 |
 |
LOS SANTOS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
INTERNAL AFFAIRS BUREAU
May 17, 2024
Subject: Public Complaint Intake Process
IAB Captain: Capt. TBA
This message is intended for public release and includes information regarding the handling & processing of public complaints received externally against sworn and non-sworn employees of the LS County Sheriff's Department. The following include all options available for filling a complaint:
- In-Person
- Watch Commander's Service Comment Review (WCSCR) may be filed at any Sheriff's station with the working shift's Watch Commander. Complainant will be given a copy of the WCSCR by the receiving Watch Commander.
Santa Clara Valley Sheriff's Station: (626) 798 1131, 1973 — East Beach Freeway, Los Santos, SA 828
East LS Sheriff's Station: (626) 798 1131 — 2138 Little John Road, Los Santos, SA 824
- Watch Commander's Service Comment Review (WCSCR) may be filed at any Sheriff's station with the working shift's Watch Commander. Complainant will be given a copy of the WCSCR by the receiving Watch Commander.
- Telephone
- A complaint may be filed 24 hours a day. The hotline is (626) 576-7133. Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) will respond during normal business hours. Sheriff's Information Bureau (SIB) staffing the complaint's hotline will respond after hours and during holidays. Complaints may be filed also through dialing the non-emergency hotline and requesting a Field Supervisor and/or Watch Commander who will then assist with filing a Watch Commander's Service Comment Review (WCSCR).
- Internet
- Complaints may be filed at www.LSSD.org. Complaints will be processed by the Internal Affairs Bureau. IAB will complete WCSCR as deemed appropriate and forward to the involved unit for handling and disposition.
Public Complaint Process
- After the department receives a complaint (service comment report), the complaint is initially classified accordingly depending on the nature of the violation (i.e. criminal and/or policy violation).
In case of classification as a criminal violation, the Department's ICIB launches a criminal investigation.
The investigation is then closed (not submitted to District Attorney) or completed (submitted to District Attorney). The District Attorney may choose to reject and/or file charges.
Regardless of the outcome of the criminal investigation, all concluded criminal investigations shall be forwarded to the Unit Commander who determines whether an administrative investigation is required or not.
In case of classification as a policy violation, the Department's IAB launches an administrative investigation.
The IAB reviews the case initially and may decide to forward the complaint to the employee's unit to launch a unit-level investigation if they deem fit, or provide service review. If the complaint is substantied during service review, non-disciplinary actions will be pursued by the employee's unit. These non-disciplinary actions are:- Training;
- Counselling; and
- Mentoring
The complainee(s) will be disciplined if the IAB and/or the unit-level investigation is founded.
Method for Disposition
- Unit Commander will assess complaint/allegation and determine appropriate method for disposition:
- Complaint Review disposition
- Unit-Level administrative investigation
- Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) administrative investigation
- Internal Criminal Investigation Bureau (ICIB) investigation
The following are all possible complaint review dispositions:- Commendation: Public or Professional
- Employee Conduct Appears Reasonable
- Appears Employee Conduct Could Have Been Better
- Employee Conduct Should Have Been Better
- Unable to Make a Determination