The Scourge Of Sacramento PD: What Happened To Officer Sarah Stambaugh?

The question of "What happened to Sarah Stambaugh?" has circulated online for years, fueled by high-profile civil lawsuits and public allegations of misconduct. As of the current date, December 2025, the most compelling answer to this question is that the controversial Sacramento Police Department officer is reportedly still employed, having maintained her position despite a career marked by significant legal and public scrutiny. This narrative is a complex case study in police accountability, civil litigation, and the public perception of law enforcement in California.

The story of Officer Stambaugh is not defined by a single incident, but by a pattern of events that have made her a figure of intense debate within the Sacramento community. From a 2014 federal civil rights lawsuit to a high-profile "window tint" stop that went viral, her career has been under a continuous, microscopic public lens. The latest official records show her continued service, a fact that both shocks critics and underscores the difficulty of removing officers from duty even after major controversies.

Sarah Stambaugh: Biographical Profile and Career Overview

Specific personal details about Officer Sarah Stambaugh are limited due to privacy protections common for law enforcement personnel, but her professional record with the Sacramento Police Department (Sac PD) provides a clear timeline of her service and the legal challenges she has faced. Her career trajectory is notable for the rank she achieved and the high salary associated with her position, even amidst public controversy.

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• Full Name: Sarah Cole Stambaugh (also cited as Sarah Stambaugh)
• Department: Sacramento Police Department (Sac PD)
• Badge Number: 565
• Known Rank: Detective (as of 2022) and Police Officer
• Employment Status (Latest Update): Reportedly still employed by the Sacramento Police Department as of 2023.
• Known Salary: Listed with a high hourly pay rate of $49.75/hour in 2022, significantly above the average for her co-workers.
• Notable Incidents: Defendant in a 2014 federal civil rights lawsuit (*Spence v. Stambaugh et al*), involved in a controversial "window tint" traffic stop, and author of a July 2022 Use of Force Report.

Stambaugh's role as a Detective (badge #565) suggests a promotion or assignment to an investigative unit, a detail that further complicates the public narrative surrounding her alleged misconduct. Her continued employment and high pay rate are often cited by critics as examples of a lack of accountability within the department.

The Legal History: Lawsuits and Civil Rights Allegations

The first major public entity associated with Officer Stambaugh's career is the federal civil rights lawsuit filed against her and other officers, which spans several years and highlights the seriousness of the allegations she faced.

The Landmark Case: Spence v. Stambaugh et al. (2014)

Sarah Stambaugh was named as a defendant in the civil rights case of Spence v. Stambaugh et al. (No. 2:2014cv01170), filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. This lawsuit, which also named fellow officer Dustin Southward, alleged civil rights violations. The case was a long-running legal battle, with court documents being filed as recently as 2021.

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While the exact details of the final outcome—such as a settlement amount or a dismissal—are often difficult to confirm in public records, the sheer existence and duration of the litigation are significant. Lawsuits of this nature typically allege excessive force, unlawful detention, or other constitutional violations, placing a spotlight on the conduct of the officers involved. The fact that the case proceeded for seven years (2014 to 2021) indicates a sustained legal dispute over the officers' actions.

The Alleged "Window Tint" Incident and Promotion

A second, highly publicized controversy that cemented Stambaugh's notoriety, particularly online, was an unspecific incident involving a traffic stop for a window tint violation. According to public claims, a Sacramento man was pulled over in North Sacramento by Officer Stambaugh for the violation. The controversy escalated when the man claimed to have shown the officer a previous "fix-it ticket" for the same violation.

The most damaging allegation to the Sacramento PD's reputation, and the one that earned Stambaugh the moniker "The Scourge of Sacramento PD," was the claim that she was subsequently *promoted* after the controversial incident. For critics, the alleged promotion was seen as a reward for aggressive policing, further demonstrating an institutional failure to discipline officers for misconduct.

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The Latest Official Record: The 2022 Use of Force Report

The most recent official document linking Sarah Stambaugh to a controversial incident is a Level 1 Use of Force Report from the Sacramento Police Department, dated July 12, 2022. This report provides the most up-to-date snapshot of her active role within the department.

Details of the Incident

The report lists her as "Author 3918 - STAMBAUGH, SARAH 0565" and confirms her rank as Detective Stambaugh (#565), working with Officer Jason Wacker. A Level 1 Use of Force incident typically involves actions like drawing a firearm, using a less-lethal weapon, or any action that results in a complaint of pain or minor injury to a subject. The report confirms that Detective Stambaugh was dispatched to a call and was required to document the use of force.

While the full narrative of the report is not publicly detailed, the fact that Detective Stambaugh was the author and involved in a use-of-force incident in mid-2022 is a critical entity in her professional record. It confirms her continued active duty years after the high-profile civil suit and the "window tint" controversy.

The Significance of Her Current Status

The core of "what happened to Sarah Stambaugh" lies in her continued employment. Despite being a named defendant in a federal civil rights lawsuit and the subject of viral public criticism, the latest public records indicate she has not been terminated, but rather has continued to serve, and possibly been promoted to Detective. This situation is a key talking point for police reform advocates, who argue that the internal disciplinary process in many major police departments, including the Sacramento Police Department, is opaque and often fails to hold officers accountable for alleged misconduct.

The high hourly pay rate she was earning in 2022 further highlights the financial cost to the city of Sacramento. The ongoing employment of officers involved in civil litigation often results in massive taxpayer-funded payouts for settlements, even when the officer remains on the force. The public interest in Sarah Stambaugh's career remains high because it serves as a prominent example of the friction between police power, public scrutiny, and institutional accountability.

In summary, the story of Officer Sarah Stambaugh is not one of a dramatic firing or resignation, but of quiet persistence. She remains a working officer, a Detective in the Sacramento Police Department, with her career continuing to be shadowed by a history of controversial incidents and civil litigation.