Filing a Complaint With the Police Department
By Anthony Gregory • Wednesday February 29, 2012 8:25 AM PDT • 10 Comments
It’s made very difficult to do, and the attempt can get you arrested. You will be intimidated and asked for your papers merely for asking for a form. This is where the state is closest to the people—the local police—and yet some people still think government is more responsive to the people than business.
Tags: Law, Liberty, Natural Law, Police 
I don’t even know what to say anymore.
Robert Fellner | Feb 29, 2012 | Reply
This might be helpful: “The Police Misconduct Victim’s Guide”.
Anon. | Feb 29, 2012 | Reply
GO directly to Internal Affairs — street cops just stick together (ever hear of a BAD shooting by a cop?).
Mary Wilder | Feb 29, 2012 | Reply
Greetings,
FYI; the ( each and every ) department policies concerning
officer misconduct, re;
a) intake;
b) investigation; and
c) adjudication
Are public records, and can be obtained using the state freedom of information act statue procedures.
Google the following for interesting and relevant info.:
1) The Wingnut + Richmond Police Department
Documents;
2) The Partnership For Civil Liberties + General and Special Orders of the MPD;
3) The Electronic Frontier Foundation + FOIA Litigation for Accountable Government
SpyBoyPreZentZ | Mar 5, 2012 | Reply
This surprises me not one bit. Having lived all over the continental U.S. in my 69 years, my experience has been that local (city, county) law and code enforcement folks are every bit as fascist as are the Feds. One has to be willing to go to the wall to oppose them on anything. There are always exceptions to any rule, but in general those “public servants” appear to possess a deep psychological flaw—some sort of power complex. Such people do not belong in the positions they hold.
Scott Haley | Mar 5, 2012 | Reply
All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted.
–FRANK HERBERT, CHAPTERHOUSE DUNE
Henry Bowman | Mar 5, 2012 | Reply
The repeated scenarios are like a rebellious teen on a power trip. With the victims being the teens…………….
I cannot excuse any public servant being rude or disrespectful to the public, regardless of the mental level of the public. However, there are logical and legitimate (not just “legal”) reasons that law enforcement asks the questions they do.
It appears the video was made in order to cast local law enforcement in a poor light, or perhaps to simply provoke local law enforcement.
I’ve never seen the Independent Institute post something as foolish and embarrassing to the Institute as this video.
cam | Mar 6, 2012 | Reply
For cam— I couldn’t disagree more. Any person should be able to file a sealed, written complaint (without any prior “interviews”) with a precinct. The sealed complaint automatically should be forwarded to some designated INDEPENDENT office (perhaps under the Mayor) and reviewed. At that time, the complainant can be interviewed—but not by the Police. Come on, this is just common sense.
RE: “It appears the video was made in order to cast local law enforcement in a poor light...” — Here’s what appears to me: much of the time, local law enforcement IS in a poor light. May you never experience it.
Scott Haley | Mar 6, 2012 | Reply
Thank you for your comments Scott.
“Any person should be able to file a sealed, written complaint (without any prior “interviews”) with a precinct.”
While that may be true, that is not what the citizen is asking for, and to determine that is what the he actually wants means more forthrightness on the part of the citizen.
Allow me to state my case in other words.
This 10 minute video is a series of short clips of citizens wanting to make complaints or reports. Yet those that want to report will not say what happened or where it happened. Without the nature of the complaint it is not possible to direct the citizen to those that can help him. Without the location of the incident it is not possible to determine which agency should be handling the report. The conclusion I would draw is that those “reporting” really have nothing to report, so I question their real reason for approaching law enforcement.
This is THE approach to law enforcement that naturally raises suspicion since the real reason for the approach is certainly not the stated reason. And though not all have respect for the police, my opinion is that it’s not prudent to approach law enforcement with the goal of wasting their time.
In other words it’s like going to the cardiologists and refusing to answer the questions that will allow the doctor to help you medically. One would likely be shown the door rather quickly and his mental state questioned.
Having said that, I realize that a number of the police responses shown were inappropriate, even though they were provoked. That should not be excused. But the response elicited all depends upon which buttons are pushed.
cam | Mar 7, 2012 | Reply
For cam— We could go back & forth ad infinitum, but I (& perhaps you) don’t have the time. Suffice it to say that your case has not persuaded me, not in the least. The best parts of your case are as follows:
“...I realize that a number of the police responses shown were inappropriate...”; and,
“That should not be excused.”. [Indeed.] Everything else in your argument easily can be refuted; however, my easel calls.
Parting note— As to “buttons pushed”, there is NO excuse for the police behavior shown. Professional officers should be expected to behave as professionals even if all their buttons are pushed (short of physical assault). If they can’t take the heat, they should change professions. We must have zero tolerance for misbehavior by those who pack pistols. In my opinion, they all should have been fired, and in a couple cases, sued.
Scott Haley | Mar 15, 2012 | Reply