In a statement released on Nixle by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, the agency says they received complaints on November 5, 2026, from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), of an academy trainee alleging to have been "physically assaulted by staff training members".

The statement said staff listed in the complaint have been placed on administrative leave pending the end of the investigation. The incident occurred at the Frank Bland Regional Training Center, which hosts a POST certified law enforcement academy for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and other regional agencies.

The Sheriff's Department and San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office "will be conducting an administrative investigation to ensure compliance with department policy," the department's release said, and has since launched a criminal investigation after receiving the complaint.

Keryex Los Angeles has reached out to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for comment.