont Police Department has connected with over 9,000 FUSD sixth graders.

Youth Academy

Our summer Youth Academy was developed in collaboration with the City of Fremont Family Resource Center and the Fremont Unified School District.  The program, facilitated by the Department’s School Resource Officers, is a 40-hour class that fosters activities to develop trust and understanding between law enforcement and our youth.  The 40-hour experience includes practical exercises, demonstrations, and lectures provided by experienced law enforcement professionals. Participants receive an enhanced understanding of the training, equipment, policies, and laws that help guide the department as it serves the community.   The presentations also focus on life skills and discussion on the value of attending school every day. 

Police Explorer Program

The Explorer Program is a fun and safe way for teenagers, 14-18 years of age, to learn about the field of law enforcement. Explorers participate in various activities such as community events, have the opportunity to take ride-alongs with police officers, learn to conduct traffic control, conduct building tours, attend special events and assist with preschool/elementary school visits. In addition, Explorers are required to attend weekly meetings at the Police Department where facilitators and special guests speak on a variety of educational law enforcement related topics. This program gives teens an understanding of various law enforcement careers and helps them decide whether to pursue a career in law enforcement.

School Visits for Preschools and Primary Schools

A visit from a Police Officer is a great way for us to reach the young community members of Fremont. It provides an opportunity for students to meet an officer and take a look at a Patrol vehicle. Upon request, police personnel or officers will conduct the school visit, and they will meet students/teachers in the parking lot for a quick look at the Police Patrol vehicle. A Stranger Danger presentation can also be given to students.

Shop-with-a-Cop

A program developed 17 years ago in partnership with Target, community-based nonprofits, and the City of Fremont Human Services Department.  Each year 20 children, currently receiving or participating in services through the City’s Human Services Department, are paired with police officers to Shop with a Cop.  The children are picked up by the officer at their school and brought to the event.  Throughout the four-hour program, children have breakfast and lunch, play games and make arts and crafts project with their officer.  Due to several generous sponsors each year, children are provided the opportunity to shop for their family members holiday gifts.    

Special Olympics

The Fremont Police Department has a long-standing partnership with Special Olympics of northern California, a program that enriches the lives of youth and adults with developmental disabilities through sports and health competition.  Each year the Fremont Police Department participates in the Torch Run, Tip-a-Cop activities and fund raises by hosting events in support of raising funds for our local athletes.

Cadet Program – Coming Soon (fall 2020)

A program for young adults ages 18-22 to explore law enforcement as a potential career.