2022 2nd Qtr

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 five citizen’s complaint against officers. The findings for that complaint is as follows:

  1. On 4/12/2022, a citizen filed a complaint that they were required to follow the leash law by an Animal Control officer. An investigation into the complaint was conducted. The investigation showed the AC officer legally enforced the leash law and the citizen was just unhappy about it. This complaint was unfounded.
  2. On 5/6/2022, a citizen filed a complaint that a relative of theirs was taken into custody and the handcuffs were put on too tightly. An investigation into the complaint was conducted. The review of the video showed the person pulling against the handcuffs while in custody, which is why there were red marks. The handcuffs were properly applied. This complaint was unfounded.
  3. On 5/18/2022, a citizen filed a complaint that officers had injured her leg during an arrest. An investigation into this complaint was conducted. A review of the call for service, as well as the audio / video of the incident showed that the officers on the call for used no force during the arrest and the citizen advised she had pre-existing injuries to her leg. The officers did not injure her leg and the complaint was unfounded.
  4. On 6/20/2022, a citizen filed a complaint of excessive force being used by officers. An investigation into the complaint was conducted. The investigation showed the citizen was stopped for a traffic violation. She became extremely disorderly and tried to walk away from the traffic stop. Officers briefly detained her in handcuffs. Once the investigation was complete they released her. There was no force used other than to handcuff her. This complaint was unfounded.
  5. On 6/24/2022, a citizen filed a complaint that officers were rude to her. An investigation into the complaint was conducted. A review of the call for service, audio, and video from the incident revealed that officers were dispatched to a returned runaway call. During the course of that investigation the citizen complainant attempted to physically interfere with the investigation. Officers detained the citizen. The citizen felt disrespected and complained. The officers’ actions were appropriate and the complaint of rudeness was unfounded.