The
goal of the Office of Professional Standards is to insure that
the integrity of the department is maintained through a system
of internal discipline where objectivity, fairness, and justice
are assured by an intensive, impartial investigation and review
process.
The Office of Professional Standards is assigned to the Chief's
Staff and its commanding officer reports directly to the Chief
of Police. Employees are assigned to this unit by the Chief of
Police and serve at the pleasure of the Chief.
The Office of Professional Standards is responsible for:
• Recording, registering and controlling the investigations
of complaints against employees or the department
• Supervising the fair and impartial investigation of alleged
or suspected misconduct within the department
• Conducting other investigations assigned by the Chief of
Police
• Maintaining the confidentiality of internal affairs investigations
and records
• The coordination of investigations involving the discharge
of firearms
The Office of Professional Standards has the primary responsibility
for the investigation of the following types of complaints:
• Complaints involving criminal activity
• Complaints against all personnel of the rank of Sergeant
and above
• Complaints of sexual harassment
• Complaints of racial discrimination
• Officer involved shootings in accordance with S.O.P. /
Procedure A6, Firearms
• Review and investigation of all complaints of excessive
force and brutality
• Any other investigation as directed by the Chief of Police
The following types of complaints will normally be investigated
by a supervisor assigned to the employee's division:
• Complaints of harassment
• Complaints of demeanor
• Violations of departmental policies, procedures, rules
or regulations not specifically assigned to the Office of Professional
Standards, however, if it appears that an investigation may cause
a conflict of interest within the division, or at the discretion
of the Chief of Police, an investigator from the Office of Professional
Standards may be assigned to an investigation of the above types.
Officers of the Clayton County Police Department strive to provide
the best possible law enforcement services available. If you have
encountered an officer whom you wish to commend for outstanding
performance in the line of duty your comments are welcome and
appreciated. Commendations for officers may be mailed to: Clayton
County Police Department, Attention: Chief of Police, 7911 N.
McDonough Street, Jonesboro, Georgia 30236. If possible, list
the date and time of the incident, the location of the incident,
the officer(s) involved and any additional information you wish
to share. Commendations will be disseminated through the Chain
of Command to the officer for which the commendation is directed
and will be made a part of the officer's personnel file.
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Officer
Complaints / Department Policy
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It is the policy of the Clayton County Police Department to provide
citizens with a fair and effective avenue for redress of their
legitimate complaints against police department employees; to
protect employees from false charges of misconduct or wrongdoing;
and to provide accused employees with due process safeguards.
To maintain the integrity of the Clayton County Police Department
and its employees, this department will not hesitate to impose
disciplinary actions on employees who have violated laws, ordinances,
and departmental rules and regulations; to dismiss employees who
prove to be unfit for their assigned duties and to dismiss unjustified
allegations against innocent employees.
While encouraging the filing of legitimate complaints against
employees as means by which they can be held accountable to the
public, this department simultaneously seeks to hold members of
the public responsible for the filing of false and malicious allegations
against police employees. In these latter cases, the complainant
will be informed that legal action may be taken against them.
The Clayton County Police Department will investigate all allegations
of employee misconduct, including anonymous allegations, received
from any source outside or inside the department.
Citizen complaints may be lodged in person at the police headquarters
building located at 7911 North McDonough Street, Jonesboro, Georgia
30236, by mail by sending the complaint via U.S. Postal Service
to Clayton County Police Department, Attention: Office of Professional
Standards, 7911 N. McDonough Street, Jonesboro, Georgia 30236,
or by telephone by contacting the Internal Affairs Unit at 770-477-3603
or any officer of the Clayton County Police Department.
Complaints on departmental employees will be accepted as follows:
Phone calls concerning complaints received during normal working
hours, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday will be transferred
to the Office of Professional Standards. If an Investigator in
the Office of Professional Standards cannot be located, the complainant
will be transferred to the appropriate Watch Commander who will
receive the complaint.
If a complaint is received by phone at hours other than 8:00 am
to 5:00 pm, the call will be transferred to the Watch Commander.
If the Watch Commander is not available the complainant will be
so advised and arrangements will be made to have the next immediate
supervisor contact the complainant.
If a complaint is lodged in person during normal working hours,
8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday the complainant will
immediately be taken to the Office of Professional Standards.
If an Investigator in the Office of Professional Standards is
not available at that time, the person will then be taken to the
Division Commander in charge of the officer in question. If the
officer in question is not known, then the person will be taken
to the Uniform Division Commander who will assign a person to
take the complaint. Once the complaint has been taken it will
be forwarded to the Office of Professional Standards. If appropriate,
it will then be reassigned by the Office of Professional Standards
to the employee's Division Commander for investigation.
Complaints received by mail will be forwarded to the Office of
Professional Standards. An Investigator in the Office of Professional
Standards will take the appropriate action or forward the complaint
to the appropriate Division Commander for investigation.
Generally all internal investigations must be completed within
thirty (30) days of initiation, with status reports to the Chief
of Police every seven (7) days. If completion is not possible
the time limit may be waived with the approval of the Chief. The
complainant will be advised of the delay by the officer assigned
to the case and of the possible completion date.
Upon completion of an internal investigation, the investigating
officer will classify the incident using one of the following
six (6) categories:
• Not involved - Not involved means that the accused officer
was not present at the time the alleged misconduct occurred.
• Unfounded - Unfounded means that the allegation is false
or not factual.
• Not Sustained - Not sustained means that there is insufficient
evidence to either prove or disprove the allegation.
• Exonerated - Exonerated means that the incident occurred,
but was lawful and proper.
• Policy Failure - Policy failure means that the allegation
is true, and the officer's action was consistent with departmental
policy, however the policy should be changed or modified.
• Sustained - Sustained means that the allegation is supported
by sufficient evidence to justify a reasonable conclusion that
the allegation is factual.
Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against Police Department
employees who are found to have Sustained complaints against them.
Complainants are encouraged to file legitimate complaints against
officers in person. Complainants are reminded that they will be
held responsible for filing false and malicious allegations and
that appropriate legal proceedings could be instituted by individual
officers.
