Comment About a Bridgeton Police Employee

MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of the Bridgeton Police Department is to enforce the law, maintain the peace, protect life and property and promote the quality of life in the City of Bridgeton.  

This will be accomplished by compliance with professional standards established by the Oath of Office, Professional Code of Ethics and Departmental and City Directives in such a manner that promotes the public’s trust, confidence and sense of safety and security.

COMMENDING EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE

The best way to commend the actions of a police employee is to write a brief letter (email) describing the incident and the actions you think were exceptional.  Information such as the date, time and location, will help identify the employee if you do not know his or her name.  If you choose not to write, you may call and ask to speak with the employee’s supervisor and make a verbal commendation.  Commendations received by the Chief of Police are forwarded to the employee, his or her supervisor and a copy placed in their personnel file.  Our employees do not expect to be thanked for everything they do; recognition of exceptional service is always appreciated.

MAKING AN INQUIRY OR COMPLAINT

An inquiry or complaint can be made at any time and should be made within a reasonable time after the alleged misconduct occurred to help assure evidence is still available and recollections of the incident are fresh.

A complaint can be registered in the following manner:

Contact the Patrol Supervisor at (314) 739-7557 or in person at the Police Department (12355 Natural Bridge Rd, Bridgeton, MO).  If the Patrol Supervisor is unavailable leave a message and you will be contacted in a timely fashion.

Print and complete the Citizen Complaint Statement and mail it to:

Bridgeton Police Department
 Attn: Patrol Division Commander
 12355 Natural Bridge Road
 Bridgeton, MO 63044

The complaint review procedure is not intended to resolve issues surrounding traffic citations or arrest for which criminal charges have been issued; such matters are to be resolved through the court system.

COMPLAINT REVIEW POLICY

It is the policy of the Bridgeton Police Department to investigate all complaints of alleged employee misconduct, and to equitably determine whether or not the allegations are valid and to take appropriate action. Complaints will be accepted via telephone, in written form or verbally, and may be accepted by any member of the department.

HOW COMPLAINTS WILL BE INVESTIGATED

Serious Allegations

If the complaint is an allegation of corruption, brutality, misuse of force, breach of civil rights, or criminal misconduct the complaint shall be forwarded to the Chief of Police who shall review the complaint and assign an officer of the rank of Lieutenant or higher to investigate.

Minor Allegations

If the complaint is minor in nature, it may be resolved at the line supervisory level and referred to the employee's direct supervisor or, if appropriate, handled by the supervisor taking or receiving the complaint.

COMPLAINT REVIEW PROCEDURE

The Department will make every effort to investigate complaints of misconduct. Complaints submitted by persons unwilling to cooperate in an investigation will be investigated to the fullest extent possible. Complainants who cooperate in an investigation will be notified of the results of their investigation and are invited to contact the Patrol Division Commander to determine the status of their complaint.

Witnesses named by the complainant will be interviewed regarding the incident and their statements recorded.  The involved employee(s) will be interviewed, as well as any additional witnesses discovered, and their statements recorded.  If a criminal law violation is alleged, and there is sufficient evidence to support the allegation, a parallel criminal investigation will be conducted.

All complaints will be investigated to the extent allowed by available information. It is intended that most investigations will be concluded within 30 days, but more complex issues may require a lengthier time frame. Complainants will be notified, in writing the investigation has concluded with the final results.

The Department fully accepts its responsibility to investigate all legitimate, factual complaints against its employees.  It cannot, however, preclude its employees from seeking redress through civil courts to allegations which the citizen knows to be false, malicious or contrived. Department employees, like all citizens, have the right to legal recourse through the judicial system.

FINAL COMPLAINT CLASSIFICATION

At the conclusion of an internal investigation, the investigator will recommend one of the following classifications:

Exonerated – The incident occurred, but the employee’s conduct was lawful and proper.

Unfounded – The allegation is false or the incident did not occur.

Not Sustained – There is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation.

Sustained – The evidence is sufficient to support the allegation.

Employees against whom a complaint has been sustained are subject to internal discipline.  Depending upon the seriousness of the misconduct, sanctions ranging from written reprimand to termination of the employee may be imposed.