Your Bastrop Police
Department is dedicated to providing the best police service possible
to all of Bastrop' Citizens.
Your police employees are carefully selected and given the best
training possible in order to provide this service. However, you
may have an occasion to lodge a complaint about the actions of a
member of the Bastrop Police Department. In order to be responsive
to you, we are providing the following information about how complaints
are made, how they are investigated, and the final outcome of your
complaint.
HOW ARE COMPLAINTS
MADE?
When a citizen lodges
a complaint against a member of the Bastrop Police Department, the
complaint goes to the Internal Affairs Division (supervisors) located
at 104 Grady Tuck Ln. Bastrop, Texas. Their duty is to review and
throughly investigate your complaint The Internal Affairs office
is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each weekday. If the Internal
Affairs Division is not open you may lodge your complaint with any
supervisory officer of the Police Department, your complaint will
be forwarded to the Internal Affairs Division.
TEXAS STATE LAW requires that all complaints against police
officers must be in writing and signed by the person making the
complaint. Just as citizens who are arrested must be notified
of the charges against them, the police officer must be given a
copy of the complaint before any disciplinary action may betaken.
Complaints must be made by the person aggrieved. Other persons may
give statements as witnesses.
The Internal Affairs
Division will conduct a through investigation of your complaint
and you will be advised of the results.
Traffic citations issued or differences of opinions between police
officers over the issuance of a traffic citations for the guilt
or innocence of persons arrested will not be investigated unless
there is specific allegations of misconduct against officers.
FALSE COMPLAINTS
Sometimes people make
false complaints against police officers. Citizens should be aware
that this is a violation of the Texas Penal Code. Section 37.02
(PERJURY) provides punishment for those individuals adjudged guilty
of committing an offense, if with intent to deceive and had knowledge
of the statements meaning; he makes a false statement under oath
or swears to the truth of a false statement previously made and
the statement is required or authorized by law to be made under
oath.
A person convicted under
this section can be confined in jail for any term of not more than
(1) year and a fine not to exceed $4,000. This information is not
intended to intimidate citizens or prevent them from making valid
complaints. It is the intent of the department to persuade individuals
from seeking retribution by filling false complaints against police
officers.
WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN A COMPLAINT IS FOUND TO BE TRUE?
When the investigation
of a complaint reveals that the charges are true and should be sustained
against a police employee, the Chief of Police notifies the employee
and may take one of the following actions, depending on the nature
of the violation.
· Verbal Reprimand
· Written Reprimand
· Time off without compensation
· Demotion
· Termination
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE COMPLAINT IS NOT TRUE?
Police employees must
be afforded certain rights the same as with all citizens, and complaints
must be supported by sufficient evidence.
If there is not sufficient
evidence to sustain the complaints, the officer is notified and
continues on duty. If he/she was removed from duty during the investigation
he/she will be paid for that time.
CAN THE OFFICER APPEAL THE DECISION?
Yes. Just as citizens
charged with a criminal offense have the right to appeal the courts's
decision, police officers also have the right to appeal administrative
actions taken against them. The City of Bastrop has established
procedures for officers to follow in their appeals process, just
as the Police Department has established procedures for insuring
that complaints by citizens against officers are thoroughly and
honestly investigated.
WHAT IF YOU ARE
NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DECISION?
If you are not satisfied
with the results of the investigation by the Internal Affairs Division
you may appeal to the following:
· The Office of
the Chief of Police, located at
104 Grady Tuck Ln. Bastrop, Texas 78602.
· The Office of the City Manager, located at 904
Main St. Bastrop, Texas. 78602
· The Office of the District Attorney, located at
804 Pecan St. Bastrop, Texas 78602
· The Austin, Texas Office of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation located at 300 E.
Eighth Street, Suite 215 Austin, Texas 78767.
The Bastrop Police Department
is vitally concerned with the welfare of all Bastrop Citizens and
in taking action where employees have proven derelict in their duties
or are guilty of misconduct. If it becomes necessary for you to
make a complaint, you can be assured that it will be given a fair
and through investigation.
By the same token, if you have occasion to see an employee doing
outstanding work, tell him/her or drop us a note.
The Bastrop Police Department is made up of individuals who are
dedicated to serving and protecting the health, welfare and safety
of you and our entire community.
