Complaint Process

Complaint Procedure

Complaints must be submitted to Internal Affairs.

Statement

The overall integrity of the University Police Department depends upon the integrity of each individual employee. The public image and reputation of the department will be determined in part by its diligence in responding to allegations and reports of misconduct against the department or its employees. The University Police Department is committed to high standards and all employees share the responsibility of maintaining the Department's reputation.

Any type of internal investigation within a police organization will have substantial impact upon the agency, reaching beyond the scope of the employees who are the focus of the investigation. When an internal affairs process is consistent and functions properly, credibility within the organization will increase, fostering positive morale and values.

The internal affairs process, at both the line and staff levels, provides the Chief of Police and supervisors with a means of regularly assessing the agency's efficiency and effectiveness, and provides necessary information for planned change. The internal affairs process examines not only the conduct of individual employees of the department but also the various procedures and rules of conduct which impact employee performance.

Equally, the department desires to protect its employees from the consequences of false accusations. A strong citizen complaint review and investigative process will reveal the veracity or falseness of a complaint. It is therefore to the benefit of the community, the department, and the profession of law enforcement that all allegations of employee or department misconduct be promptly investigated.

POLICY

It is the policy of this department that all complaints against employees or the department received from any source, whether inside or outside the department, will be documented and investigated. It is the intent of this policy to:

1. protect the employee,the community, and the department;
2. identify and correct inappropriate behavior;
3. identify and remedy procedural problems; and
4. enhance the profession of law enforcement.

Filing a complaint

Any person or persons may file a complaint agaisnt any employee(s) of the Texas A&M University Police Department

Incidents involving a difference of opinion between a police officer and a citizen solely over their guilt or innocence of an offence shall not be investigated officially. Complainants in such cases should consider pursuing adjudication through the court system.

Walk-in Complaints - Persons coming to the department to file a complaint shall be referred to a supervisor or an administrator. The supervisor or administrator will listen to the complaint.

(1) Each complainant will be given a Citizen Complaint Form packet, which includes the Cover letter, CC1 and CC1A form.
(2) In order for the complaint to be formally accepted, the complaint must, under notary oath, complete and sign UPD Form CC1.
(3) Once the complainant is given the UPD Form CC1, they will be allowed to complete it while at the Department or may return it in person or by mail at a later date.
(4) All CC1 Forms must be returned to the Department within 10 business days.
(5) If a complainant has already completed a statement, they will also need to complete a CC1 Form and indicate on the form that their statement is attached.

Telephone Complaints - If a citizen phones the Department to make a complaint, they will be connected with a supervisor or administrator. The supervisor or administrator will listen to their complaint.

(1) The supervisor or administrator shall ask for the complainant's address, and advise the complainant that a citizen complaint packet will be mailed to them if they wish to file a formal complaint.
(2) The complainant's name and address will be forwarded to the Internal Affairs Coordinator so that a packet may be mailed to them.

Complaints Received by Mail - Complaints received in the mail (including the original envelope) shall be forwarded to the Internal Affairs Coordinator. The Internal Affairs Coordinator will copy the compalint and mail the original complaint and a Citizen Complaint packet to the complainant.

E-mail Complaints - The recipient of the e-mail will acknowledge receipt of the complaint and request the complainant's mailing address. Thi sinformation will be forwarded to the Internal Affairs Coordinator, who will mail the citizen a complaint packet.

Overview of the complaint process

(1) Complaint filed.
(2) Complainant notified in writing of receipt of complaint.
(3) Complaint assigned to investigator.
(4) Investigation completed within 30 days, unless an extension is granted.
(5) Findings forwarded up the chain of command.
(6) If appropriate, disciplinary action is taken.
(7) Complainant is informed of the results of the investigation of the complaint.