Complaints against Police Officers
The Baytown Police Department is dedicated to providing the best police service possible to all of Baytown citizens. Police officers are carefully selected and given the best training possible in order to provide this service. However, you may have occasion to lodge a complaint about the actions of a member of the Baytown Police Department. All citizen complaints pertaining to departmental policies or procedures or those that allege officer misconduct shall be documented and investigated by the Department. In order to be responsive to you, we are providing the following information about how complaints are made, how they are investigated, and their result.
How are Complaints made?
A person desiring to make a complaint may contact the Internal Affairs Office between 8am and 4pm, Monday through Friday, or any Baytown Police Department supervisor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Complaints can be taken in person, by letter, by phone (281-420-7183), or by e-mail (PDIA@baytown.org). Anonymous complaints, or complaints from citizens who wish their names to be held in confidence, shall also be accepted for investigation.
Complaints must be made within 60 days of the incident complained about, except in special cases (such as criminal misconduct or when a good cause can be shown by the person complaining).
When a citizen lodges a complaint against a member of the Baytown Police Department, the complaint is sent to the Internal Affairs Office, located at the Central Police Station, 3200 North Main Street, Baytown, Texas. Depending on the nature of the complaint, either an Internal Affairs investigator or a Police Supervisor will be assigned to review and investigate your complaint. Once the investigation is completed, it will be reviewed by Internal Affairs and the Chief of Police. Their offices are open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. each weekday.
What happens once the Complaint is filed?
Once your complaint has been filed, it will be reviewed and assigned a control number. The case will then be assigned to an investigator or a supervisor for a thorough investigation. Witnesses, officers, and you will be contacted and may be asked to give statements. Records and other evidence will be collected and analyzed. When the investigation is complete, the investigator will submit a written report. The report will be reviewed by several levels of Police Command and by the Chief of Police. You will be notified of the results and the action taken.
What are the possible Findings?
Once the investigation is complete, one of the five (5) findings will be determined.
- Unfounded – The allegation has no basis of fact or has been disproved through the investigation.
- Not Sustained – The allegation can neither be proved nor disproved and no further action is to be considered.
- Exonerated – The incident occurred but was lawful of proper.
- Sustained – The allegation is found to be true and in violation of the rules, regulations, policies, procedures or orders of the department.
- Policy Failure – The officer’s actions were in compliance with all laws and policies. However, the incident has initiated a thorough review of all applicable policies and procedures.
What happens when a Complaint is found to be True?
When the investigation of a complaint reveals that the charges are true and should be sustained against a police officer, the Chief of Police may take one of the following actions depending on the nature of the violation.
What happens if the Complaint cannot be proven or is not true?
Police officers must be accorded certain rights, the same as with all citizens, and complaints must be supported by sufficient evidence. If there is not sufficient evidence to sustain the complaint, the officer is notified and continues on duty.
Officers can appeal the Decision
Just as a citizen charged with a criminal offense can appeal a court's decision, a police officer can appeal the action taken against him. The City of Baytown has established procedures for officers to follow in their appeals, just as the Police Department has established procedures for insuring that complaints by citizens against officers are thoroughly and honestly investigated.
What if you are not satisfied with the Decision?
If you are not satisfied with the results of the investigation by the Internal Affairs Office, you may:
- Contact the Internal Affairs Office, located at the Central Police Station, 3200 North Main Street, Baytown, Texas and discuss the case with the Investigator's Supervisor.
- You may also request investigations for certain acts by the Harris County District Attorney's Office if criminal violations are alleged and the Federal Bureau of Investigation if civil rights violations are alleged.
The Baytown Police Department is vitally interested in the welfare of all citizens and in taking action where its employees have proven derelict in their duties or are guilty of wrongdoing. If it becomes necessary for you to make a complaint, you can be assured that it will be given a fair and thorough investigation.
By the same token, if you have occasion to see a police officer doing outstanding work, tell him or us about it. You can call or write the same numbers and addresses listed above with your observations.
The Baytown police officers are individuals who are dedicated to serving you and our community.