Internal Affairs
The primary goal of the Greeley Police Department is to provide citizens with the best possible police service. One way to help achieve this goal is the public complaint process.
Commendations or Complaints?
Fill out the form to provide feedback on an officer’s performance.
Handling Formal Personnel Complaints
If a formal personnel complaint is taken, it will ultimately be referred to the Internal Investigations Section. Internal Investigations is responsible for the coordination of all investigations into allegations of officer misconduct. Internal Investigations will make contact once a complaint is received. Whenever possible, an investigator will talk to the individual who submitted a complaint at length as part of the investigation. An investigator will also talk to all other witnesses and involved parties and will complete a report of the investigation. This can be very time consuming and involved, but it is important that all of the relevant facts are known. After the investigation is completed and has been thoroughly reviewed, and the appropriate action taken, the individual who made the complaint will be notified in writing of the results.
How to Make a Complaint of Misconduct
The individual who feels that an officer has acted wrongly and who brings the matter to the attention of those in charge, provides the Department with an opportunity to look into the problem. It is through this process that the individual can help maintain the high standards of quality that the Department demands and the community deserves.
Complaints regarding matters other than officer misconduct complaints shall be referred to the departmental unit having jurisdiction over the matter and the person making the complaint will be notified in writing of the results.
Where to Complain
Anyone who feels that a police officer is guilty of misconduct may make a complaint at the Police Department or telephone the Police Department. When contacting the Police Department, either in person or by telephone, ask to speak to a police supervisor to make a complaint against a police officer. It is important to request to speak to a supervisor to avoid repeating a report to multiple contacts unnecessarily.
Talking to the Supervisor
Once a complaint is registered, the police supervisor will discuss what has happened with the person making the complaint. If, after discussing the problem with the supervisor, a formal complaint is wanted, the supervisor will assist putting a complaint in writing. If the supervisor refuses to take a complaint, a citizen is encouraged to notify the Office of the Chief of Police or the Internal Investigation Section.
In talking with the supervisor, it may be discovered that there are concerns with departmentally approved polices or procedures rather than the conduct of an individual officer. If this is the case, and it cannot be explained to the satisfaction of the individual making a complaint, it will be directed to the section of the Police Department responsible for that particular area of activity.
Written complaints
A complaint form can be accessed to submit a written complaint. The form may be filled out and dropped it off directly to Internal Investigations or the Office of the Chief of Police, located at 2875 W 10th Street, Greeley, Colorado, 80634. There is no set format for the form; it is up to the individual to share any information important to the complaint. All written complaints will be handled in the same manner as in person complaints.
Written Complaint Form
Fill out the form to provide a written complaint about an officer’s performance.
Criminal Charges and the Court
Many times people who have been arrested feel that they are not guilty of the charge. However, the validity of the arrest and the guilt or innocence of the person involved must be determined by a Court of Law, not the Police Department. Only the Court is empowered by law to adjudicate such matters. A court proceeding provides an impartial forum in which both sides of the case can be heard and the truth determined.