Citizen Complaints

The investigation of a citizen’s complaint is to ensure the integrity of the agency is maintained through an Internal Investigation process where objectivity, fairness, and justice are assured by intensive and impartial investigation and review to clear the innocent, establish guilt of wrongdoers, and facilitate fair, suitable, and consistent disciplinary action. All Internal Investigations will protect the civil rights of all concerned.   

When a citizen has a complaint:

1. The Shift Supervisor will be notified to speak with the complainant. A citizen complaint form will be given to the complainant and the investigation process fully explained. The Shift Supervisor will ensure that the form is correctly completed.
2. The Shift Supervisor will forward the completed citizens complaint form to the Chief of Police in a sealed envelope.
3. The Chief of Police will review the complaint and assign the appropriate personnel to investigate the complaint.

Complainant Notification of Status

The Chief of Police shall inform the citizen filing the complaint of the results of the internal investigation and action taken in regards to their complaint in writing. All efforts will be expended to finalize the internal investigation within thirty (30) days, unless that time limit would jeopardize the investigation. 

False Allegation of Peace Officer Misconduct, 2921.15 of the Ohio Revised Code

 It is a crime in Ohio for a person to knowingly file a false allegation against a police officer alleging misconduct. The law states:

No person shall knowingly file a complaint against a peace officer that alleges that the peace officer engaged in misconduct in the performance of the officer’s duties if the person knows that the allegation is false. Whoever violates this section is guilty of making a false allegation of peace officer misconduct, a misdemeanor of the first degree.   The maximum sentence is six months confinement and the maximum fine of $1,000.00. 

Questions can be emailed to Chief Charles R. Lindsey