Complaint Process
Who may file a complaint?
Any person who witnesses or has direct knowledge of suspected
misconduct may contact the Internal Affairs Unit to initiate a
complaint. It doesn't matter whether the person making the
complaint was directly involved in the incident. Anonymous
complaints will be taken. If you decide to remain anonymous,
please ensure to provide information about the misconduct that
can be proven by other evidence.
How is a complaint filed?
Generally, complaints are filed through the supervisor of the
involved employee. If the employee's supervisor is not known,
the complaint may be filed with the Internal Affairs Unit. A
complaint may be filed in person, by telephone, fax,
online form, or letter. A complaint may also be filed by
printing and completing a copy of the
Citizen
Complaint Form (PDF) and mailing it in.
| Telephone: |
480-644-4440 |
| Fax: |
480-644-5447 |
| Address: |
Mesa Police Department
Internal Affairs
P.O. Box 1466
Mesa, AZ 85211 |
If you choose not to use the
Citizen Complaint Form (PDF), please ensure written
correspondence includes the following information:
- Date, time, and location of the incident
- Your name, address (including zip code), and daytime
phone number
- Mesa Police Department case number
- Name of Department employee(s) involved
- A brief description of the complaint
When making a complaint, simply relate the facts as you know
them and be mindful that you will be asked specific questions
regarding the incident.
Who investigates the complaint?
Complaints filed with the Internal Affairs Unit are reviewed
by the unit commander. The complaint may be referred to the
employee's supervisor for investigation or it can be assigned to
an Internal Affairs investigator. You will receive written
notification when your complaint has been received.
The investigation of the complaint will focus on the conduct
of the employee, not criminal or civil charges against you. Any
criminal or civil charges against the complainant are a separate
issue which must be decided by the appropriate court.
After the investigation is completed...
You will be notified, by mail, the outcome of the
investigation. Following is a list of findings:
|
Unfounded |
The investigation
revealed no facts to support that the incident
complained of actually occurred.
|
| Exonerated |
The evidence shows that the alleged
conduct did occur, but did not violate MPD policies,
procedures or training.
|
|
Sustained |
The evidence shows that
the alleged conduct did occur and the actions of the
officer violated MPD policies, procedures or training.
|
| Not
Resolved |
(Insufficient evidence) Where
there are insufficient facts to decide whether the
alleged misconduct occurred.
|
|
Policy Failure |
The evidence shows that
the alleged conduct did occur, but the actions of the
officer were consistent with the MPD policies,
procedures or training. |
Only the Chief of Police shall have
the authority to exercise discretion to.ate from this policy
in the best interest of the Department.
What is the disciplinary process?
If a complaint is sustained, corrective
training may occur. Disciplinary action may be taken; this can
range from no penalty to dismissal. The matter will be handled
administratively. City, state, and federal personnel laws govern
an employee's privacy rights. Certain information contained in
disciplinary records may not be public record.
Can a person get in trouble for filing a
complaint?
Not if you are truthful. The Mesa Police
Department will not take action against a person who has acted
in good faith. However, be aware that per Arizona State Law,
A.R.S. § 13-2907.01, it is a misdemeanor to knowingly make a
false statement to a law enforcement agency.