414.00 RACIAL/BIAS-BASED PROFILING
414.2 COMPLIMENT/COMPLAINT PROCESS, PUBLIC EDUCATION
AND CORRECTIVE ACTION
(Renumbered 07-27-17)(Revised 09-01-17)
A. Compliment and Complaint Process
1. Any person who wishes to file a complaint on an officer’s behavior regarding possible
racial/bias based profiling shall be referred to the Internal Affairs Unit.
2. No person shall be discouraged, intimidated, or coerced from filing a Racial/Bias-Based
Profiling complaint, or be discriminated or retaliated against due to filing such a complaint.
3. The Police Department shall accept all complaints regarding possible racial/bias-based
profiling behavior.
4. The Department shall investigate each citizen complaint alleging racial/bias-based
profiling by an Arlington officer. Such complaints shall be in writing or shall be reduced
to writing.
5. The complaint should include the time, place, and details of the profiling behavior the
identity or description of the officer or officers involved, the identity of the complainant
and the complainant’s contact information.
6. Any peace officer or city employee who receives a citizen complaint alleging racial
profiling behavior shall forward the complaint to the Internal Affairs Unit within 12 hours
of receipt.
7. Receipt of each complaint shall be acknowledged by contacting the complainant in writing,
all such complaints shall be reviewed and investigated by the Internal Affairs Unit within
guidelines set forth in General Orders and Internal Affairs SOP; the results of the review
and investigation shall be provided to the Police Chief and the complainant in addition to
being submitted to the chain of command in accordance with policy.
8. Internal Affairs shall seek to determine if the officer who is subject of the complaint has
engaged in a pattern of racial/bias-based profiling, including multiple acts of profiling
behavior for which there is no reasonable, credible explanation based on established police
and law enforcement procedures. A single act constituting racial/bias-based profiling may
not be considered a pattern of racial/bias-based profiling.
9. Compliments received regarding motor vehicle and subject stops and asset forfeiture
activities related to racial/bias-based profiling shall be routed through the officer’s chain
of command.
B. Public Education. The police department shall provide education to the public concerning the
racial/bias-based profiling and the motor vehicle and subject stop compliment and complaint
process. That educational material shall include a telephone number, mailing address, and
email address for members of the public to compliment an officer or file a complaint with
respect to motor vehicle and subject stop activity. A summary of the public education efforts
made during the preceding year shall be included with the annual report filed with the Mayor
and City Council.