Complaints

Submitting a Complaint

If you have an issue, your complaint will be sent to a superior officer or a specially trained internal affairs investigator for a thorough and objective investigation. Disciplinary hearings are closed to the public unless the defendant officer requests an open hearing. Possible results of a complaint:

You may be asked to help the investigation by giving a detailed statement about what happened.

• If the investigation results in an officer charged with violations of department policy, you might be asked to testify in a departmental hearing.
• If the investigation shows that the complaint is unfounded or that the officer acted properly, the matter will be closed.
• If the investigation shows that a crime might have been committed, the county prosecutor will be notified, and you may be asked to testify in court.

Contrived / Malicious Complaints

Although there are complaints against officers that are legitimate and based on facts, there are others that are contrived and maliciously pursued, often with the intent to mitigate or neutralize legal action taken against a complainant by an officer. The matter will be fully and impartially investigated. In any case where a complaint has been fabricated or a complainant has intentionally misrepresented material facts of officer misconduct, the matter may be criminally prosecuted.