How to File a Complaint

 

 

 

When a citizen lodges a complaint against a member of the Willow Park Police Department, the complaint goes to the Internal Affairs Unit located at 101 Stagecoach Trail, Willow Park, Texas.  The responsibilities of investigators assigned to Internal Affairs include reviewing and investigating your complaint.  The office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each weekday.

 

If the Internal Affairs Unit is not open, you may lodge a complaint with any supervisory member of the police department.  The supervisor will give you a Willow Park Police Department Formal Complaint Affidavit, your complaint will then be forwarded to the Internal Affairs Unit for investigation.

 

TEXAS STATE LAW (Government Code 614.022) requires that all complaints against police officers be in writing and signed by the person making the complaint. Just as citizens who are arrested must be notified of the charges against them, police officers must be given copies of complaints before any disciplinary action may be taken.  The person who claims to be aggrieved must make the complaint.  Other persons may give statements as witnesses.

 

The Internal Affairs Unit will conduct a thorough investigation of your complaint and you will be advised of the outcome.

 

Traffic tickets issued or differences of opinion between police officers and citizens over the issuance of traffic tickets for the guilt or innocence of persons arrested will not be investigated unless there is specific allegation of misconduct against a member(s) of the department.

 

Anyone who wishes to compliment or make any type of complaint, including a complaint of racial profiling on an officer, may contact the Willow Park Police Department, 101 Stagecoach Trail, Willow Park, Texas 76087, 817-441-9747, www.willowpark.org or via email at police @willowpark.org. 

 

 

People who intentionally make false complaints or allegations against police officers violate Chapter 37 of the Texas Penal Code.  Texas law provides punishment for an individual adjudged guilty of committing an offense if, with intent to deceive and with knowledge of the statements meaning, he / she makes a false statement under oath or swears to the truth of a false statement previously made; and, the statement is required or authorized by law to be made under oath.

 

A person who commits an offense under this section can be charged with offenses ranging from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Felony of the Third Degree. Punishments can range from confinement of 180 days in jail to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $10,000.

 

This information is not intended to intimidate the complainant or any witness, but is provided to avoid retaliation against police officers or departmental staff.

 

 

When the investigation of a complaint reveals that the charges are true, and should be sustained against a police employee, the Chief of Police notifies the employee and may take one of the following actions, depending on the nature of the violation:

 

Reprimand the employee;

Suspend the employee without pay;

Demote the employee; or

Discharge the employee.

 

 

Police employees must be afforded 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.  If he was removed from duty during the investigation, the employee will be paid for that period.

 

 

Just as citizens charged with criminal offenses can appeal a court's decision, police employees are afforded the right to appeal the actions taken against them.  The City of Willow Park has established procedures for employees to follow in their appeals, just as the police department has established procedures for ensuring that complaints by citizens against police employees are thoroughly and impartially investigated.

 

 

If you are not satisfied with the results of the investigation by the Internal Affairs Unit, you may appeal to:

The Willow Park Police Department is vitally concerned with the welfare of all residents and visitors to Willow Park. The department will take action where employees have been proven derelict in their duties or are guilty of wrongdoing. 

 

Likewise, if you have occasion to see an employee doing outstanding work, tell the employee or a police supervisor.  Your Willow Park Police Department is made up of individuals who are dedicated to serving you and our community.