Internal Affairs
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 either
investigates within the unit or assigns
the complaint to the employee’s Chain
of Command based on the severity of
the allegation. Internal Affairs works
with police supervisors throughout
the department during the complaint
process and keeps records of all
complaint outcomes.
66
| 2018 Annual Report
In July of 2018, the Arlington Police
Department began providing a
courtesy card to motorists stopped on
traffic stops explaining the compliment
and complaint process. This card was
developed as an enhancement to
the Sandra Bland Act. The card is in
English and Spanish and explains how
to submit a compliment or complaint
to Internal Affairs. The card provides
options on how to visit, email or call
Internal Affairs.
Arlington PD policy prohibits
any law enforcement initiated
action based on an individual’s race,
ethnicity, national origin, gender,
sexual orientation, religion, gender
identity, economic status, age, cultural
group or any other identifiable
group. Internal Affairs investigates
any allegation of racial profiling. In
In 2018, Internal Affairs was
contacted 296 times regarding
the courtesy card. There were
188 commendations, 88 general
calls and 20 complaints. Of the
20 complaints received, there
were no sustained cases or
discipline issued.
2018, Internal Affairs conducted six
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.