LSPD || OFFICER MISCONDUCT COMPLAINTS

[Steven Adams]

LOS SANTOS POLICE DEPARTMENT
OFFICER MISCONDUCT COMPLAINTS

Vision and objectives:

In the Los Santos Police Department, officers are expected to make split-second decisions in situations they encounter and take the most appropriate course of action. The overwhelming majority of the encounters police officers have with the public result in the satisfactory resolution of the problem. In the face of danger or great stress, police-citizen encounters become increasingly complex, but even in those situations, the majority are resolved without complaint. However, on occasion, members of the public believe officers have exceeded their authority, acted inappropriately or have simply not treated them properly. Therefore, it is of critical importance to have a system in place that allows the public to bring these concerns to the attention of the Internal Affairs Division.

The system must create a sense of confidence on the part of the public that their complaint will be taken seriously, properly investigated, and that officer behaviour inconsistent with department values, policies and procedures is corrected. An effective system for addressing citizen complaints and concerns provides the police department with important feedback on the quality of services delivered to the community.

The system must also provide officers with the confidence that complaints will be investigated within a reasonable timeframe and that they will be treated fairly with due process. To do their work effectively, police officers must also know they will be supported when their behaviour is consistent with department expectations. Though most complaints are lodged because of the belief that the officer's behaviour was not appropriate, people occasionally use the complaint system as revenge against the officer or as leverage against criminal charges.

The system must be designed to provide management information to the police department. This information is important in understanding the Department's responsiveness to the community. It is also useful in identifying areas where policy, practices and training might be improved.


Complaint reception:
This first and essential step consists of filling out an Officer Misconduct Complaint form and sending it to the Internal Affairs Division.

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[center][img width=200]https://i.imgur.com/1tczBwJ.png[/img][/center]
[hr][/hr][center][size=14pt][b]OFFICER MISCONDUCT COMPLAINT[/b][/size]
[size=12pt][b]INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION
LOS SANTOS POLICE DEPARTMENT[/b][/size][/center][hr][/hr]

[b][size=12pt]1. Reporting Party[/size][/b]
[b]1.1. Name:[/b] Firstname Lastname
[b]1.2. Phone Number:[/b]
[b]1.3. Address:[/b]

[b]1.4. Department (If Applicable):[/b] Department Name
[b]1.5. Rank (If Applicable):[/b] Rank Within Agency

[b][size=12pt]2. Reported Employee(s)[/size][/b]
[b]2.1. Name(s):[/b] Firstname Lastname (add or remove as required, if unknown write "Unknown")
[b]2.2. Badge Number(s):[/b] ###### (add or remove as required, if unknown write "Unknown")

[b]2.3. Callsign(s):[/b] Callsign (add or remove as required, if unknown write "Unknown")
[b]2.4. Description(s):[/b] Detailed description of employee if no badge number, callsign, or name is known. Include any evidence that may be used to identify the employee (if the reported employee(s) can be identified, then do not fill this part).


[b][size=12pt]3. Incident[/size][/b]
[b]3.1. Date(s) and Time(s):[/b] DD/MM/YYYY HH:MM
[b]3.2. Location(s) of Incident(s):[/b]

[b]3.3. Detailed Description of Event(s):[/b] Detail the reported incident and explain the reported employee's alleged violation(s)

[b]3.4. Witnesses:[/b] Include any witnesses, other officers, or supervisors that were present. Include their contact information, if known.

[b]3.5. Evidence:[/b] Include any evidence you have (e.g. phone recordings)

[spoiler=TYPE OF EVIDENCE][/spoiler]


[b][size=12pt]4. Information[/size][/b]
[b]4.1. Requested Restitution:[/b] Detail your requested restitution (e.g. have charges overturned and removed, monetary compensation, and so on)

[b]4.2. Additional Information:[/b] Detail any additional information or concerns


[b][size=12pt]5. Declaration[/size][/b]
[b]5.1.[/b] By submitting this complaint and signing below, the signer and reporting party hereby permit the Los Santos Police Department to conduct a background investigation of the signer (and the reporting party), if deemed necessary by the Department, and to contact any person(s) or agency who may add to or aid in this investigation. Furthermore, if applicable, the signer authorises persons, firms, agencies and institutions on this form to release or confirm information pertinent to them and/or the investigation, and any statements they have made as included in the complaint.

Whilst the Los Santos Police Department will attempt to keep the signer and the reporting party's identity undisclosed to accused employees, or other relevant persons, the signer understands that the Department may be required to either disclose their identity, disclose parts of this form, disclose any evidence attached, or any combination of the aforementioned to any appropriate parties if deemed necessary by the Department. The signer understands that the scope of the internal investigation launched as a result of the complaint is not limited merely to the allegations made against the accused employees.

Furthermore, the signer agrees that if they attempt to withdraw their report in any shape, way, or form regardless of what medium is used and regardless if the withdrawal request is fulfilled or not that they shall forfeit any restitution that they requested, are requesting, and/or any restitution that would've been awarded if the investigation from the report is sustained against the reported employee(s) and the circumstances surrounding the incident would call for such restitution.

In signing this agreement, the signer acknowledges and represents that they have read the Declaration, understand it, and sign it voluntarily as a part of their own free act and deed; no oral representations, statements, or inducements, apart from the foregoing signature and agreement, have been made. The signer hereby certifies that the details that have been provided in the complaint are true to the best of their knowledge, and do not include any misleading or false statements. The signer confirms that they have read the entirety of the Officer Misconduct Complaint document and confirms that the complaint and contents within are in line with the regulations stipulated within the information document.


[b]Signature:[/b] Signature
[b]Date:[/b] DD/MM/YYYY
[hr][/hr]

Internal investigation:
Only after a thorough and impartial investigation can an informed decision be made as to a complaint's proper disposition. Decisions based upon such an investigation will support the credibility of the department among its ranks and the public at large. Once a complaint is validated, the Internal Affairs Division launches an internal investigation with the officer in question. Investigators are expected to do their best to arrive at a logical conclusion.


Final disposition and notification:
After interviewing the complainant, all witnesses and the subject officer, and reviewing relevant reports and documents, gathering evidence and conducting other measures as appropriate, the investigator must then submit a report to the Commanding Officer summarising the matter and indicating the appropriate disposition. Possible dispositions include:

1. Exonerated: The alleged incident did occur, but the actions of the officer were justified, legal and proper.
2. Sustained: The investigation disclosed sufficient evidence to prove the allegation, and the actions of the officer violated a provision of the agency's rules and regulations or procedures.
3. Not sustained: The investigation failed to disclose sufficient evidence to clearly prove or disprove the allegation.
4. Unfounded: The alleged incident did not occur.

The complainant and the reported party are both informed in writing of the conclusion of the investigation.


Disciplinary measures:
If the complaint is deemed to be sustained, the officer in question becomes liable to disciplinary action, imposed by the Division. It is worth noting that several factors are taken into consideration when determining the best possible disciplinary approach to the situation. These factors include: relatively new experience, background of the reported officer, and the degree of harm.


Concerns and questions:
Any concern, inquiry or question regarding the complaint system of the Los Santos Police Department may be forwarded privately to the following:

Commanding Officer of the Internal Affairs Division
Commander Frank Slade