Commendations/Complaints
The Cushing Police Department is dedicated to providing the best police service possible to all of Cushing's citizens. Your police officers are carefully selected and given the best training possible in order to provide this service. You may have occasion to compliment an officer for a job well done, or possibly to lodge a complaint about the actions of a member of the Cushing Police Department.
It has become a recognized fact that any meaningful success in the administration of public safety and law enforcement must be based on community involvement and understanding. Informed and open lines of communications must exist between the law enforcement agency and the citizens it serves.
Both the citizens and the police officers that serve them must be assured that a fair and impartial system with appropriate monitoring is in place to provide for the thorough investigation and disposition of complaints of police misconduct and provide a means for assuring that officers receive the proper recognition when appropriate.
In a continuing effort to provide the best possible service to all the citizens it serves, your Cushing Police Department is providing the following information about how to commend an officer, how to make complaints, how they are investigated and processed.
1. How Are Commendations Made?
If a citizen feels the an officer should be commended for their action in carrying out their duties or for going beyond the call of duty, a report can be made to the Chief of Police or Deputy Chief of Police orally or in writing at the police department. A copy of the citizen's comments or report will be given to the officer involved and a copy will be put in the officer's personnel file for future reference.
2. How Are Complaints Made?
Police department policy 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 being made against them, the police officer must be given a copy of the complaint before an investigation or disciplinary action may be taken.
Complaints must be made within 30 days of the incident complained about, except in special cases such as criminal misconduct or when good cause can be shown by the person complaining. The person who claims to be aggrieved must make the complaint. Other persons may give statements as witnesses.
Traffic tickets issued or differences of opinion between police officers and a citizen over the issuance of a traffic ticket, or regarding guilt or innocence of a person arrested will not be investigated. Such matters are properly settled through court proceedings unless there is a specific allegation of misconduct against an officer.
3. False Complaints
Sometime people make false complaints against police officers. Citizens should be aware that this is a criminal violation.
This information is not intended to intimidate the citizen or prevent valid complaints, but provided to avoid false complaints against officers.
4. What Happens When a Complaint Is Found To Be True?
When the investigation of a complaint reveals that allegations are true, and the police officer has violated appropriate standards of conduct, the Chief of Police notifies the officer and takes appropriate disciplinary action.
5. What Happens If The Complaint Is Not True?
Police must be accorded 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 allegations being made, the officer is notified and continues on duty. If the officer was removed from duty during the investigation, they will be reinstated.
6. How To File a Complaint
Because the Police Department considers a complaint a very serious matter, persons wishing to file a complaint may come by the Police Department during normal business hours to obtain the appropriate forms.
In addition, a brochure explaining the Commendation/Complaint process is available to all citizens in our main lobby at all times.