2020 4th Qtr

Citizen Complaints against Officers
2020 4th 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 twelve citizen’s complaints against officers. The findings for these complaints are as follows:

1. On 10/5/20, a citizen complained about being asked to leave a Parks Department sponsored event at a dog park. The citizen’s dogs had bitten two other animals in a short period of time and they were asked to leave. They complained they were treated like a criminal. The investigation into the incident showed that the Animal Control Officer present was polite and professional. The complaint was unfounded.
2. On 10/5/20, a citizen complained that her husband had been racially profiled and excessive force had been used by officers during his arrest.  An investigation into the incident was conducted. In regards to the racial profiling, the officers were dispatched to a report of an assault involving the citizen and her husband. Their response was based on a this report and not on race. This complaint is unfounded. In regards to excessive use of force, officers used the lowest level of force available to arrest the suspect in this incident. This complaint is also unfounded.
3. On 10/10/2020, a citizen complained that officers had beaten her, held her at gunpoint, and sexually assaulted her after conducting a traffic stop on her vehicle. An investigation was conducted into this complaint. The incident in question was on video and the multiple accusations made by the complainant were all unfounded. 
4. On 10/14/2020, a citizen filed a complaint against an Animal Control Officer for not helping him with his issue. An investigation into the complaint was opened. A review of the incident showed that the Animal Control Officer took the complaint seriously and conducted a thorough investigation within the scope of her powers. The complaint was unfounded.
5. On 9/15/2020, a citizen complained that an Animal Control Officer had intentionally lied to him about matters related to his dog. An investigation into the complaint was conducted.  The complaint of intentionally being lied to was unfounded.
6. On 10/20/2020, a complaint was filed against an officer for an unlawful and improper arrest. The citizen reported that she had a medical issue which caused her to act how she did and that she shouldn’t have been arrested. An investigation into the incident was conducted.  As a result of the investigation, several independent witness statements, and video of the incident, the complaint was unfounded.
7. On 10/21/2020, a citizen filed a complaint of excessive use of force against two officers. An investigation into the incident was conducted.  The investigation, which included independent witness statements, showed that the officers acted reasonably and used the least amount of force necessary to arrest a resistive and uncooperative subject. The complaint was unfounded.
8. On 10/21/2020, a citizen filed a complaint against officers for excessive use of force. An investigation into the complaint was opened.  The investigation revealed that officers legally contacted the complainant as a result of a citizen calling police to have him removed.  He was uncooperative and resistive with officers when they attempted to arrest him. The officers used the minimum amount of force necessary to arrest him and he incurred no injuries as a result of the arrest. The complaint was unfounded.
9. On 10/28/2020, a citizen filed a complaint that an officer had unlawfully grabbed and detained her. An investigation into the complaint was conducted. The investigation revealed that the officer had legal authority to grab ahold and detain the complainant as it was during the course of an investigation and the complainant was attempting to get away from the officer.  The complaint was unfounded.
10. On 11/2/2020 a citizen filed a complaint of an officer being racist towards him.  An investigation into the incident was conducted. The investigation showed that the officer was called to a parking violation and the complainant had his vehicle parked in a Handicap designated parking spot but was not authorized to do so. The officer wrote the complainant a citation for this. He was not racist in the encounter and the complaint of this being race-based was unfounded.
11. On 11/12/2020 a citizen filed a complaint against an officer for excessive force.  An investigation into the incident was conducted.  The investigation showed that officers responded to a residence as a result of a 3rd party complaint that there were possibly children in danger.  Officers arrived and the residents of the apartment would not let officers inside to check the children. The officers entered and used the least amount of force necessary to detain the person who later complained.  The officers were acting within their legal authority and their duty. This complaint is unfounded.
12. On 12/27/2020 a citizen filed a complaint against an officer for sexually assaulting him. An investigation into the incident was conducted. The investigation revealed that the officer had legally stopped the complainant for a traffic violation that resulted in an arrest for multiple charges. During the search incident to arrest the complainant said the officer groped him.  A review of the video shows that the officer conducted a thorough search which resulted in the discovery of illegal controlled substances hidden on the complainant. The search was within policy and law. The complaint is unfounded.