2018 1st Qtr

Citizen Complaints against Officers
2018 1st Quarter

All citizen complaints against officers are documented and investigated by the department’s supervisors. Once the investigation is complete, it is reviewed by the Section Commander, Division Commander and then forwarded to the Office of the Chief where the decision is made as to the finding of the complaint. Complaints questioning the basis for a citation or arrest are not documented and those complainants are advised to go through the court system.

  • There are four different categories of complaint findings:
  • Sustained - The investigation produced a preponderance of evidence to prove the allegation did in fact occur and the action of the officer was improper.
  • Not Sustained - The investigation failed to produce a preponderance of evidence to either prove or disprove the allegation.
  • Exonerated - The allegation in fact did occur but the actions of the officer were legal, justified, proper, and in accordance with the law and the department’s policies and procedures.
  • Unfounded - The allegation in fact did not occur, based on the evidence.

During this quarter, there were 11 citizen’s complaints against officers. The findings for these complaints are as follows:
Sustained - 1
Not Sustained - 3
Exonerated - 0
Unfounded - 7
Pending - 0

The following is a summary of each of those complaints:

  1. On 1-6-2018, a citizen complained that she was missing money after her arrest and felt the officers took it. After reviewing the videos and conducting interviews, there was nothing to indicate that the officers took the money. There was a time before the arrest that the money was left unattended at a location where several people were present. The complaint was not sustained.
  2. On 1-17-2018, a citizen complained that they disliked the way officers classified her call for service. After a review of the officer’s in car video and interviewing all parties, there was nothing to indicate the officers acted inappropriately. The complaint was unfounded.
  3. On 2-2-2018, a citizen complained that officers assaulted him. After reviewing the videos and interviewing people involved, the complaint was unfounded. The citizen physically obstructed the officers during the investigation and resisted during their attempt to arrest. The officers used the force necessary to arrest the citizen.
  4. On 2-5-2018, a citizen complained that officers were rude and unprofessional when they spoke with her. After reviewing the videos and information from interviews, the complaint was unfounded. The officers were professional and their actions were reasonable.
  5. On 2-5-2018, a citizen complained that an officer was rude to him and used inappropriate language while conducting an investigation. The investigation ultimately led to the citizen’s arrest. After reviewing the video and interviewing involved people, the complaint was sustained.
  6. On 2-6-2018, a citizen complained that her hair was pulled and officers injured her during their arrest. After reviewing the video and interviewing the people involved, it was determined that, the officers used the force necessary to arrest the citizen, who was being physically combative. The complaint was unfounded.
  7. On 2-10-2018, a citizen complained that officers were “verbally assaultive” towards them while they were investigating a call for service. After reviewing the video and information from people involved, the complaint was not sustained. The officers acted professionally and were compassionate during their contact with the citizen.
  8. On 2-15-2018, a citizen complained that their relative received injuries as a result of being arrested. After reviewing the video and information from other relatives on scene, the complaint was unfounded. The officers used the force necessary to control and arrest the physically combative suspect.
  9. On 2-23-2018, a citizen complained that he was assaulted by officers during his arrest. After reviewing the video and information from involved people, the complaint was unfounded. The officers used the force necessary to control and arrest the physically combative suspect.
  10. On 3-2-2018, a citizen complained that they received injuries as a result of being arrested. After reviewing the video and information from other relatives on scene, the complaint was unfounded. The officers used the force necessary to control and arrest the physically combative suspect.
  11. On 3-19-2018, a citizen complained that a personal item was damaged as a result of his arrest. After reviewing the video and information from people involved, the complaint was not sustained. The citizen was physically combative, but the officers used the force necessary to arrest him. At one point, the citizen intentionally forced the personal item from his body and on to the floor himself.