Commend a Berkeley Police Department Employee

Members of the public may submit a commendation for a sworn officer, civilian employee, group, team, or division of the Berkeley Police Department (BPD). Commendations help recognize employees whose actions demonstrate exceptional service, professionalism, compassion, or commitment to the community.

File a commendation

Submit online

Submit a commendation through the Police Accountability Portal. The online form will guide you through the submission process and ask for information about you, the employee or employees you would like to recognize, and the service they provided.

Submit commendation form

You may submit a commendation even if you do not know the employee’s name or badge number. Details about the date, time, location, employee’s assignment, or circumstances may help identify the employee.

Submit by mail or in person

You may also submit a commendation to:

Office of the Director of Police Accountability
1900 Addison Street, 3rd Floor
Berkeley, CA 94704

Please provide as much information about the interaction and the employee as possible.

Criteria for Police Accountability Board commendations

The Police Accountability Board (PAB) may officially recognize an individual employee or a group of employees for extraordinary service, including:

1. Exceptional valor, bravery, or heroism
2. Superior handling of a difficult situation
3. Performance above and beyond typical duties
4. Extraordinary compassion, empathy, or kindness

Recommendations may be submitted by members of the public, the Berkeley Police Department, or members of the Police Accountability Board.

All commendations are valued. A commendation that does not meet the criteria for formal recognition by the PAB will still be forwarded to the Berkeley Police Department so the employee and the Department are made aware of the positive feedback.

Steps a commendation is submitted

1. The commendation is received

The Office of the Director of Police Accountability receives and organizes commendation submissions for review.

2. A PAB subcommittee reviews the commendation

The appropriate Police Accountability Board subcommittee reviews the submission and evaluates whether the employee’s actions meet one or more of the Board’s criteria for formal recognition.

The subcommittee may:

• Recommend an employee or group for an official PAB commendation
• Identify an employee or group for inclusion in a Notable Service packet
• Determine that the submission does not meet the criteria for formal PAB recognition

3. The commendation is forwarded to BPD

Commendations are forwarded to the Berkeley Police Department, including those that are not recommended for formal PAB recognition. This ensures that BPD is informed of the community member’s positive experience and the employee’s service.

4. The Police Accountability Board considers formal recommendations

Recommendations for official commendations are placed on a public PAB meeting agenda for consideration. A commendation must receive an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum to be approved.

5. Approved commendations are recognized

Approved commendations are communicated to the Berkeley City Council and the Chief of Police. They may also be included in the employee’s personnel file, as appropriate.

The Board may recognize employees through:

• A certificate or plaque
• Recognition at a public meeting or event
• A letter or another formal acknowledgment
• Another form of recognition approved by the Board

Commendations are different from complaints

A commendation recognizes outstanding service or conduct. If you want to report possible misconduct by a Berkeley police officer, please use the complaint option available through the Police Accountability Portal.

Submitting a commendation does not prevent you from raising a separate concern or filing a complaint about another aspect of an interaction.

Learn more

Read Appendix E of the Police Accountability Board Policy Manual for more information about the PAB’s commendation process.