Complaint Process

Any person who witnesses or has direct knowledge of suspected misconduct by a member of the Mesa Police Department may contact Internal Affairs 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.

Complaints filed with Internal Affairs 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 notification when your complaint has been received. Depending on the severity of the allegation(s), investigators must complete their investigation within 90-180 calendar days of receiving the complaint.

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.

You will be notified, by phone or mail, the outcome of the investigation. Following is a list of findings:

Only the Chief of Police shall have the authority to exercise discretion to deviate from this policy in the best interest of the Department.

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.

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, Pursuant to Section 13-2907.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, it is a class 1 misdemeanor to knowingly make to a law enforcement agency a false, fraudulent or unfounded report or statement or to knowingly misrepresent a fact for the purpose of interfering with the orderly operation of a law enforcement agency or misleading a peace officer.

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 Internal Affairs.

To ensure your complaint is responded to promptly, we encourage you to use the Mesa Police Department Public Portal. As a complainant, you will be kept up to date with email and text notifications upon receipt of your complaint, as it is investigated, and when an outcome has been determined. A complaint may be filed in person, by telephone, or letter.

Phone: 480-644-2010

Mailing Address:
Mesa Police Department
Professional Standards
P.O. Box 1466
Mesa, AZ 85211

If you choose not to use the Mesa Police Department Public Portal, 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
• E-mail Address
• 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.

If you are requesting to file a police report regarding a criminal matter (e.g.; credit card fraud, vehicle burglary, shoplifting, etc.), please visit Report a Non-Emergency Crime.