Form 52.1.5 - Citizen Complaint Form printable pdf download

St. Bernard Police Department

4700 Vine Street St. Bernard Ohio 45217

Phone 513-242-2727 Fax 513-482-7234

Citizen Complaint Form

Citizen complaint forms will be completed IAW Chapter 52 Internal Affairs. Complaint forms should be completed with the assistance of a

Supervisor. The purpose of this form is for citizens to notify the department of complaints about our personnel. It is our policy to promptly investi-

gate allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing by department members and to take appropriate action as to discipline, policy change, or exoneration.

Depending on the severity of the complaint, there are two methods of complaint resolution. The first and most common option is the Citizen Com-

plaint Resolution Process (CCRP) and the second is an Internal Affairs Investigation. Please complete the information below so that we can process

your complaint in an expeditious manner. Do I have to give my name on the complaint? No, however, anonymous complaints can be difficult to

investigate and thus the conclusion may not be what you expected. Also, if the investigation results in criminal action against the employee, you

may be needed for successful prosecution. Information provided will be handled in a confidential manner. Note– Complaints of Innocence vs.

Guilty – In situations involving only the contention of innocence of a charge placed by a police officer you should not file a complaint but rather

should seek judicial redress through established court procedures.

Report Number _____________________________

Date of Incident ________________

Time of Incident ________________

Location of Incident ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Member of the Department who is the Subject of the Complaint _______________________________________________________________________________

Details of Complaint (Use additional sheets if necessary)

Complainant’s Personal Information

Name ________________________________________________________ Soc___________________________ DOB _________ Race _____ Sex ______

Home Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Home Phone __________________________ Pager _____________________ Cell Phone _________________

Employer/Occupation ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Work Phone ____________________________

Witness Information

What will happen now? If the investigation shows misconduct, the officer will be disciplined according to the seriousness of the rules violation.

Discipline actions range from oral reprimands to suspension or in extreme cases, termination. If the allegation is criminal in nature, the case will be

presented for prosecution. Other appropriate remedies include policy changes and retraining. If the investigation shows there were no violations we

will discuss the matter in detail so that you have an understanding and can provide feedback. Minor complaints are often handled immediately. The

investigation of serious charges may take up to thirty days unless circumstances necessitate additional time. Once the investigation has been com-

pleted you will be informed of the results in a face to face meeting in the CCRP or by letter if the circumstances warrant an internal investigation

depending upon the violation. Please ensure that the above information is as accurate as possible so that we can contact you without delay. The su-

pervisor/member assisting you with this complaint will provide you a copy of page one for your records. If you have any questions regarding this

complaint refer to the report number at the top of this form and you will be directed to the Supervisor in charge of the investigation.

Warning on False Complaints—It is against the law (ORC 2921.15) to knowingly make a false complaint against a peace officer alleging that the

officer engaged in misconduct, if you know that the allegation is false. If you make a false complaint against an officer you will be prosecuted. This

offense is an M1.

This statement is a true account of the incident and I would like this incident investigated by the St. Bernard Police Department and provided feedback.

Complainant Signature _____________________________________________________________________ Date/Time ________________________________

Person Receiving Complaint Signature _______________________________________________________ Date/Time ________________________________

Form 52.1.5 Citizen Complaint Page 1 (As Of 2/18/07)

Distribution: Original to Supervisor Copy Page 1 to Complainant

CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT