Civilian complaints - Internal Investigations

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Civilian Complaint Procedures

Civilian Complaints - Internal Investigations

The Guilford Police Department has established a system for receiving, processing and investigating complaints of allegations of abuse of authority, corruption, brutality, use of force, breach of civil rights, criminal misconduct or other non-criminal misconduct against employees of the Department from citizens outside the Department and personnel within the department.

It is the policy of the Guilford Police Department to record and investigate all citizen complaints and internal investigations against the Department or its employees. The Chief of Police, or his designee, will oversee internal affairs functions of the Guilford Police Department.

A complaint shall be accepted whether from the victim, an eyewitness or other concerned person. Complaints shall be accepted in person, by letter or by telephone, whether or not the complainant offers their name. All police personnel receiving such complaints shall be courteous, responsive, helpful and adhere strictly to established procedures.

Civilian complainants shall be provided complaint form GPD 13a on which to lodge their complaint(s). Department personnel will use GPD 62 to report the department violation to the Chief of Police. Everyeffort will be made to have the person making such complaint swear to the truthfulness of theirallegations.

At the time of the complaint is received every effort will be made to obtain the name of witnesses, if any, and any other information that will support the allegations made.

Procedure for Receiving Complaints

All complaints received, whether by telephone, written communications or walk-ins, shall be referred to the shift supervisor, who shall reduce the complaint to writing and forward a copy to the Chief of Police.

The complainant, when known, shall be requested to swear to the truthfulness of the allegations they are making and shall be warned of the penalty of perjury and making a false statement. (GPD 13a). If the complainant refuses to swear to the truthfulness of the allegations, they will then be asked to sign the complaint without swearing to the truthfulness of the contents. The refusal of any complainant to swear to or sign the form on which the allegations are set forth is to be noted in a memo to the Chief of Police by the member receiving the complaint.

The investigative procedure will be explained to the complainant as well as members of the community, when asked, and they will be given a copy of the complaint as a receipt.

Any Police Department member that is approached in the field by a complainant expressing allegations of police misconduct, shall immediately notify a field supervisor and request the complainant to awaittheir arrival.

The links above to form GPD-13A (Cicilian Complaint Form) are in PDF format. You need Adobe® Acrobat reader to view and print this file.

If you wish to make a complaint you may view and print this form and present it at the police department.
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