COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION
THE GARNER POLICE DEPARTMENT investigates all complaints made by citizens regardless of the source of the complaint or how it is communicated to us ; complaints are typically deemed to be either an allegation of serious misconduct or a performance complaint . The department utilizes electronic tracking software to record and track all complaints that are brought to the attention of the department .
Allegations of serious misconduct are complaints that allege corruption , misuse of force , violation of the law , violation of an individual ’ s civil rights , or a serious breach of department policy or employee rules of conduct .
Performance complaints typically allege an inappropriate action or response by an employee , improper operation of a police vehicle , violation of a department policy or employee rules of conduct , or any other act or failure to act that does not rise to the level of an allegation of misconduct .
Upon conclusion of an investigation , each complaint is assigned one of the following findings :
Sustained – Findings indicate there is sufficient evidence to prove the allegation or complaint .
Non-Sustained – Findings indicate there is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation or complaint .
Exonerated – Findings indicate there is sufficient evidence to prove the incident occurred , but the actions or demeanor of the employee was proper , lawful and / or within policy .
Unfounded – Findings indicate there is sufficient evidence to prove the allegation or complaint did not occur or was demonstrably untrue or false .
Policy Failure – Findings indicate there is sufficient evidence to prove the allegation or complaint occurred , but the actions of the employee were within GPD policy when the incident took place . This finding indicates the policy is faulty and in need of review or revision .
During 2021 there were three instances of citizen concerns , in which no policy violation or misconduct was alleged , but the citizen was still initially unsatisfied with their contact with an officer . Six additional instances were filed by citizens that did rise to the level of a performance complaint . Ten distinct allegations were made against officers involving the respective six incidents . One allegation was sustained , three allegations were not sustained , and six allegations were unfounded .
During 2021 , 20 instances of internal performance complaints occurred with a total of 28 allegations made by supervisors when officers were observed to have violated policy , or it was discovered they had engaged in personal misconduct . Of those internally initiated investigations , 27 were sustained and 1 was exonerated .
During 2021 there was one Internal Affairs Investigation where there were two distinct allegations filed by a citizen . One allegation was sustained and the other one was unfounded .
The rate of policy violations or misconduct is extremely low given that the department had a minimum of 36,500 documented citizen contacts ( as measured by incident reports , calls for service , citations , and arrests ). In summary , approximately one out of every 2,281 citizen contacts resulted in an external complaint or citizen concern , or less than 0.04 % of all contacts .
22 GARNER POLICE DEPARTMENT 2021 ANNUAL REPORT