Citizen Complaints Against Police Personnel

INTRODUCTION:

The Jaffrey Police Department prides itself on the professionalism of our officers, our adherence to our policies, and the proper enforcement of local and State laws.  Members of the Jaffrey Police Department are expected to uphold our core values of Honor, Integrity, Courage, and Respect as we provide effective police services in a professional, courteous, and equitable manner.  If this standard is ever called into question we want to know and we urge citizens to voice their concerns so we can take corrective action. 

PROCEDURE:

The Jaffrey Police Department has a detailed procedure for addressing/investigating complaints against members of our agency.  No citizen should fear that his or her good-faith complaint will be resented or that you will be harassed or intimidated for having filed a complaint.  Legitimate complaints/concerns are not only accepted, they are encouraged.

There are three primary ways to file a complaint or express a concern:

• You can call the police department at 603-532-7865 and ask to speak to a supervisor.
• You can come to the station and request to speak to a supervisor.     
• You can complete a “Complaint Against Police Personnel” form that is attached to this web page and is available in the lobby of the police station.  Once completed you can submit it by emailing it to police@townofjaffrey.com, you can mail it to us at 26 Main Street, Jaffrey, NH, 03452, or you can drop it off in person during normal business hours. 

*You can remain anonymous if you wish but please be aware that anonymous complaints are more difficult to address/investigate and may not carry the same weight when the validity of the accusation is considered.    

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:

You will be treated with courtesy, will be spoken to in private, and your concerns will receive prompt attention.  You can expect that if the matter is not resolved before you leave, you will be notified as to the status of your complaint when the matter is resolved. 

You should not expect that your complaint will be judged solely upon the basis of what you claim to have happened, just as the police officer cannot expect the matter to be decided solely on his or her version of events.  The final findings will be based on all the available evidence and the totality of the circumstances. 

Serious or more involved allegations may be assigned by the Chief of Police for a formal internal investigation.  The department standard is to complete an internal investigation within 60 days.  In most cases the time frame will be much shorter but occasionally a thorough investigation may require an extension of the 60-day standard. 

All complaints submitted will be reviewed by the Chief of Police to ensure that appropriate corrective action, if required, is taken.  If it is determined that the problem was created by a deficient policy or procedure, that policy or procedure shall be addressed and corrected. 

Complaints are adjudicated as follows:

• UNFOUNDED when it is determined that the incident did not occur or the officer was not involved. 
• EXONERATED when the incident occurred but the officer acted lawfully and appropriately.
• NOT SUSTAINED when there is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation.
• SUSTAINED when the allegation is supported by a preponderance of the evidence.

Corrective action may involve:

• Policy reviews and revisions.
• Additional training for the involved officer(s).
• Performance file entries that may cause an overall negative annual performance review. 
• Discipline for the involved officer(s) ranging from verbal counseling up to termination of employment.
• Criminal charges against the officer(s) if there has been a violation of the law.
• A formal review by New Hampshire Police Standards and Training that may result in the suspension or revocation of the officer’s certification.     

FURTHER ASSISTANCE:

If you are dissatisfied with the Police Department’s response to your complaint, the resolution, or the Chief of Police is the subject of the complaint, you may seek assistance from:

• The TOWN MANAGER and the BOARD OF SELECTMEN – 603-532-7880
• NEW HAMPSHIRE POLICE STANDARDS AND TRAINING – 603-271-2133
• The NEW HAMPSHIRE ATTORNEY GENERAL – 603-271-3671

If you have any questions about the information provided on this page please feel free to call or email the Chief of Police directly at 603-532-7865 or tmuilenberg@townofjaffrey.com.