Complaint Reporting Procedure
Frequently Asked Questions about Filing a Complaint
Who can file a complaint?
Anyone may file a complaint. This may include a parent or representative of an involved party.
Who to contact?
Complaints should be directed to the on-duty watch commander who can be reached at (310) 253-6202.
How can a complaint be filed?
Complaints will be accepted telephonically, electronically, by mail, or in person. The complainant will be asked to give the names of all the parties and witnesses involved. The complainant will also be asked to give a complete and thorough statement.
Who will investigate the complaint?
The complaint will be investigated by the Professional Standards Unit or a supervisor. The investigation will be reviewed by members of the Command Staff to insure its thoroughness.
Who makes the final decision?
The Chief of Police, after reviewing all aspects of the investigation, will make the final decision as to any disciplinary action; up to and including termination.
Will all parties be notified?
Both the person making the complaint and the employee involved will be notified in writing of the findings at the completion of the investigation. State law prohibits the disclosure of specific information regarding personnel actions involving police officers.
Complaint Forms
Complaint and Investigation Procedures
Más sobre nuestros procedimientos de quejas e investigaciones.(PDF, 416KB)
The Culver City Police Department in compliance with California Penal Section 832.5 has established a procedure to investigate complaints against our employees.
The Culver City Police Department takes all community complaints regarding the conduct of any of our members seriously. All community complaints will be accepted and fully investigated.
Complaints can be made telephonically, electronically, by mail, or in person. Once a personnel complaint is submitted, the Department’s Professional Standards Unit (PSU) or another supervisor completes a thorough and impartial administrative investigation, which is reviewed by the Command Staff.
The investigation process includes:
- Interviewing all witnesses and officers
- Reviewing officers Body Worn and In-Car Camera footage
- Reviewing 911 tapes
- Canvassing areas for third party evidence, including surveillance footage
- And more…….
CCPD not only investigates complaints taken from community members, but we also conduct internal investigations related to misconduct discovered by a supervisor or other officer.
Once an investigation is complete, the Chief and Command Staff take the appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
For transparency purposes, investigations related to officer involved shootings, any in-custody death, and criminal misconduct are typically handled by outside agencies, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
There are four potential findings related to administrative investigations which are as follows:
- Unfounded - When the investigation discloses that the alleged acts did not occur or did not involve department members. Complaints that are determined to be frivolous will fall within the classification of unfounded (Penal Code § 832.8).
- Exonerated - When the investigation discloses that the alleged act occurred but that the act was justified, lawful and/or proper.
- Not sustained - When the investigation discloses that there is insufficient evidence to sustain the complaint or fully exonerate the member.
- Sustained - A final determination by an investigating agency, commission, board, hearing officer, or arbitrator, as applicable, following an investigation and opportunity for an administrative appeal pursuant to Government Code § 3304 and Government Code § 3304.5 that the actions of an employee were found to violate law or department policy (Penal Code § 832.8).