NORTH PROVIDENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Transcription

1 NORTH PROVIDENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT Citizen Cmmendatin and Cmplaint Prcedure Mayr Charles A. Lmbardi Directr f Public Safety Cl. David P. Tikian Paul M. Martellini Chief f Plice We are cmmitted t prviding a safe and rderly envirnment in ur Twn thrugh prfessinalism, dedicatin, and active partnerships with the cmmunity, and cncern fr individual dignity. This infrmatin has been prepared t acquaint yu with the peratin f the Nrth Prvidence Plice Department citizen cmmendatin and cmplaint prcess. The missin f the department is really quite simple t earn and prtect the public trust. The men and wmen f the department understand that ur greatest resurce and asset is the supprt and assistance given by the cmmunity we serve. Naturally, this relatinship, r partnership as we think f it, with the citizens f Nrth Prvidence is smething we must cnstantly strive t prtect. This is a respnsibility shared by every member f the department and it is the primary task f the citizen cmplaint prcess. Here are sme f the mst cmmn questins and cncerns expressed by the public abut the citizen s cmmendatin and cmplaint prcess. COMMENDATIONS When a cmmendatin is received verbally, it will be dcumented and frwarded thrugh the chain f cmmand t the Chief f Plice. Letters f cmmendatin frm citizens are psted fr all department emplyees t view. The emplyees f the Nrth Prvidence Plice Dept. appreciate the effrt and cnsideratin f cncerned citizens wh take the time t cmmend ur emplyees. HOW DO I MAKE A COMPLAINT? Cmplaints will be accepted frm any surce and may be made annymusly, in persn, r by telephne. While the department des accept annymus cmplaints, an investigatin generally cannt prceed based slely n annymus uncrrbrated infrmatin, unless the allegatin can be cnfirmed by an independent surce. Preferably, cmplaints shuld be made in persn by the individual directly cncerned in the allegatin against the emplyee. The department accepts cmplaints made against plice fficers, civilian emplyees, and ther wrkers and agents f the department. A citizen can initially speak t any supervisr, r the Prfessinal Standards Unit, abut an allegatin r the cmplaint prcess, but the citizen will be referred t the immediate supervisr r the Prfessinal Standards Unit, depending upn the seriusness f the allegatin. As part f the investigatin, yu may be asked t give a swrn statement. An appintment will be made fr yu, and

2 yu are free t bring with yu anyne f yur chsing. Yu will be treated curteusly and need nt fear any type f intimidatin r ther imprper behavir. When making a cmplaint, simply relate the facts as yu knw them; dn t attempt t add t r embellish yur cmplaint, and be mindful that yu will be asked specific questins regarding factual infrmatin WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I MAKE A COMPLAINT? If the cmplaint is fr a serius matter, such as unnecessary r excessive use f frce, false arrest r vilatin f a specific criminal statute, the Prfessinal Standards Unit will investigate the cmplaint. Less serius matters, such as rudeness, discurtesy, and minr infractins f the rules, regulatins, plicies r prcedures will be investigated by the emplyee s immediate supervisr. Investigatrs then frward the findings t the Chief f Plice. Based n the results, the cmplaint can either be sustained r nt sustained. If sustained, the Chief f Plice will make the final recmmendatin t the Directr f Public Safety fr the amunt and type f sanctin t be impsed upn the emplyee. Sanctins may include retraining, cunseling, reprimand, suspensin withut pay, transfer, reassignment, demtin, and/r dismissal. All decisins invlving disciplinary actin will be made in cnjunctin with the Law Enfrcement Officers Bill f Rights. IS SOMETHING DONE ON ALL COMPLAINTS? Yes. All cmplaints are initially dcumented n a Citizen Cmplaint Frm and thrughly examined and investigated cnsistent with departmental plicy and the Law Enfrcement Officer s Bill f Rights. WHAT DOES THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS UNIT DO? The Prfessinal Standards Unit has the respnsibility f investigating: Allegatins f unnecessary frce used by a member f the department in the perfrmance f duty. Any allegatin f criminal cnduct by a member f the department. Allegatins f false arrest. Allegatins f serius miscnduct r misbehavir. TO WHOM DOES THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS UNIT REPORT TO? Persnnel assigned t the Prfessinal Standards Unit reprt directly t the Chief f Plice. WHAT HAPPENDS AFTER AN INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED? After yur cmplaint has been investigated, yu will be ntified f the results by the investigating fficer. If yu are dissatisfied with the results f the investigatin, r the specific finding, yu may ask that anther agency review the investigatin. Depending n the type f allegatin, yu will be infrmed by ur Prfessinal Standards Unit f the mst apprpriate agency fr yu t cntact. Yu shuld als knw that making a cmplaint in n way limits yur ability r right t pursue any ther cmplaint frums if yu feel that yu have been wrnged. Every cmplaint that invlves a pssible vilatin f a law is frwarded t the Attrney General s Department fr review. WHAT ABOUT OTHER COMPLAINTS SUCH AS DISCOURTESY OR POOR SERVICE? These cmplaints are investigated by the emplyee s immediate supervisr and then frwarded t the Divisinal Cmmander fr recrding, review, and filing.

3 WHAT RIGHTS DO POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES HAVE WHEN A COMPLAINT IS MADE AGAINST THEM? All plice emplyees are prtected under their respective labr agreements and any applicable state and Federal statutes. Additinally, plice fficers are als prtected under the Law Enfrcement Officer s Bill f Rights. These prvisins prvide that emplyees shall nt be subjected t harassment, intimidatin, threats frm supervisrs, r unreasnable perids f interrgatin. They als have a right t cunsel r unin representatin during the investigatin. IS THERE ANY RISK TO ME WHEN I MAKE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A POLICE EMPLOYEE? N, unless yu deliberately make a false cmplaint against an fficer. In that case, yu may be prsecuted criminally and/r be held civilly liable. WILL THE POLICE REALLY BE IMPARTIAL WHEN THEY INESTIGATE THEIR OWN OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES? Yes, the questin ges right t the heart f what prfessinal plicing is all abut. We strive t ensure quality perfrmance frm all ur fficers and emplyees wh represent ur department and the Twn f Nrth Prvidence. We want the public t knw that we d nt tlerate miscnduct. Even perceived tlerance f emplyee miscnduct will lead t a breakdwn f the public trust which wuld adversely affect the ability f the plice department t functin prperly. DOES NORTH PROVIDENCE GET MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT ITS POLICE OFFICERS? N. Our fficers respnd t ver 30,000 calls fr service each year, handle ver 60,000 telephne calls, and experience thusands f ther service-related interactins between the public and the department s emplyees. Less than ne-half f ne percent result in cmplaints regarding emplyee s cnduct and behavir. The task f plicing tday s sciety is demanding and challenging. The Nrth Prvidence Plice Department will cntinue t demand the highest standards frm its emplyees. Realizing that it is nt pssible t enfrce the rules f sciety withut incurring sme animsity, we will endeavr t prtect ur emplyees frm unwarranted and false cmplaints, and prtect ur citizens frm unwarranted and inapprpriate mistreatment. Thrugh this entire prcess, we will wrk t maintain yur trust and supprt and develp a real wrking partnership with ur cmmunity. Nrth Prvidence Plice Department Prfessinal Standards Unit 1967 Mineral Spring Avenue Nrth Prvidence, RI (401) Private (401) Fax

4 Nrth Prvidence Plice Department Cmmendatin / Cmplaint Frm 1967 Mineral Spring Avenue Nrth Prvidence, R.I Office Use Only: IA#: Initials: Date: / / Instructins: If yu wuld like t praise a Nrth Prvidence Plice Department emplyee, r file a cmplaint against a plice emplyee, please write legibly and fill ut this frm. Persnal infrmatin will nt be disclsed t the public, unless required by law. Yu can submit this frm by mailing r returning it t the Nrth Prvidence Plice Department at the address given at the tp f this page. I wish t file a (please check ne): Cmmendatin (please fill ut the attached sheet f paper) Cmplaint If yu are filing a cmplaint, indicate the type f cmplaint yu wish t file (yu must check ne): Frmal Cmplaint: Invlves a serius allegatin f miscnduct, and I want my cmplaint fficially investigated, fr which discipline may be impsed, if the allegatin(s) are sustained. Infrmal Cmplaint: Invlves a minr cmplaint r cncern, and I nly want my cmplaint/cncerns n recrd. I understand it will be fr infrmatinal purpses nly, will nt be frmally investigated. Hwever the matter will be discussed with the emplyee(s) invlved. Infrmatin abut yu LAST NAME FIRST NAME M.I. DATE OF BIRTH STREET ADDRESS and APT# CITY STATE RI HOME PHONE WORK PHONE ( CELL PHONE ( ) - E. 00/00/00 ZIP CODE SEX M Are yu filing this n behalf f smene else? Yes N If Yes, then cmplete this sectin WHAT IS HIS/HER LAST NAME? FIRST NAME AGE SEX STREET ADDRESS and APT# CITY STATE ZIP CODE WHAT IS HIS/HER RELATIONSHIP TO YOU? HOME PHONE ( ) - WORK / CELL PHONE ( ) - Infrmatin abut the incident LOCATION OR ADDRESS OF INCIDENT DATE OF INCIDENT TIME OF INCIDENT WITNESS LAST Name FIRST NAME AGE WITNESS ADDRESS CITY STATE R.I. NAME OR ID# OF OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE NAME OR ID# OF OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE 00 SEX PHONE Nature f cmplaint: Check all that apply and briefly describe what happened n the attached sheet f paper Excessive and/r imprper use f frce Dishnesty and untruthfulness Sexual harassment Brutality Vilatin f civil rights Wrkplace vilence False arrest Bias-based prfiling Vilatin f criminal statutes Unlawful search and/r seizure Inapprpriate cnduct and/r behavir, such as rudeness, discurtesy, and ffensive language Vilatin f Department r Twn plicies, prcedures r rules Crruptin Department prcedures r tactics Grss Insubrdinatin I attest that the abve infrmatin is true and crrect t the best f my recllectin Signature: Date: / / The citizen has been prvided with a cpy f this frm and a Cmmendatin/Cmplaint brchure

5 FOR DEPARTMENT USE ONLY: T be cmpleted by the Supervisr r Unit receiving r initiating a cmplaint CATEGORY DESCRIPTION CLASS 1 CLASS 2 CLASS 3 CLASS 4 Allegatins that have the ptential f damaging the reputatin f the Department r its persnnel and generally include, but are nt limited t, allegatins f serius miscnduct, serius vilatins f Standards f Cnduct and ther written directives, r criminal cnduct. Allegatins that generally include, but are nt limited t, allegatins f a nn-serius nature and vilatins f Standards f Cnduct and ther written directives f a nn-serius nature. Minr cmplaints by a citizen desiring t make an infrmal cmplaint against an emplyee f a minr nature, generally invlving an emplyee s cnduct and/r behavir. Minr cmplaints by a citizen wh cntacts the Department questining r infrmally cmplaining abut a prcedure r tactic used by the Department r its emplyees Signature f Supervisr receiving / initiating the cmplaint OFFICER: ID#: DATE: / / Frward this reprt t yur n-duty Unit / Watch Cmmander fr review Signature f Unit / Watch Cmmander OFFICER: ID#: DATE: / / Frward this reprt t the Prfessinal Standards Unit after review by the Unit / Watch Cmmander T be cmpleted by the Prfessinal Standards Unit CASE ASSIGNED TO DATE ASSIGNED DATE COMPLETED UNIT / SHIFT LEVEL PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS UNIT NO INVESTIGATION NEEDED (3 r 4 nly) COMMENDATION ONLY T be cmpleted by the Chief f Plice FINDING (Refer t G.O ) DATE COMPLETED EXONERATED UNFOUNDED NOT SUSTAINED SUSTAINED MISCONDUCT NOT BASED ON ORIGINAL COMPLAINT COMPLAINT WITHDRAWN POLICY FAILURE Signature f Chief f Plice CHIEF OF POLICE: DATE: / /

6 Nrth Prvidence Plice Department Cmmendatin / Cmplaint Frm 1967 Mineral Spring Avenue Nrth Prvidence, R.I Office Use Only: IA#: Initials: Date: / / Instructins: Please describe what happened n this sheet f paper... I attest that the abve infrmatin is true and crrect t the best f my recllectin Signature: Date: / /