HPM 10.4 Citizen’s Complaint Investigations Flashcards
What is the purpose of the Citizen’s Complaint Investigations Manual?
Establish policy and provide departmental supervisors and managers with clear guidelines for accepting, investigating, reporting, and processing citizen’s complaints.
It is the policy of the Department that the citizen’s complaint process be utilized as what?
A management tool to provide the highest level of public service.
What are the three most typical ways the Department receives citizen’s complaints?
Verbally. In writing. In person.
When the Department receives at citizen’s complaint, what occurs?
The complaint will be acknowledged in a timely manner and an investigation will be initiated.
In what manner are complaints investigated?
In a thorough, fair, and impartial manner.
How are complainants notified of the investigation findings?
In writing.
What are the three classifications of citizen’s complaints?
Category I, Category II, and “Other”
What is a Category I complaint?
Excessive force, physical contact, criminal, racial, sexual, or immoral conduct, dishonesty, falsification of documents, and unethical conduct.
What is a Category II complaint?
Verbal misconduct, nonverbal misconduct, and/or complaints regarding matters not related to an employee’s conduct.
What is an “Other” complaint?
Complaints which may contain Category I or II allegations, but also meet the definition of the following complaints: Departmental complaint, Citation Validity, Rescinded complaint, Frivolous complaint.
What are some examples of non-complaints?
Traffic complaints. Vehicle storage/impound validity. Other agency complaints. Off-duty conduct.
A conclusion supported by a preponderance of all available evidence adequate to lead a reasonable and prudent person to reach the same conclusion is called what?
A finding.
How many complaint allegation findings are there?
Five.
What are the five allegation findings?
Sustained. Unintentional Error. Undetermined/No finding. Departmental. Exonerated.
What is an exonerated finding?
The employee did not commit the act (or omission), or did commit the act and it is deemed to be proper or within departmental policy.
What is a sustained finding?
The act (or omission) did occur, and it is deemed improper.
What is an unintentional error finding?
The act (or omission) did occur, and it is deemed improper, but the result of an employees honest mistake.
What is an undetermined/no finding?
Used only when the evidence or lack thereof, precludes the investigator from making a definitive judgment.
What is a departmental finding?
Used only when the employee’s actions are fully in compliance with departmental policy and/or procedure, but the policy/procedure itself is found to be erroneous or is the cause of the complainants concerns.
What is the only finding for a departmental complaint?
Departmental.
What term is used to describe an individual reportedly injured or offended by the actions of the Department or one of its employees?
Aggrieved Person.
What is the definition of an allegation?
A claim, assertion, or accusation of an act or omission that has not yet been proven to be factual.
What is an anonymous complaint?
Any complaint where the allegedly aggrieved person chooses to withhold his/her identity.
What is the definition of citation validity?
An allegation that a citation issued was invalid, or was at least partially inaccurate.
What is the definition of a frivolous complaint?
A complaint which is totally and completely without merit, or which is filed for the sole purpose of harassing an employee.
What is the information file?
Reference file maintained by Internal Affairs of complainants who have demonstrated a propensity for filing numerous false or frivolous complaints.
What is a legislative complaint?
A complaint which originates from a legislator’s office or the Office of the Governor, usually on behalf of a constituent.
What is a departmental complaint/allegation?
An allegation solely against a Department policy or procedure, and no employee misconduct is alleged.
If a complainant rescinds their complaint, does the Area commander still have to determine the validity of the allegations?
Yes.
What is a CHP 24O?
The “face page” of the complaint investigation package and is the primary method of complaint documentation.
What is a CHP 24OA?
Complaint control log. Used to initially document receipt of citizens’ complaints and to track investigation.
What is a CHP 24OB?
Citizen’s complaint information. Used by citizens to file complaints.
What is a CHP 24D?
Citizens’ complaint information (non-uniformed). Form used to file complaint against non-uniformed employees.
Can a person file a complaint against a uniformed employee via the internet?
No, only for non-uniformed employees.
Who is to be notified once a complaint has been received?
Notify a supervisor or command management.
How many days after the Department has been notified of a complaint shall the complainant be acknowledged by correspondence?
Within five business days (unless the complainant filed the complaint in person and info required was provided).
What is contained within the interim correspondence provided to a complainant?
A brief summary of the complainant’s allegations, which command will investigate, notification that an investigator will contact the complainant.
How should a complaint be forwarded to another command?
By phone, fax, e-mail, or memorandum to the proper command.
What is required to be given to all potential complainants?
CHP 24OB and 24OD.
Which complaint form are employees required to request a complainant to sign?
CHP24B, whenever complaint involves departmental peace officers.
How many days after receiving a CHP 24OB or CHP 24OD shall the complainant be requested to return a signed copy of it?
1 days.
Is the Department obligated to give the complainant a copy of his/her allegations?
Yes, can be put on back of CHP24B or CHP24D.
What should be done regarding complaints received by the Department against a member of an allied agency?
The complainant should be directed to the appropriate agency. The commander shall also forward all pertinent info to the allied agency.
The aggrieved party in a third party complaint shall be contacted directly (usually by mail) and asked their intentions with a requested turnaround of how many days?
3O days.
What is required for the Department to investigate an off-duty conduct complaint?
A nexus to employment by this Department was made by the employee.
Can employees of the Department make citizen’s complaints against other employees?
No.
Any complainant who makes a claim of monetary damages ($1,OOO or less) shall be provided with what?
CHP 287, Board of Control claim.
Can complainants request confidentiality?
Yes, but they shall be informed that the employee has the right to review a complaint upon completion and confidentiality may not be possible.
What is required if a command receives a legislative complaint that was not forwarded by Internal Affairs?
The command, in coordination with OSR, shall also send a response letter directly to the legislator or other originating entity.
Can a complainant file a complaint against a departmental peace officer via the internet?
No, but in the interest of public service, the Department will accept and investigate complaints filed in this manner.
Who has primary responsibility for the citizen’s complaint program at the field and Division level?
Commanders.
Who makes the decision to investigate an employee?
The Area commander of the Area/Section to which the involved employee was assigned at the time the time the incident occurred.
The assigned primary investigator of a complaint shall be of what grade?
One grade higher than the involved employee.
What is the normal suspense period for complaints received at the command, or forwarded from Internal Affairs?
6O days.
What is the suspense period for legislative complaints?
3O days.
When can an investigator utilize other Department employees, including those of lower rank?
When those personnel have specific qualifications needed such as DRE, PMA instructor, MAIT, etc.
Who is responsible for complaints that originate while an employee is attending training at the Academy?
The Academy commander; however, corrective action will be coordinated with the employee’s permanent commander.
Can the responsibility of conducting citizens’ complaint investigations initiated against employees of this Department be relinquished to any outside agency?
No, never.
Who is responsible for handling complaints while an employee is on a temporary assignment within the Department?
The employee’s permanent commander but Division commanders may direct such complaints be investigated by the temporary assignment commander or supervisor.
Who will investigate a complaint involving employees from multiple commands?
The command with the employee who has the most severe allegations.
How many complaint control numbers are issued for multi-command investigations?
One.
Who must be consulted in the event that corrective action for an employee not assigned to the investigating command appears warranted?
The employee’s actual commander shall be consulted and must approve.
Can an investigation be initiated when a board of control claim is filed that alleges employee misconduct?
Yes, an investigation shall be initiated.
An area commander is responsible for the overall complaint and investigative process, who is responsible for the conduct and quality of the investigation and documentation?
Primary investigator.
What is the systematic gathering of facts and evidence concerning a specific event or allegation of misconduct?
An investigation.
To what degree shall complaints be investigated?
To the degree necessary to reach a logical conclusion.
What is the definition of chronological log?
A detailed chronological accounting of all actions taken by the investigator as they relate to the investigation.
What category of complaint requires a chronological log as part of the narrative?
Category I.
What is an investigator-maintained file that provides a common stage site for investigation-related documents and other evidence?
Investigation file.
Where should the investigation file be kept?
In a secure location.
What is the single most important step the investigator can take during the investigation?
Firmly establish the complainant’s specific allegations.
What are the three basic steps of the investigation process?
Determine the questions. Determine the answers. Document the results.