Complaints, Commendation, and Parking Citations

If you would like to file an Administrative Review regarding a parking citation you have received from the Sheriff’s Department, please complete and print out the Parking Citation Admin Review Form and submit it to rec-requests@sbcsd.org. You must also include a copy of the parking citation and all supporting documents. To ensure your email is reviewed, please include, your name, contact information, date and time of the incident, and detailed comment.

If you would like to commend a Sheriff’s Department employee for the service you received, please email the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Public Affairs Division paffairs@sbcsd.org. To ensure your email is forwarded to the appropriate patrol station or division, please include, your name, contact information, date and time of the incident, employee’s name, and detailed comment.

Where and how to file a complaint

You may make a complaint in person at any Sheriff’s station or the Internal Affairs Division regardless of where the incident occurred. The Internal Affairs Division is located at Sheriff’s Headquarters, 655 East 3^rd Street in San Bernardino. If you do not wish to make a complaint in person, you may call the Internal Affairs Division during normal business hours at (909) 387-3726, to have a Civilian Complaint form mailed to you.

You may also click on one of the form icons at the bottom of this page. Please complete the form, print it, and mail it to: San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
Internal Affairs Division
655 East Third Street
San Bernardino, California 92415-0061

If you feel more comfortable making a complaint in writing, and there is not enough room on the complaint form to fully explain your concerns, you may attach additional pages along with any documents you feel are relevant. There is no set format. You may tell your story in a way that you feel comfortable. Please remember it is important to include details such as when and where the incident occurred, the name of the employee involved if you know it, and how you can be contacted for additional information.

Please mail all the material directly to the Internal Affairs Division at the address listed above.

How a formal personnel complaint is handled

When a formal personnel complaint is received, it is reviewed to determine if the allegations are a violation of Department Policy or the law. If further information is required, or if the allegations are unclear, the complainant may receive a letter requesting they contact the Internal Affairs Division for further information. If the allegations are violations of Department Policy or the law, the complaint will be assigned to a supervisor. Often, the first thing the supervisor will ask to do is conduct a recorded interview with the complainant. The purpose of this is to ensure the investigator has a good understanding of what your complaint is about and who is involved. Once the complaint has been thoroughly investigated, the commander of the station will review it and forward it to the Internal Affairs Division.

Your complaint and the investigation will then be reviewed by the Internal Affairs Division personnel and sent to the appropriate Bureau Deputy Chief. The Deputy Chief will examine all of the materials and render a decision on how the matter will be handled. If an employee is to receive discipline, the case may be referred to a disciplinary review board.

Investigation of a personnel complaint and the subsequent case review is a very time-consuming and involved process. Please be patient. After the complaint has been thoroughly investigated, and the appropriate action has been taken, you will be notified in writing of the results. California law prohibits the department from disclosing details of personnel investigations or any disciplinary action taken.

The letter you receive will list one or more of the following decisions relative to the allegations:

• SUSTAINED – The investigation disclosed sufficient evidence to prove the truth of the allegation in the complaint by preponderance of the evidence.
• NOT-SUSTAINED – The investigation failed to disclose sufficient evidence to clearly prove or disprove the allegation in the complaint.
• UNFOUNDED – The investigation clearly established that the allegation is not true.
• EXONERATED – The investigation clearly established that the actions of the peace officer or custodial officer that formed the basis for the complaint are not violations of the law or Department policy.
• FRIVOLOUS – The investigation established that the complaint is totally and completely without merit or offered for the sole purpose of harassing the officer.

Criminal charges and the courts

Many times, people who have received a citation or were arrested feel they are not guilty of the charge. However, the validity of the citation or arrest and the guilt or innocence of the person involved must be determined by a court of law, not the Sheriff’s Department. Only a court is empowered by law to adjudicate such matters. The filing of a Civilian Complaint will not stop a criminal investigation, prosecution, or the citation process.