Complaints
The Lawrence Police Department prides itself on being a professional, nationally recognized law enforcement agency. We expect high standards of ethical conduct from each of our department members. Occasionally, questions are raised concerning a citizen's encounter with a police officer. The department is interested in investigating those instances where inappropriate conduct may have occurred.
All members of the Lawrence Police Department recognize that we are accountable to the public. We encourage questions about the law enforcement process, and questions concerning law enforcement behavior. I hope you found your interaction with Lawrence Police Department officers to be professional and I have included information in our web site to assist you if you believe a department member made a mistake or violated policy, or even to answer questions you may have about police service.
A question or complaint?
Most citizens have limited contact with members of the Lawrence Police Department. It is normal that you may have questions concerning how or why a particular incident was handled in the manner it was. On most occasions, the officer's actions are dictated by state law, departmental policies, procedures, or guidelines. We are pleased to have the opportunity to explain to you the reasons for our behavior. You can submit questions in an open forum to the Lawrence Police Department by clicking on the link supplied at the bottom of this webpage or by clicking here . If you need to submit a complaint about a specific incident, please fill out this form. Complaints or allegations of misconduct occur if an officer is accused of deviating from departmental policies, procedures, or guidelines.
In order to provide a complete report, citizens are encouraged to make their questions about police conduct as soon as possible after the encounter. The department will make a written record of your question or complaint, and the circumstances surrounding the event will be investigated at the earliest possible opportunity.
Complaints that involve ongoing criminal or traffic court proceedings will be investigated when the proceedings have concluded. The innocence or guilt of the defendant will have no influence on the complaint process.
What is my next step?
Citizens may also make complaints or questions by letter or in person at any time. A complaint form may be printed off by clicking on a link at the bottom of this page. Individuals may contact the Community Services Captain during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.). During other hours, inquiries or complaints are handled by contacting (785) 832-7509 and asking for the "On-duty Shift Commander".
Who do you call?
Telephone inquiries may be made in a number of ways. One may call the Information Services Division of the Police Department, and ask for the Office of Professional Accountability Sergeant whose responsibility it is to investigate your complaint. Inquiries and complaints are also taken by appointment at other locations of convenience to the citizen. The telephone numbers and contacts are:
Citizens Inquiries/Complaints
Office of Professional Accountability Sergeant Michael Monroe
(785)832-7551
Information Services Supervisor
Captain Tarik Khatib
(785) 832-7596
Administrative Division
Office of the Chief of Police
W. Ronald Olin
(785) 830-7400
The investigation.
Complaints against officers are divided into two categories: non-criminal conduct and criminal conduct. Each of these complains is investigated in a different way.
The Community Services Division is normally responsible for investigating non-criminal complaints of officer conduct.
Complaints involving allegations of criminal conduct will be investigated by the Investigations Division or, depending upon the circumstances, investigators or agencies chosen by the Chief of Police.
Findings.
At the completion of the investigation of your complaint, a conclusion will be made based upon the findings of the inquiry. Your complaint will then be categorized as:
| Sustained | The complaint is determined to be factual. |
| Exonerated | The officer(s) did not commit the offense as stated. |
| Unfounded | The allegation is false or not factual. |
| Not Sustained | Not enough evidence to prove or disprove the allegations was found. |
| Dismissed | The complainant withdrew the complaint or failed to cooperate with the investigation. |
If your complaint is sustained, the Chief of Police will initiate the proper disciplinary action consistent with the policies of the City of Lawrence and the Lawrence Police Department. Personnel rules governing confidentiality prohibit revealing disciplinary actions taken against officers. However, you will be sent a letter stating the final disposition and resolution of your complaint.
Thank you for your interest in the Lawrence Police Department. If you have
questions or comments, please contact us.
To submit an questions please use the link below:
Lawrence Kansas Police Department question board.
To print a complaint form, Adobe Acrobat Reader must be installed on your computer. This may be
downloaded at www.adobe.com or by clicking on this link.
Download a complaint form.
