Complaint Summary Report for Calendar Year 2007 (CALEA Standard 52.1.5)

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The purpose of this report is to analyze and summarize the data provided by the department’s tracking of complaints against its members.  This report is the result of a review of the (9) complaints received this calendar year.  The data analyzed shows the type of investigation engendered by the complaint, the resolution of the complaint, the average resolution period, and consequences of the complaint for the member. 

 

All complaints are referred directly to the Chief of Police.  Complaints can be lodged in person, by mail, or by phone.  In the absence of the Chief, the shift supervisor, or acting shift supervisor can take a statement regarding a complaint and forward the complaint to the Chief by the next working day.  The Chief of police will assign an investigator or supervisor to complete an investigation regarding the complaint and forward a subsequent report to the Chief regarding the investigation outcome (GO 52 III C. 1-4).

 

In 2007, officers responded to over 14,318 calls for service.  They affected 444 arrests and issued 820 Virginia Uniform Summons’.  These numbers equate to almost 16,000 contacts with citizens.  There was a decrease of approximately 4,000 calls for service between 2006 and 2007.  There was also a significant decrease in the number of complaints lodged against officers between 2006 and 2007, from 19 to 9.   

 

For 2007, this is equivalent to 1 complaint every 1,591 citizen contacts.  This number is miniscule compared to the undocumented daily contacts that officers have with citizens on a daily basis to include field and telephone contacts.  Thus, 9 complaints were referred by the Chief for investigation regarding the actions of officers of the police department.

 

Agency policy defines the disposition type regarding complaints made against department employees.  The aforementioned dispositions are defined as follows:

 

Exonerated – allegations have been verified, but actions resulted from adherence to proper and appropriate police procedures and techniques

Sustained – allegations true and disciplinary action taken 

Not Sustained – unable to verify the truth of the matters under investigation

Unfounded – no truth to the allegations  

 

Of the 9 complaints made officers were exonerated in 7 instances.  One complaint involved (3) employees—one who was exonerated and two where the allegations were sustained (C-006).

 

In the first of the four sustained complaints (C-005), the officer was verbally counseled for interrupting a class in order to speak to a witness in a case.

 

The next two sustained complaints (C-006), a Police Officer and a Communications Officer were verbally counseled for not providing information to a person making a complaint. 

 

In the fourth sustained complaint, the complainant was reimbursed for (2) concert tickets that were seized from him after he was accused of soliciting without a permit.  The subject did not make a complaint against the officer, but just wanted to be reimbursed.

 

No discernible, negative patterns on the part of officers, or improper procedural issues were identified as a result of this review.  The review makes evident that complaints received by this department are handled with requisite gravity and concern.  The department will continue to monitor the types of complaints being made against the agencies employees and provide guidance and training that seeks to enhance relationships with the community we serve. 

 

In addition to the (9) complaints received by the Police Department in 2007, there were (2) internal affairs investigations conducted by supervisory and/or command staff personnel.  Thus, there were (11) incidents involving Police Officer conduct that were investigated in 2007.  This equates to about 1 in every 1455 citizen contacts necessitating an internal investigation.  This number is minute compared to the undocumented daily contacts officers have with citizens on a daily basis. 

 

Of the (2) internal affairs investigations assigned in 2007, one was Sustained; the other Not Sustained.

 

As indicated, there was a significant decrease in the number of internal investigations to citizen contacts in 2007.