INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNIT
The Internal Affairs Unit investigates allegations of misconduct made against any employee of the Arlington Police Department. Complaints may be made in many formats including in person at any police station, with any police supervisor, by phone, through email, or anonymously. Internal Affairs reviews all complaints and, based on the severity of the allegation, either investigates it within the Internal Affairs Unit or assigns the complaint to the employee’ s Chain of Command. Internal Affairs works with police supervisors throughout the department during the complaint process and keeps records of all complaint outcomes.
In July 2018, the Arlington Police Department began providing a courtesy card to motorists stopped on traffic stops explaining the compliment and complaint process. The card is in English and Spanish and explains how to submit a compliment or complaint to Internal Affairs.
In 2021, Internal Affairs conducted four racial profiling investigations. None of these allegations led to sustained discipline for a violation of the racial profiling policy. The Arlington Police Department posts its annual racial profiling report on the organization’ s website.
In 2021, through the courtesy card process, Internal Affairs received 506 commendations, 298 general questions, and 40 complaints. Of the 40 complaints received, 2 of the complaints were sustained for courtesy violations after investigation.
22 | 2021 Annual Report