I Want to File a Complaint! The Importance of the Civilian Complaint Alleging Police Misconduct. How this Single, Solitary Action Can Pave the Way Toward the Success or Failure of an Officer, the Department, and the City.

Light 'Em Up

When we last spoke with our special and honored guest, we were being actively downloaded in 104 countries. Now, it's 112!
Welcome to this edition of Light ‘Em Up.
We provide you with the facts, never the fiction — we have an exclusive in-depth interview with one of our law enforcement subject matter experts who has served in the capacity as a high-ranking police administrator with a smaller, rural police department in the State of Mississippi just for you!
Again, he speaks candidly on the promise of his anonymity, delivering the unvarnished truth that you rarely get when the topic is ways to improve the process and processes of law enforcement’s service delivery with the public. Law enforcement can be very guarded with the information that it shares with the public. While they are public servants — far too often they hold the public in contempt and it shows with the levels of trust among many communities, especially of color.
We dig deep and draw down on the civilian complaint process as it relates to law enforcement and the public. Have you ever filed a complaint or wanted to do so against a police officer? A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction.
Filing a complaint is a means of governmental redress — and one of the most basic tenants at the root and foundation of our 1st amendment constitutional rights. The receipt of a complaint should trigger the Internal Affairs process — so a smartly crafted internal protocol is essential.
Our special guest stressed the fact that “the complaint itself serves as a crucial piece of documentation and it becomes a discoverable public record which can be subpoenaed if necessary”.
"A complaint forces the hand of police supervisory officials to make a statement as to whether they approve of or sanction the official actions taken by their officers under the color of authority."
This process shines an intense, antiseptic light which examines the internal standards, policies, practices and procedures upon any given law enforcement agency. Conducting a thorough, accurate, relevant objective and timely investigation into every complaint can never be a bad thing — regardless of its ultimate outcome or the conclusions sustained.
The transparency, honesty and openness of the Minneapolis, MN, Chief of Police, Medaria Arradondo helped to assist him in keeping his job for 2 full years following the explosive, deadly actions taken by former MPD officer Derek Chauvin resulting in the death of George Floyd.
To do otherwise in the complaint process is highly risky behavior which can easily and quickly prove to be a death knell for the officer, department, city and Chief of Police.
The public should be encouraged that filing a complaint:
- Helps to make police brass aware of a given situation so that they have an opportunity to correct any alleged improper behavior.

- Generates evidence in order to provide the best look at capturing a moment in time into what the current state of affairs are within the department.

- Can help shine an antiseptic light on and weed out the bad apples before it is too late, as one bad apple can spoil it for the entire bunch.
It’s unfortunate but reality that in today’s society — where everyone is a photojournalist and law enforcement is under an intense eye of scrutiny — you can be collectively judged by the actions of the least of you.
The purpose of taking a complaint isn’t to win an argument with the complainant — it is to better understand the situation that is being contested and evaluate how the law enforcement agency is functioning as the information is filtered up the chain of command.
Everything has a cost, even the truth.
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