Pasadena Police Auditor’s First Annual Report Details Force Reviews, Bias Complaints and Policy Recommendations

Pasadena’s Independent Police Auditor on Monday will deliver her first annual report to the City Council, outlining reviews of police use-of-force incidents, bias-related complaints and internal investigations, while identifying policy and training areas that could be strengthened in the coming year.

The report, presented as an informational item requiring no council action, marks the first formal update from Teresa Magula, who was hired in December 2024 to serve as the city’s Independent Police Auditor after the departure of the previous auditor.

According to the presentation, Magula and her firm, OIR Group, spent much of 2025 reviewing categorical uses of force by Pasadena Police Department officers, assessing whether investigations were thorough, timely and consistent with department policy and constitutional standards.

The report notes a focus on the quality of supervisory reviews, documentation practices and how lessons learned from incidents are communicated back to officers.

The auditor also examined investigations into complaints alleging bias-based policing, evaluating how those complaints were classified, investigated and resolved.

The report highlights the importance of clear intake procedures, consistent investigative standards and transparent explanations to complainants regarding findings and outcomes.

In her role as a best-practices adviser to the Community Police Oversight Commission, Magula worked closely with commissioners on policy discussions and case reviews, according to the report.

The presentation outlines collaborative efforts to improve information sharing between the Police Department, the commission and the auditor, as well as efforts to clarify the distinct roles of each body within Pasadena’s oversight framework.

The report further identifies areas for potential improvement, including updates to certain departmental policies, refinements to officer training curricula and continued emphasis on de-escalation, bias awareness and documentation standards. While the presentation does not mandate specific changes, it offers recommendations intended to strengthen accountability and align the department with evolving best practices in policing oversight.

Looking ahead, the report forecasts continued reviews of use-of-force cases and bias complaints in 2026, along with deeper engagement with the Oversight Commission and expanded public reporting aimed at increasing transparency.

The Community Police Oversight Commission and the Independent Police Auditor were created by the City Council in October 2020 as part of broader reforms designed to enhance trust, transparency and accountability within the Pasadena Police Department.

The City Council will receive the report during its regular meeting Monday night.