Citizen Complaint

How to File a Complaint against an EPD Employee

The Evansville Police Department is committed to providing professional law enforcement services. There are many ways to ensure our services are delivered professionally, however, one of the most important is holding our employees accountable in regards to alleged misconduct. If you were the victim or witness of alleged misconduct, the Evansville Police Department requests that you file your complaint in writing on a citizen complaint form. You may file your complaint with any employee of the Evansville Police Department, who in turn will contact their immediate supervisor regarding your complaint. Moreover, you may call the non-emergency number at 608-882-2292 and ask to speak with an on-duty supervisor. The supervisor will provide you with further directions, including if applicable, issuance of the citizen complaint form. This Department will accept complaints against its employees, policies or procedures.
The Evansville Police Department will thoroughly and objectively investigate all complaints of alleged misconduct to equitably determine whether the allegations are valid, or invalid, and to take appropriate action when warranted. Therefore, you will be asked to substantiate your complaint through facts, rather than opinions.
Alleged employee misconduct not only affects the complainant, but department personnel as well as the community. Therefore, any complainant who provides false allegations of employee misconduct will be subject to legal proceedings contained in Wisconsin Statute 946.661(1)(a)(b)(2).

Complaint Process

To Register a Complaint About an Evansville Police Officer or Employee:

File a Citizen Complaint Form
You may write to Chief of Police, Evansville Police Department, PO Box 529, Evansville, WI 53536
Come in personally and request a Citizen Complaint form.

Information Needed

The supervisor assigned to investigate your complaint will ask for the following information (If filing a written complaint, please include the following information):
Your name, address and phone number;
The date and time of the incident about which you are complaining;
The names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses, if available;
If the incident involves an arrest, the name, address, and phone number of the person arrested, if known;
The name, badge number, and car number of the officer(s) involved, if known;
Details of the incident that prompted your complaint.

Upon completion of an investigation you will be notified of the outcome (most likely via phone). One of the following determinations will be made:

Unfounded: Investigation indicates that the allegations are false.
Not substantiated: Insufficient evidence has been obtained to either prove or disprove the allegations.
Substantiated: The allegations are supported by sufficient evidence to reasonably conclude that the allegations are true.
Exonerated: Investigation indicates that the incident occurred, but the employee’s actions were justified, lawful or appropriate under the circumstances.
Policy failure: Investigation indicates that the allegations are true; however, the employee was acting in accordance with established Department policy.

The Chief of Police reviews all findings. When a finding of “Substantiated" is reported, the Chief will decide what immediate corrective action will be taken.

Appropriate corrective action, may include counseling, training, verbal reprimand, written reprimand, suspension, demotion, or dismissal.

When recommended disciplinary action may result in suspension, dismissal or demotion, a formal statement of charges and specifications may be prepared, pursuant the policies and procedures adopted by the Evansville Police Commission.

The Chief of Police will make the final determination. An aggrieved party who wants to appeal the Chief's decision may do so by notifying the Evansville Police Commission.

Timeline

Typically complaints are reviewed, investigated and all parties are notified of the outcome within 60-90 days. Certain cases may be extended beyond this timeframe with approval from the Chief of Police.

Complaints will not be investigated if the complaint is received more than ninety (90) days after the alleged incident, except if the complaint involves an alleged criminal violation, or the complainant can show good cause for not making the complaint within the specified time limit.

City Of Evansville - WI

Citizen Complaint

How to File a Complaint against an EPD Employee

Complaint Process

To Register a Complaint About an Evansville Police Officer or Employee:

File a Citizen Complaint Form

You may write to Chief of Police, Evansville Police Department, PO Box 529, Evansville, WI 53536

Come in personally and request a Citizen Complaint form.

Information Needed

The supervisor assigned to investigate your complaint will ask for the following information (If filing a written complaint, please include the following information):

Your name, address and phone number;

The date and time of the incident about which you are complaining;

The names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses, if available;

If the incident involves an arrest, the name, address, and phone number of the person arrested, if known;

The name, badge number, and car number of the officer(s) involved, if known;

Details of the incident that prompted your complaint.

Upon completion of an investigation you will be notified of the outcome (most likely via phone). One of the following determinations will be made:

Unfounded: Investigation indicates that the allegations are false.

Not substantiated: Insufficient evidence has been obtained to either prove or disprove the allegations.

Substantiated: The allegations are supported by sufficient evidence to reasonably conclude that the allegations are true.

Exonerated: Investigation indicates that the incident occurred, but the employee’s actions were justified, lawful or appropriate under the circumstances.

Policy failure: Investigation indicates that the allegations are true; however, the employee was acting in accordance with established Department policy.