Employee Complaint

Employee Complaints

The Administrative Services Unit is responsible for receiving, processing, assigning and supervising the investigation of any alleged misconduct or criminal conduct against any member of the Davidson Police Department. The Administrative Services Unit ensures that all allegations are investigated thoroughly and objectively.

Filing a Complaint

All complaints will be accepted by the Administrative Services Unit and can be submitted in person, by letter, by telephone, by e-mail, or online form. Anonymous complaints are also accepted; however, we will not be able to follow-up with you for further information.

All complaints will be reviewed and a determination made to assign the complaint to the appropriate immediate supervisor or the Administrative Services Unit for investigation. Following a thorough and impartial investigation, a disposition will be rendered based on all available factual information. The complainant will receive notification of the final disposition by registered mail with a return receipt.

What will happen to the officer?  It depends on what the officer did. If the officer's actions were criminal, he/she will be dealt with in the same way as any other resident. If the officer's actions were improper but not criminal, he/she may be disciplined by the Chief of Police. If the officer has been falsely accused, the complainant may face civil and/or criminal action. (See N.C General Statute 14-225: False Report to Law Enforcement Agencies or Officers)

Disposition of Complaint

Police officers are public employees, and North Carolina General Statues regulate what specific personnel information can be released concerning them. The results of all complaints are called findings, which fall into five classifications:

  • Unfounded - When the investigation discloses that the alleged act(s) did not occur or did not involve department personnel.  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 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 employee. 
  •  Sustained - When the investigation discloses sufficient evidence to establish the act occurred and that it constituted misconduct. 
  •  No Finding/Incomplete - The investigation was terminated because the complainant dropped the complaint, failed to cooperate, was unavailable after diligent follow up investigation, or the employee resigned prior to the completion of the investigation limiting the ability to complete the investigation.  

The complainant will receive a letter from the Chief of Police informing them of the disposition of their complaint. This will occur within thirty days of the final review by the Chief of Police.  

Citizen Complaint Cases Investigated by Davidson Police Department

There were three citizen complaints during the calendar year of 2019. The complaints were as follows: CC2019-02 written complaint alleging misconduct (SUSTAINED); CC2019-02 - made anonymously and was regarding an allegation of misconduct (UNFOUNDED); CC2019-03 – verbal complaint regarding an allegation of misconduct (UNFOUNDED). None of these complaints were related to biased-based policing. See Annual Citizen Complaint, Internal Affairs Investigation and Commendation Analysis for 2022 for specific details on complaints.