Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Order s
3.42 Complaints: Administration and Processing
3.42.1 Complaints and Internal Affairs Function (Revised: 6/16/23 )
A. The Complaints and Internal Affairs function is established to enable the Police
Department to maintain the highest quality customer service and professionalism , as
outlined in PC §832.5. Public confidence and agency integrity are maintained through a
system where objectivity, fairness, and justice are assured by impartial self -examination
to:
1. Ensure that questions concerning the actions of Police Department personnel are
resolved in a timely manner, conducive to good order and discipline .
2. Protect the constitutional rights of all personnel .
3. Protect the integrity and reputation of the university, the Police Depa rtment and
innocent Police Department personnel .
4. Facilitate prompt corrective action when personnel are responsible for improper
actions or behaviors .
5. Identify and correct defective procedures, systems, equipment and training needs,
and
6. Provides a n opportunity to inform the public of police systems and procedures.
B. Purpose
A proper relationship between the public and its police, fostered by confidence and trust,
is essential to effective community policing. In order to create and maintain the
atmosphere of trust, the community must feel free to communicate its concerns and
objections to the Police Department. It is essential that the Police Department determine,
by impartial investigation, whether Police Department personnel have conducted
them selves properly, meeting the needs and standards of the community, and have
rendered acceptable levels of service to citizens in accordance with existing policy,
directives and the rules and regulations of the Police Department. This review also
provides a mechanism for administration to review policies which may be causing
conflict between Police Department employees and the public.
C. The Police Department accepts and will thoroughly investigate any complaint against
police service or alleged personnel misconduct.
1. A complaint is any expression of dissatisfaction regarding services or policy, or
an allegation of misconduct.
2. The investigation of complaints will include those that are anonymous or
communicated through a representative of the complaina nt.
a. If the anonymous complaint cannot be verified by other evidence or the
representative refuses to identify the complainant, the employee’s
response will be considered conclusive.
3. All citizen complaints will be investigated. Those assigned a complaint number
will be documented for investigation, review and final disposition according to
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Order s
the procedures set forth in General Order 3.4 2.4, “Complaint Intake,
Acknowledgement and Investi gation ”
4. Complaints investigated internally will be assigned to an investigator of higher
supervisory/management level than the me mber under investigation .
5. No member shall conceal information related to the violation or alleged violation
of Police Department policy nor shall any member of any rank impede, influence,
or interfere with the reporting or investigation of any violation or alleged violation
of this policy.