Complaints

Montgomery Police Department

Internal Affairs Complaint Process

The Process

Once a complaint is received, the officer/employee is notified in writing, and provided a copy of the complaint. The officer/employee will be required to provide a written response to the allegations, stating all facts and circumstances of the contact. The officer/employee will be required to take a polygraph, if the case warrants, only after the complainant is requested to take a polygraph and makes a good faith effort to take one.

Polygraphs

During the course of the investigation, the officer/employee may be requested to submit to a polygraph. Submission to a polygraph is voluntary, however; an officer can't be required to take a polygraph unless the complainant is willing to do so.

Substantiated Complaints

If the investigation reveals that the charges are true, and depending on the severity of the infraction, the department may take any of the following actions on the involved employee:

Oral counseling
Written counseling
Written reprimand
Suspension (without pay, up to 15 days)
Suspension (without pay, up to 45 days in lieu of termination)
Indefinite suspension (termination)

An officer or employee has the right to appeal any level of discipline that is more severe than a written reprimand.

Complaint Not Sustained

If there is not sufficient evidence to support the allegation, or it's proven that the officer or employee was acting within the established and accepted policies and/or procedures of the department, the investigation will be closed, and no further actions taken. The person filing the complaint will be notified by mail.

False Complaints

On rare occasions, citizens will file a false complaint against police employees. Citizens should be aware that this is a violation of the Texas Penal Code and is punishable by a fine of $4,000 dollars and/or up to one year in jail if found guilty.

The Montgomery Police Department is sincerely interested in the welfare of all citizens, and in taking action where its employees have acted or behaved in violation of the policies, procedures, and practices of the department, including those of racial profiling. If it becomes necessary for you to make a complaint, you can be assured that it will be given a fair and thorough investigation.

If you have seen police department employees doing outstanding work, we encourage you to tell them and/or us about it. The Montgomery Police Department is comprised of professionals dedicated to serving you and our community.

If you need to file a complaint, please come pick up a Formal Citizen's Complaint Form at the Police Department located at:

101 Old Plantersville Rd.

Montgomery, TX 77316