(This article was updated to include new information.)
When citizens have concerns about their treatment, the Citizens’ Police Complaint Office works to mitigate disagreements between the public and Indianapolis police.
The quickest way to report a misconduct concern to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is to ask for the involved officer’s district supervisor to speak to those involved. This tends to prompt a stern conversation, said Richard Okello, executive director of the Citizens’ Police Complaint Office. It’s often used to process lower-level complaints, such as an officer speeding without lights and sirens.
Unlike the formal complaint process, any associated discipline may not appear on an officer’s record.
Here’s how to use the formal complaint process:
Citizens’ Complaint Board: How to file an official grievance against an Indianapolis police officer
Filing a formal complaint is estimated to take a few months from start to finish, Okello said. It gives people the chance to tell their side of events during a public meeting and provides a path for formal repercussions and an internal affairs investigation, Okello said.
Anyone who has interacted with Indianapolis police can file a complaint within 180 days of the interaction. There is no option to remain anonymous, Okello said. Cases shouldn’t be overly broad or fall outside Indianapolis police jurisdiction.
After Okello’s office conducts a preliminary investigation, the person reporting may receive an official complaint form, which must be notarized. Okello said a free notary and the police complaint headquarters are in the downtown City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St.
I’ve filled out an official complaint form against IMPD. What next?
Indianapolis police will conduct an internal affairs investigation. Only police have the authority to determine what potential discipline is appropriate, said Kenneth Riggins, president of the Citizens’ Police Complaint Board. Upon the investigation’s completion, it’s likely that either the chief or commander of professional standards will determine whether those involved violated department policy, Okello said.
Afterward, IMPD’s decision will be reviewed by the Citizens’ Police Complaint Board during one of its monthly meetings.
What does the Indianapolis Citizens’ Police Complaint Board do?
The police complaint board does not govern department policy or review cases involving serious injuries or deadly force, Okello said. The General Orders Board and Civilian Use of Force Board, respectively, perform those duties.
The complaint board is made of 12 appointees, nine civilian voting members and three non-voting members with law enforcement backgrounds. The board reviews the circumstances internal affairs cases and makes an independent judgments about whether it agrees with Indianapolis police findings. The person reporting the issue and any officers involved will have five minutes to present their case in front of the board.
If the board agrees with IMPD’s findings, the decision will stand.
If the board disagrees with IMPD’s findings, its president will most likely meet with the police chief to request a revised finding. Riggins described the mediations as “really just a conversation” between himself and the chief.
Okello said there have been seven of those meetings since January 2024. Each time, the chief has taken internal affairs’ position and IMPD’s decision has remained in effect.
Riggins said the chief makes the final decision. There is no appeals process, Okello said.
Just because IMPD doesn’t determine an officer violated its policy doesn’t mean citizens are entirely out of options. Okello said he always encourages citizens to speak with an attorney and follow their advice.
Okello said the board can theoretically call for an administrative hearing or order an additional investigation. Both options remove the decision to determine law enforcement’s fault from IMPD. Okello said in the four years since he joined, the board hasn’t used either of those options.
How can I contact the Indianapolis Citizens’ Police Complaint Office?
You can contact the Citizens’ Police Complaint Office by phone at 317-327-3440 or cpco@indy.gov
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How to report Indianapolis police misconduct allegations
Reporting by Matthew Cupelli, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
