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Frequently Asked Questions
Police Practices Consulting, LLC is not a private investigative agency
and we cannot provide assistance to individuals who may have a complaint
against police, except through their legal counsel. However, to assist persons who may have questions
regarding the general process for filing a complaint, we provide the following.
This is general information only and is not presented as advice in any
specific situation.
| How do I complain about the actions of
a police officer or deputy sheriff? |
Begin by contacting the agency which employs the
officer or deputy. Ask to speak to the
Internal Affairs office.
Although the office may be called by different names, police agencies will
know what you mean.
In smaller agencies which might not have a specific
office dedicated to handling citizen complaints, ask to speak to the
Chief of Police or the Sheriff. |
| What if I call after business hours and
Internal Affairs is closed? |
In most agencies, all supervisors are charged with
the responsibility to accept and document citizen complaints. |
| Should I file my complaint in writing? |
This is always an option. You can
address your correspondence to Internal Affairs or to the Chief or
Sheriff. Be sure to include contact information such as
telephone numbers. Most agencies will ask that
you make a written statement of the situation that you are complaining
about, as a part of the investigation. |
| Can I make a complaint anonymously? |
That depends on the policies of the particular law
enforcement agency. Most training for internal investigations
policy recommends that law enforcement agencies have a mechanism for
accepting anonymous complaints, but some agencies do not do so. |
| Do I have to make a sworn statement
under oath? |
This also depends on the policies of the particular
agency. Most current training recommends that agencies not require that a
person wishing to make a complaint must make a sworn
statement. However, some agencies do require this. In some
jurisdictions, this is required by law.
Some agencies require a sworn statement for specific
types of complaints, such as when the complaint alleges criminal
conduct on the part of the officer or deputy. |
| Can I file a complaint over the
Internet? |
Many larger law enforcement agencies are developing
a mechanism to accept complaints via an Internet form. Check the
website for the agency involved to see if they have such a form. |
| I'm afraid to call the police
department to make a complaint. Who else can I call? |
In many jurisdictions, citizens can call the
district attorney to complain about police action. In some
jurisdictions, the county sheriff may accept complaints against
municipal police agencies within their county.
Many larger jurisdictions also have some form of
Civilian Complaint Review, which is independent of the police agency
but empowered to accept and investigate complaints against police.
You always have the option of seeking advice from legal counsel,
who can help you decide the best method for filing a complaint. |
| Isn't there a national Internal Affairs
department that I can complain to? |
No, there is not. Complaints against police
are handled at the local level. There are some national or
regional organizations which will help individuals with the complaint
process, but the actual complaint is filed at the local level of the
agency involved. |
| What about the FBI? I've heard of
them being involved in the investigation of police misconduct. |
The FBI has jurisdiction to investigate allegations
of certain
types of police misconduct which involve violations of a person's
civil rights. The local FBI office or an attorney can advise
whether a specific situation meets the requirements for FBI
involvement. |
©2004 -
2008 by
Police Practices Consulting LLC, Louisville, KY USA
Web Template by Sandy Bowen
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Police Practices Consulting LLC
9462 Brownsboro Rd
# 172
Louisville KY 40241-1118
TEL: 502-413-5223
FAX: 502-805-0730
Consultants to
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