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Internal Affairs
The members of the Jefferson Township Police Department are committed to providing law enforcement services that are fair, effective, and impartially applied. It is in the best interest of everyone involved that your complaint about the performance of an individual officer or employee is Fairly and Promptly resolved. The Jefferson Township Police Department has formal procedures in place for investigating your complaint in accordance with Attorney General Guidelines. These procedures ensure fairness and protect the rights of both citizens and law enforcement officers/employees.
Procedures
- Your complaint will be assigned to a specially trained Internal Affairs officer, who will conduct a thorough and objective investigation.
- You may be asked to assist in the investigation by giving a detailed statement about what happened or providing other important information.
- All complaints against law enforcement officers/employees are thoroughly investigated. You will be advised in writing of the outcome of the investigation.
- If our investigation results in an officer/employee being charged with a violation of department rules and regulations, you may be asked to testify at a departmental hearing.
- If our investigation reveals that the complaint is unfounded or that the officer/employee acted properly, the matter will be closed.
- All disciplinary hearings shall be closed to the public unless the defendant officer/employee requests an open hearing.
- It is unlawful to knowingly provide untrue or inaccurate information in any Internal Affairs matter.
Complaints
Complaints, whether minor or emergent in nature, can be taken by any officer in the department, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You are encouraged to make your report in person as soon after the incident as possible. If you cannot make your report in person, we will (if possible) be glad to send an officer to meet you at your home, place of business or other location to take your complaint. However, Internal Affairs complaints will be accepted no matter what mode is used to make them.
Upon receipt by a member of the department, your complaint will be forwarded to the officer's/employee's immediate supervisor and to our Internal Affairs Officer, Sergeant Joseph Hale. In addition, you may also start the complaint process by completing and emailing this Internal Affairs Citizen Complaint Form (PDF) (clicking the link at the bottom of the form will email your complaint directly to Sergeant Joseph Hale).
Note: If you experience difficulty with the email link at the bottom of the Internal Affairs Citizen Complaint form, it is possible that its functionality is disrupted by Google Chrome. If you experience this issue, it is recommended that you open and complete the form using Internet Explorer.