Formal Complaint: Responsibility to the Community Purpose and Scope, Impartial Attitude and Courtesy and other policy violations

OF
CITY
OFFICE OF
NOTICE OF FORMAL
POLICE OVERSIGHT
COMPLAINT
ICMS #: 2020-1834
January 8, 2021
Complaint: The Office of Police Oversight received an anonymous complaint alleging: I am a
social worker at the ATCIC. I worked with Officer
on a mental health call placed
on behalf of a client in psychiatric crisis to pursue an emergency detention given she was
decompensated to the point of not being able to actively consent to treatment. Officer
was incredibly unknowledgeable about mental health, unwilling to accept my clinical opinion, and
was disrespectful in his approach to myself and the client we were working with. He implied that
staff had called for a mental health officer only because we were closing which is not only not true
given we were still open for another three hours (also showing his lack of knowledge into mental
health resources) but it belittled our clinical judgement. He was unwilling to engage in a respectful
conversation to address the needs of the client in crisis and instead lashed out at myself and staff.
We had requested a mental health officer to evaluate this client and he refused to contact the mental
health officer despite our request. The client was clearly at risk of harm to herself or others but he
declined to seek out appropriate care for her by contacting a mental health officer. He further
implied that even if the client was immediate suicidal with plan and intent to act on those thoughts
that he would not have pursued an ED which concerns me for his future interactions with those in
crisis given this may lead to someone taking their own life.
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 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.
900.3.2 ACTS BRINGING DISCREDIT UPON THE DEPARTMENT
Since the conduct of personnel both on-duty or off-duty may reflect directly upon the Department,
employees must conduct themselves at all times in a manner which does not bring reproach,
discredit, or embarrassment to the Department or to the City.
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
ALUSTIN
OFFICE OF
NOTICE OF FORMAL
.
1839
POLICE OVERSIGHT
COMPLAINT
FOUNDED
Recommended Classification: The OPO is permitted to make a preliminary recommendation
on the classification of administrative cases.
The OPO recommends that this allegation receive a B classification.
A
OUNDED
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.