| Ever since the Rodney King incident, the world at | | | | responsibility, he or she will file the complaint |
| large has become increasingly aware of police | | | | without resistance. However, if he or she does |
| brutality. One would presume that mass public | | | | not wish to file the complaint, then you must |
| awareness would stem such aggressive behavior | | | | keep going up the chain of command until you |
| from law enforcement officers, but that doesn't | | | | reach the Chief of Police. |
| seem to be the case. Police officers, if anything, | | | | Once filed at the department, a complaint |
| have only become more careful in how they | | | | becomes a permanent record on the officer's file. |
| verbally and physically abuse the general public. | | | | If an officer receives too many, he or she will get |
| Most U.S. residents don't realize there is a simple | | | | suspended or moved to a position that does not |
| method to combat such abuse. In fact, this | | | | require public interaction. If enough complaints |
| particular expression of public-power can | | | | have been filed, the department may choose to |
| immobilize an officer's career and, in extreme | | | | fire the officer rather than risk having to explain |
| cases, bring an abrupt end to the officer's | | | | why a troubled officer was allowed to continue |
| employment; yes, you can get a police officer | | | | serving the public. |
| fired if you so desire. | | | | Filing a complaint against an officer is extremely |
| If an officer is unnecessarily rough with you or is | | | | powerful. It has a lifetime effect on the officer's |
| verbally abusive, you only need to do one thing: | | | | career. It can prevent an officer from being |
| file a complaint. | | | | promoted and can definitely cause problems |
| Complaints are easy to file. Simply show up at the | | | | whenever an officer attempts to lateral to a new |
| officer's department, walk up to the front desk, | | | | department. |
| and ask to file a complaint against an officer. The | | | | It is not only your right to file a complaint against |
| front desk must file the complaint; it is not the | | | | an abusive police officer; you should look at it as |
| receptionist's responsibility to validate your claim. | | | | your responsibility. Such behavior in a law |
| You should then proceed to calmly and rationally | | | | enforcement officer is unacceptable. If you don't |
| fill out the paperwork and submit it. | | | | file a complaint, the abusive behavior will only |
| If the receptionist refuses to assist you (which | | | | continue and could possibly escalate. |
| they will do almost every time), then you must | | | | Filing a complaint against a police officer is one |
| ask to speak with the Watch Commander on | | | | instance where the pen is truly mightier than the |
| duty. If the Watch Commander has any sense of | | | | sword - or in this case, the gun. |