2022 3rd 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 thirteen citizen’s complaint against officers. The findings for that complaint is as follows:

  1. On 6/26/2022, a citizen filed a complaint that a relative of theirs was stopped for speeding by an officer under the basis that they were Hispanic.  An investigation into the incident was conducted.  A review of the squad car’s camera and the officers body camera revealed that the stop for speeding was legitimate at 18mph over the speed limit.  A further review of the races of the people from his stops showed no pattern of targeting people for traffic stops based on race.  This incident was unfounded.
     
  2. On 7/5//2022, a citizen filed a complaint of excessive force used by police during their arrest.  A Sergeant responded and investigated the incident.  The complainant claimed they were injured by officers during an arrest by being taken to the ground.  The investigation revealed that the complainant attacked another citizen in front of officers and was taken to the ground and placed into handcuffs.  The force used was reasonable to protect the other citizen.  The complainant’s injuries in this incident existed before the officer’s takedown and were clearly visible in the body camera footage before the takedown.  This complaint is unfounded.
     
  3. On 7/12/2022, a citizen filed a complaint against officers for an inappropriate arrest.  An investigation into the complaint was conducted.  The investigation revealed that officers conducted a DWI investigation against the complainant.  Initially they intended to arrest the complainant for DWI based on their investigation, but after further discussion, they decided to release the complainant without arresting them for DWI.  A review of the video and audio of the incident shows the officers conducted a lawful investigation and ultimately, they made the decision they thought was best and released the citizen.  The complaint was not sustained.
     
  4. On 7/13/2022, a citizen filed a complaint that a Sergeant was rude and discourteous to her over the phone.  An investigation into the complaint was conducted.  A review of the incident could neither prove nor disprove the allegations against the Sergeant.  This incident is not sustained.
     
  5. On 7/21/22, a citizen filed a complaint about a call for service that occurred on 7/14/22.  The complainant stated that an officer was rude to her and injured her when he kicked her door open.  An investigation into the complaint was conducted.  A review of the audio and video footage from the incident showed that the officer was not rude and did not kick open the citizen’s door.  There is nothing in the videos to corroborate her explanation of how she claimed the officer injured her.  This incident is unfounded.
     
  6. On 7/24/22, a citizen filed a complaint that he was assaulted by officers.  An investigation into the incident was conducted.  A review of the video, audio, and interview of witnesses showed that the complainant was not assaulted by officers.  The citizen’s complaint was that he was touched by officers who extended their arm and touched his chest to keep him at arm’s length while he was intoxicated and being disorderly with them.  This does not constitute assault and this complaint was unfounded.
     
  7. On 7/29/2022, a citizen filed a complaint that excessive force was used on him by officers.  An investigation into the incident was conducted.  The investigation showed that the complainant was arrested by officers, and they had to forcibly put him into a squad car as he was resisting their efforts.  He complaint that they pushed him and he hit his head on the car while getting in.  A review of the video and audio from the incident clearly shows he did not strike his head getting into the squad car.  This complaint is unfounded.
     
  8. On 8/1/2022, a citizen filed a complaint against an officer for conduct unbecoming.  An investigation was conducted into the complaint.  An off-duty officer utilized an on-duty officer to check a license plate on a vehicle while looking into criminal activity while off duty.  No violations of policy occurred, and the complaint was unfounded.
     
  9. On 8/5/2022, a citizen filed a complaint against an officer for excessive force / improper handcuffing reference an incident from 7/22/2022.  An investigation into the incident was conducted.  The investigation showed that officers used the appropriate level of force necessary to arrest the complainant and applied the handcuffs properly.  The complaint was unfounded.
     
  10. On 8/17/2022, a citizen filed a complaint against an officer for lack of service.  The complainant called to file a report reference an incident involving her children.  She said an officer did not respond to investigate the incident or take any actions necessary to conduct a thorough investigation.  An investigation into the incident was conducted.  As a result of the investigation, the complaint against the officer for lack of service was sustained.
     
  11. On 8/30/2022, a citizen filed a complaint against an officer that he was inappropriately touched.  An investigation into the incident was conducted.  The investigation showed that the complainant fled from a traffic stop, was caught and arrested, and searched incident to custodial arrest.  Once at jail, the complainant was moving around as if he might be concealing something.  The arresting officer conducted another search to verify no weapons or contraband were being taken into the jail.  The search was caught on video and was appropriate and within department policy and training.  The complaint was unfounded.
     
  12. On 9/9/2022, a citizen filed a complaint against an officer reference an incident from 9/6/2022.  The citizen claimed he was threatened and harassed by officers.  An investigation into the incident was conducted.  The investigation showed that the complainant committed a jaywalking infraction and was attempting to provoke officers who were busy investigating a traffic collision and DWI investigation.  When the officers attempted to cite the complainant, he retreated into his home and wouldn’t come out or identify himself.  Officers returned to their investigation.  At no time did the officers harass the citizen or threated him. The complaint was unfounded.
     
  13. On 9/9/2022, a citizen filed a complaint against officers for using excessive force against her during an incident occurring on 9/7/2022.  An investigation into the incident was conducted.  The investigation showed that officers attempted to stop a reckless driver who attempted to flee from them but became stuck in a traffic jam.  The officers quickly approached and arrested the reckless driver who is the complainant in this case.  The complainant pulled away from the officer and was uncooperative, even after being arrested.  However, despite her actions, the officers did not use force beyond escorting her.  Based on this, the complaint is unfounded.