How do I make a complaint with internals affairs about a local police department?

Question

Miss handling of tazers and mace while the inmate was already in the police car. Miss handling of emergency assistance to an inmate.

Answer 1

You could go to the station and file a complaint in most places. But be careful with that, because police generally don't like it and try to look out for each other.

The best thing to do, if you witnessed this is contact that person's attorney.

Answer 2

You should contact the agency and find out the number for their Internal Affairs Department. They may even be listed in the phone book in the government listings. Any department of a decent size is going to have an Internal Affairs Office. You need to call that office and make your complaint. Before you call, make sure you have all of your information straight; date, time, officers' names if possible, prisoner's name. You will need to leave your name. It would be better if you did not appear to be overly emotional. That doesn't fly with cops. They will investigate the complaint thoroughly. It's in their best interest to get to the truth. Regardless of what you hear on TV or on the Web, most police officers are good people, and take pride in doing things right.

Any other technique for handling a complaint, like calling the news is not really an effective way to get this taken seriously. If you call the news or whatever, you will seem like a crackpot just trying to cause trouble.

If you did not witness this incident yourself, you may want to keep in mind that the person who told you this may not have told you the complete truth especially if you heard it from the person who was being arrested. This happens often. The investigation will bring this out. More than likely, there were other witnesses to the incident besides the arrestee and the officers. They will be interviewed regarding the situation. A full investigation will be done so as to either completely exonerate the officers or find them in violation of their department's standard operating procedures or the law. That is what internal affairs does. There is not much gray area when dealing with an I.A. investigation. At any rate, you will have a better grasp of what really happened if you handle the complaint correctly.

Answer 3

In California, 148PC dictates that all police agencies have an Internal Affairs division and that they take and investigate all complaints. If a command officer refuses to take a complaint, they can be charged with a crime, forfeit all pension rights, and lose the right to be a public employee for life (and a $10K fine).

Believe me, most police prefer a tough IA division over the alternative which is a citizens review board.

In order to make a complaint, call the IA department of your local police and fill out a complaint form. Remember, a making a false complaint is a crime (and just because the police cannot substantiate the complaint doesn't mean it was false - the police have to prove in front a jury that you willfully made false statements which is next to impossible to prove). If you cannot get a hold of IA, ask for a LT or above - or the watch commander. Don't be an a** - be direct, tell your story and sign the statement. They will investigate the allegation, and either come back with sustained (true), unfounded (not true in their opinion), or unknown (cannot determine). If it is not investigated to your satisfaction, you then can ask the states attorney general to investigate it.

If it is really serious, then I would contact an attorney and perhaps bring it to the media. Nothing makes the cops squirm more than being on TV.

Answer 4

First of course it is your opinion that it was mis handled. beleive me the police officer never wants to use mace in his police car, it makes it almost impossible to use that car for days because of the smell and order.

They don't even like to put subjects into thier car after they have been sprayed outside the car.

Next if the person is being arrested they are not an inmate, correctional officers handle inmates,

But you call up the local police department and ask for an internal affairs department, many smaller departments will not have one, but merely have a supervisor that would investigate.

If they used mace on a suspect inside the car it was because he was refusing to allow them to seat belt them, or was trying to kick the window out or something,

Answer 5

Contact the ACLU american civil liberties union Or look up a civil rights attorny in New York Ron Kuby Do a search on yahoo.
They will get IAD involved for you. That is certianly improper use of taseres if the suspect is already under control and cuffed. No matter how aggravting the acussed may be or what the crime he and we are still considered innocent untill proven guilty. These laws are in place to protect all of us from unfair treatment and abuse from the people that are trusted to protect us. Not all police are bad but these things must not be tolorated as it affects the ones that uphold the rights we hold so dearly.

Answer 6

you may think it was miss handling but it probably wasn't, there really isn't any way to miss use a taser and mace while in a squad car. maybe the suspect was in the car doing something and the police told the suspect to stop or be maced or tazed. the person didn't stop so the maced or tazed the suspect. that is not miss use. and most squads have cameras filming inside the cars now when they have suspects in them. so who ever told you they were mistreated is probably lying.

Answer 7

Call your local tv station. They will get this on the air and bring attention to the matter. Let the Mayor and Chief of Police see the report then Internal Affairs Division (IAD) will have to investigate.

Answer 8

I'm really not sure, but I guess you' call your local Police Station and tell them you'd like to make a complaint with Internal Affairs and tell them why. They should be able to tell you exactly what you need to do.

Answer 9

You don't make a complaint with internal affairs, you make a complaint through the ACLU or a Civil Liberties oriented attorney.

Answer 10

You must be an amazingly stupid person.....if you have to ask on yahoo how to call the police and file a compliant. Stupid people can't file complaints sweetheart!