Policy Text
Procedure
1010Garden Grove Police Department
Procedures Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/08/26, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentPersonnel Complaints Procedures - 1Personnel Complaints Procedures
1010.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
These procedures will establish guidelines for the thorough and impartial investigation of
allegations arising out of actual or perceived misconduct by employees of the Garden Grove Police
Department. To accomplish this task and meet the requirements of state law, the Internal Affairs
Unit of this department has been formed.
1010.2 COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Once a complaint is received by Internal Affairs, it is logged and processed, and is either
investigated by Internal Affairs personnel or sent to the appropriate Division, Unit or Bureau
Commander for an investigation by a supervisor under his command.
Investigations will fall into two categories. They are as follows:
1010.2.1 CATEGORY ONE COMPLAINTS
(a)Department initiated confidential or sensitive investigations
(b)Allegations of serious misconduct, i.e., excessive force, corruption, alleged or
suspected breach of integrity in a case of moral turpitude
(c)Allegations that may result in a criminal investigation
(d)Other investigations as assigned by the Chief of Police or Bureau Commander
1010.2.2 CATEGORY TWO COMPLAINTS
(a)Complaints of a minor nature involving discourtesy, disrespect, attitude or perceived
rudeness
(b)Complaints of abusive or foul language
(c)Complaints that on review of the allegations will not require extensive interviews or
lengthy complex investigations
Category I complaints will normally be investigated by Internal Affairs personnel. Category II
complaints will normally be handled by supervisory personnel from the employee's division or unit.
The first option to investigate a complaint against an employee in Category II complaints will be
afforded the affected Bureau, Unit or Division Commander.
If an Internal Affairs investigation reveals the potential that a crime has occurred and a criminal
investigation must be completed, a separate criminal investigation shall be conducted by
investigation personnel assigned to that task by the Chief of Police or Bureau Commander.
It will be the responsibility of the Administrative Services Bureau Commander to notify the Chief
of Police immediately of any Category I complaints.
The Internal Affairs Unit maintains a liaison with the Special Prosecutions Unit of the Orange
County District Attorney's Office. The Special Prosecutions Unit is charged with the investigation of
Garden Grove Police Department
Procedures Manual
Personnel Complaints Procedures
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/08/26, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentPersonnel Complaints Procedures - 2any criminal act committed by a public official. On any allegations of a criminal act being committed
by an employee, the resulting criminal investigation is reviewed by the District Attorney's Office
for appropriate action.
1010.3 HANDLING OF CITIZENS COMPLAINTS
Policy/procedure complaints are directed to the Bureau Commander of the involved employee.
Once the problem has been resolved, the complaint and record of any action taken are then routed
to Internal Affairs for filing.
1010.3.1 CATEGORY ONE COMPLAINTS
Category I complaints will be logged onto the complaint log, and Section A of Routing Form (GGPD
Form 326) will be completed. A copy of the complaint will be forwarded to the employee's Division
Commander and Bureau Commander. Sections B, C, and D on the Routing Form will not be filled
in until the completion of the investigation.
Category I complaints will be handled by an assigned Internal Affairs investigator. Once the
investigation is complete, the Internal Affairs investigator sends the completed investigation to the
Professional Standards Division Lieutenant and to the Administrative Services Commander for
review and distribution to the appropriate Division Manager.
The employee's supervisor reviews the facts of the investigation and makes recommendations.
Based on the facts of the investigation, the conclusion recommendation must be from one of the
following: exonerated, unfounded, sustained, or not sustained. The Division Manager also reviews
the facts of the investigation and makes recommendations.
The Division Manager then forwards the completed investigation and recommendations via the
chain of command to the Chief of Police. Each manager in the chain of command makes his
recommendation on the attached Routing Form. Depending upon the final disposition of the
complaint, the employee will review and sign the acknowledgment section of the Routing Form.
If the disposition of the complaint results in disciplinary action, the procedures outlined in the
Personnel Complaints policy will be followed.
The completed investigation is then sent to the Internal Affairs Office for logging and filing.
1010.3.2 CATEGORY TWO COMPLAINTS
Category II complaints will be routed to the Division or Unit and Bureau Commander of the
employee(s) involved. Supervisory personnel will be assigned to investigate that complaint.
The assigned investigator will, within five calendar days, conduct a tape-recorded telephonic
or personal interview with the complainant to try and resolve the problem without it requiring
additional investigation.
Whenever the assigned Division Commander or supervisor contacts the complainant and resolves
the problem, he shall:
(a)Prepare a memo or utilize the comment section on the Routing Form and forward
it, along with pertinent information, to the Bureau Commander. Contents of the
Garden Grove Police Department
Procedures Manual
Personnel Complaints Procedures
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/08/26, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentPersonnel Complaints Procedures - 3memo are to include a brief summary of the complaint, and any other actions or
recommendations.
(b