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THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNIT |
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This information is prepared to give you a basic overview of the operation of the West Palm Beach Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit and the complaint investigation process. The mission of the Internal Affairs Unit is to protect the public, our employees, and the Department, through the professional and thorough investigation of complaints concerning department employees.
The Internal Affairs Unit is located on the third floor of the police facility at 600 Banyan Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401. Our main phone number is (561) 822-1858. Our usual business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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| What Does The Internal Affairs Unit Do?
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The Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) makes every effort to maintain the Department’s integrity and accountability. The IAU will ensure that complaints are thoroughly investigated in the fairest possible way, with the goal always being to discover the truth of the matter at issue.
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- The IAU is responsible for processing and controlling investigations involving allegations of misconduct or poor service made against any member of the Police Department.
- The IAU will conduct any administrative investigation when directed to do so by the Chief of Police
- The IAU responds to all scenes where an officer has used deadly force or where a person has died or been critically injured while in custody
- The IAU maintains a comprehensive database of all records associated with complaints, disciplinary actions, and use of force incidents involving all members of the Department.
- The IAU maintains a liaison with several “outside” entities, such as the State Attorney’s Office, the City’s Legal Office and Human Resources Department, the employee Unions, and the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. Information is shared with these entities when necessary to ensure proper oversight and reporting procedures
- The IAU assists the Staff Services Division with background investigations of applicants seeking a position as a police officer.
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| How Do I File A Complaint? |
Complaints will be accepted in person, in writing (hand-delivered, mailed or electronically submitted), or by telephone. You may call Internal Affairs, or ask to speak with any supervisor of the department to file your complaint. It will be easier for you to ask for the on-duty shift commander or communications supervisor, as those positions are staffed at all times. You may choose to remain anonymous, but please realize the anonymity can sometimes make it difficult to conduct a truly thorough follow-up investigation. A Citizen Complaint and Inquiry Form (CCIF) will be completed on all complaints, which initiates the investigative review process. The CCIF is forwarded to the IAU for review. You may choose to complete a written statement form to document the particulars of your complaint. |
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| How Are Complaints Investigated? |
The specific type of investigation that will be conducted depends on the severity and nature of the allegation. Complaints of a serious violation will be handled by the Internal Affairs Unit, or will be jointly investigated and/or monitored by the IAU and another investigative unit, such as the Criminal Investigations Division or the State Attorney’s Office. The Chief of Police is consulted on all serious complaints. Formal complaints, meaning those done by the IAU, and designated Personnel Complaints done by other supervisory personnel, will require the accused employee and all complainants and witnesses to be interviewed under oath. Citizens are encouraged to report legitimate complaints. State law prohibits the intentional filing of false reports to law enforcement and also prohibits lying under oath (perjury), which could result in criminal prosecution. Many complaints allege relatively minor violations of departmental policies or procedures. Complaints of this sort are usually forwarded through the accused member’s chain of command for a supervisory investigation. Informal interviews are conducted when the investigation is assigned to the employee’s division. Except for those cases where you specifically ask NOT to be contacted, the person designated to conduct the investigation will speak to you about your complaint. Regardless of how a complaint is investigated, or by whom, when punitive action against an employee is recommended as a result of an internal investigation the Chief of Police must authorize it.
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| How Are Complaints Concluded? |
When a formal investigation is concluded you will be notified of the results in writing. All complaints are finalized with a disposition. Our Department’s policy defines the dispositions, or conclusions, of internal investigations in one of the following ways:
- Unsubstantiated: There is insufficient evidence to confirm or refute the complaint
- Substantiated: The allegation is true. The action of the agency or the individual was inconsistent with agency policy
- Exonerated: The incident occurred, but there was no violation of law or policy
- Unfounded: The allegation is either demonstrably false or there is no credible evidence to support it
Substantiated complaints will result in command-level recommendations for disciplinary action. The Chief of Police makes the final decision. The action taken can range from a non-punitive counseling session to termination. By law, internal investigations are confidential until they are completed. Upon conclusion, all complaints and their associated reports become a matter of public record. You may request a copy of the report by agreeing to pay the nominal copying fees.
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| What Rights Do the Officers Have When A Complaint is Filed Against Them? |
There is a Florida Statute (law) which mandates the process. Florida Statute 112.532 is commonly known as the Police Officer’s Bill of Rights. This statute, combined with the officer’s labor agreement and departmental rules and policies, define the manner by which an internal investigation will proceed. Officers will not be harassed, intimidated or threatened by supervisors, nor will they be subjected to unreasonable periods of interrogation. Officers have the right to legal counsel or union representation during an investigation. Officers also have the right to seek civil action in cases where accusations were deliberately false or vindictive. |
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| Interactive Links |
Most officers and civilian support people perform their duties with great skill and dedication, yet they often go unrecognized. If you believe one of our employees did an especially good job for you we hope you will tell the employee or his/her supervisor. You are encouraged to write a letter to the Chief at this address:
Chief Delsa R. Bush
West Palm Beach Police Department
600 Banyan Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
If you prefer, a commendation can be sent electronically to this website by clicking the below link:
 Commendation Form
Complaints may also be sent via this website. Click on the below link:
Complaint Form
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