Formal complaint: Purpose and scope—Responsibility to the community and other policy violations

OF
CITY
JUSTICE
OFFICE OF
NOTICE OF FORMAL
POLICE OVERSIGHT
COMPLAINT
FOUNDED
ICMS #: 2020-0320
March 20, 2020
Complaint: The Office of Police Oversight received the following anonymous online complaint:
"Sgt
sent a mass email to all officers degrading handicapped veterans.
Apparently he has strong feelings about who gets to be classified as disabled. Makes one
wonder if he has a subordinate vet with PTSD how he"ll treat them? Or how he"ll handle a
call on the street involving a citizen vet with ptsd or other disability? Sounds like quite the
liability for his supervisors and the department moving forward!!!"
This notice of formal complaint is a request for Internal Affairs to initiate an investigation in
order to determine if the employee conduct is within compliance of APD policy, Civil Service
Rules, and Municipal Civil Service Rules.
Recommended Administrative Policies to Review (to include but not limited to):
301.1 RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY - PURPOSE AND SCOPE
All persons deserve protection by fair and impartial law enforcement and should be able to
expect similar police response to their behavior wherever it occurs. Employees will serve the
public through direction, counseling, assistance, and protection of life and property. Employees
will be held accountable for the manner in which they exercise the authority of their office or
position. Employees will respect the rights of individuals and perform their services with
honesty, sincerity, courage, and sound judgment.
301.2 IMPARTIAL ATTITUDE AND COURTESY
Employees are expected to act professionally, treat all persons fairly and equally, and perform all
duties impartially, objectively, and equitably without regard to personal feelings, animosities,
friendships, financial status, sex, creed, color, race, religion, age, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, gender identity or gender expression or social or ethnic background.
900.1.1 RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW AND COMPLY
The rules of conduct set forth in this order do not serve as an all-inclusive list of requirements,
limitations, or prohibitions on employee conduct and activities; employees are required to know
and comply with all Department policies, procedures, and written directives.
900.3.4 PERSONAL CONDUCT
(c) While on-duty or on the premises of City facilities, employees will not:
1. Use loud, indecent, profane, harsh, derogatory language, or use belittling terms in any
communications.
2. Ridicule, mock, taunt, embarrass, humiliate, or shame any person, nor do anything that
might incite that person to violence.
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act.
Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request.
OF
CITY
OFFICE OF
NOTICE OF FORMAL
POLICE OVERSIGHT
COMPLAINT
OUNDED
1839
900.5.1 SUPPORTING FELLOW EMPLOYEES
(b) Employees will cooperate, support, and assist each other at every opportunity.
Recommended Classification: The OPO is permitted to make a preliminary recommendation
on the classification of administrative cases.
The OPO recommends that this allegation receive an A classification.
A
UNDED
1839
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act.
Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request.