The Complaints and Inquiries data set includes all complaints received by the Norman Police Department. These complaints or inquires can be received in writing, by email, in-person, or by telephone. Anonymous and third-party complaints are also accepted and investigated to the extent that sufficient information is provided. The information contained in these data sets, along with community and departmental demographic data, may provide researchers with valuable insight that can move beyond subjective or anecdotal claims involving complaints concerning Norman Police Department employees.
Data Set Information
About the Complaints & Inquiries Data
The Norman Police Department is committed to ensuring that members of the community, and employees, can report misconduct without fear of reprisal or retaliation. To that end the department will accept complaints in accordance with Policy 1010 from Individuals in any form, including in writing, by email, in person or by telephone. Anonymous and third-party complaints are also accepted and investigated to the extent that sufficient information is provided.
Personnel complaints include any allegation of misconduct or improper job performance that, if true, would constitute a violation of department policy or federal, state or local law, policy or rule. Personnel complaints may be generated internally or by the public. Inquiries about conduct or performance that, if true, would not violate department policy or federal, state or local law, policy or rule may be addressed by a supervisor and shall not be considered a personnel complaint. Such inquiries generally include clarification regarding policy, procedures or the response to specific incidents by the Department.
There are two general categories of complaints: Informal and formal. Both of them must be reported and are reviewed by the chain of command. Informal complaints are those that can be closed once the Watch Commander is satisfied that appropriate corrective action has been taken by a supervisor of greater rank that the accused employee. Formal complaints are those that require additional action and, depending upon the complexity or seriousness of the allegations, may be investigated by a supervisor or a Professional Standards investigator.
What information does the Complaint & Inquiries Data provide?
This data set is intended to fulfill one of the fundamental elements of the Police Data Initiative. We have found that it is difficult to set an arbitrary report period as not all incidents are reported right away. That means an investigation may be started contemporaneously with an incident, or it may not be started for weeks, months or even years later – depending upon when it is reported. Therefore, we have decided to start with January 1 and report quarterly on the investigations that have been initiated “year-to-date”. That way we will not leave an incident out.
The information contained in these files, along with community and departmental demographic data, may provide researchers with valuable insight that can move beyond subjective or anecdotal claims involving complaints concerning Norman Police Department employees. We hope that it will also help us with identifying training needs or policy modifications to help ensure the highest level of police services.
Terms Used
IA Number: This is the unique identification number for complaint. There may be more than one allegation of misconduct involved in a single incident. There may also be more than one officer or citizen involved in an incident. As a result, the identifier, while unique to an incident, may be used more than once in relation to different allegation of misconduct involved in that incident. The number has three parts: “IAE”/“IAI”/“IQE”/“IQI” indicating external complaints/internal complaints/external/internal inquiries respectively, the four-digit year, and the incident number preceded by a hyphen.
Allegation: The allegation is the specific misconduct alleged. It is most often summarized from Policy 320 with a specified additional policy reference for clarification.
Finding: At the completion of a formal or informal investigation, the investigator will recommend one of the following dispositions:
- Unfounded: When the investigation discloses that the alleged acts did not occur or did not involve department members. Complaints that are determined to be frivolous will fall within the classification of unfounded.
- Exonerated: When the investigation discloses that the alleged act occurred but that the act was justified, lawful and/or proper.
- Not sustained: When the investigation discloses that there is insufficient evidence to sustain the complaint or fully exonerate the member.
- Sustained: When the investigation discloses sufficient evidence to establish that the act occurred and that it constituted misconduct.
- Exceptional: When the investigation discloses extenuating circumstances that are not applicable to another disposition.
**NOTE: Due to a citizen's request regarding the nature of an Administrative finding, we have determined that a more clear title is required. Administrative findings have been applied to a variety of complaint/inquiry types where either no misconduct was involved, the matter was for review only, or a minor concern had been addressed on-the-spot.**
Citizen or Officer ID: These are unique identifiers for involved officers and citizens. Officers maintain this unique identifier regardless of the incident – it will remain the same over their career. Similarly, citizens will retain their unique identifier when possible. With the following exceptions:
ID 2396 and 1046 are place holders for an “Anonymous” person entered upon their request.
ID 2330 and 799 are system place holders for “None”. Used when a citizen complainant is not involved.
ID 791, 1344, 1601, 1630, 1683, 2220 and 2395 are all place holders for “Unknown” person who are not identifiable.