Internal Investigations
Return to the Professional Standards Unit
Personnel Investigations
The department accepts complaints from any source, including juvenile, anonymous and intoxicated individual complainants. Each complaint is assessed and forwarded to the Chief of Police for assignment or classification.
When a complaint is received it is assessed and classified as either an investigation or citizen inquiry.
A citizen inquiry is a question or concern about an officer’s conduct that does not violate any policy or procedure or law. If the complaint is determined to be only an inquiry the complainant is contacted, if appropriate, and the information is filed for future reference.
A formal investigation is assigned if there is a possibility that a policy, or procedure, or law has been violated. The professional standards Sergeant or Lieutenant will be assigned the case and complete a professional, thorough and fair process for the citizen complainant and the employee involved. Per contract, an investigation must be completed within 90 days.
Administrative Investigations
The Professional Standards Unit conducts investigations of use of force where a person has died or suffered serious bodily injury. This investigation will focus on internal policy and procedures while a second investigation by the Adams County Critical Incident Investigative Team looks at criminal aspects of the incident.
What is an Inquiry, Commendation, or Complaint?
Online Inquiry, commendation, or complaint form
