41

Date: 08/14/93 Revision: 02/16/2 3 Reviewed: 09/20/23 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Number: GEN 122.00 Page: 1 of 6 SUBJECT: PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BUREAU ; INTERNAL AFFAIRS I. PURPOSE : The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to define guidelines for the coordination of administrative investigations. II. SCOPE : This procedure shall apply to all Sheriff’s Office personnel. * III. DISCUSSION : The function of the Pro fessional Standards Bureau , Internal Affairs Unit, is to provide fact-finding assistance to the Sheriff and Executive Staff. This is done by providing a systematic, objective, and impartial method of investigating certain complaints of misconduct by Sheri ff’s Office personnel. This procedure will not be so construed as to limit or prohibit the Sheriff in the assignment of Professional Standards Bureau personnel to any and all duties deemed necessary to meet organizational goals and objectives. IV. RESPON SIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY : * A. Personnel assigned to t he Professional Standards Bureau , Internal Affairs Unit, shall be responsible for the investigation of certain administrative and criminal acts of misconduct and shall have full authority to discharge this responsibility. These acts of misconduct can include civil rights violations of persons participating in Sheriff’s Office services, programs, and activities , as described in GEN SOP 100.03 . B. Personnel assigned to the Professional Standards Bureau shall be given full access to appropriate Sheriff’s Off ice facilities, equipment, records, and personnel for the purpose of investigations. C. All personnel shall cooperate with and assist the Professional Standards Bureau , recognizing that complaint inve stigations are conducted under the immediate authority of the Sheriff. V. COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION : * A. Persons wishing to make a complaint of misconduct against any Sheriff’s Office personnel shall make their complaint in person, by phone, in writing, or via the Sheriff’s Office Online Citizen Complaint fo rm. In each instance, the complainant will be provided verification that the complaint was received , either verbally or in writing. B. Once a complaint has been filed and an administrative investigat ion is initiated, the subject of the investigation shall be notified in writing by the assigned investigator of the nature of the complaint, the name of the complainant, and the investigating officer (utilizing the Complaint Investigation Notification and Status F orm). In cases where advance notification woul d jeopardize the investigation, the notification may be given immediately prior to the investigative interview of the subject. 1. The Professional Standards Bureau shall notify the appropriate Divisio n/Distri ct and Department Commander of the receipt of the complaint by forwarding copies of the Complaint Investigation Notification and Status Form to them. The Professional Standards Bureau supervisor shall ensure verbal notification is GEN 122.00 02/16/23 Page 2 of 6 made to the resp ective D istrict/Division Commander as soon as possible based on the seriousness of the complaint. 2. An internal request for the Professional Standards Bureau to conduct an investigation shall be forwarded through the chain of command to the Department Co mmander. Upon approval by the Department Commander, the Professional Standards Bureau shall initiate an investigation. VI. INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS BY THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BUREAU : A. The investigation by the Professional Standards Bureau of a complain t of misconduct by law enforcement and detentio n deputies shall be consistent with Florida Law (with specific regards to F lorida Statutes 112.532, 112.533 , and 112.534); and current policies and procedures of the Sheriff’s Office regarding the inve stigatio n of complaints of misconduct by law enforcement and detention deputies ( GEN SOP 122.02). Investigations of non -sworn personnel will not be conducted under the auspices of Florida Statute 112.532, et seq. B. The Professional Standards Bureau shall act f or the Sheriff as a fact -finding unit and shall make no recommendation as to discipline. C. Professional Standards Bureau investigators may order Sheriff’s Office personnel to cooperate in an administrative investigation. The Professional Standa rds Bure au investigator shall be the Sheriff's designee for the purpose of conducting an administrative investigation. D. Interviews conducted shall be considered an official proceeding, as defined by Florida Statute 837.011. 1. Personnel assigned to the Profes sional Standards Bureau shall be a Notary Publi c under Florida Law. 2. All interviews conducted during a formal investigation with Sheriff’s Office personnel, complainants , and witnesses shall be taken under oath. 3. All persons interviewed by the Professi onal Standards Bureau shall be advised of and required to acknowledge by signature: a. The Perjury and Oath Acknowledgement Form outlining Florida Law on perjury (F lorida Statutes 837.02, 837.021, 837.05 , and 92.525 ). b. The acknowledgement of o ath se ction on the Perjury and Oath Acknowledgement For m (containing the perjury statutes ). c. A Confidentiality Notice , applicable only to Sheriff’s Office employees, explaining that formal complaint investigations are to be confidential. d. The Administr ative Proceedings Employee Rights Form , applicable only