The Austin Police Department (APD) investigates complaints. There are two different types of complaints, internal and external. Internal complaints are complaints that APD initiates; external complaints are complaints that APD receives from the Office of Police Oversight (OPO).
OPO conducts oversight of investigations into both internal and external complaints. Specifically, the OPO:
- Reviews information gathered by APD.
- Attends interviews conducted by APD.
- Provides progress updates to the individual who submitted the complaint.
- Recommends potential policy violation(s) and classification.
- Communicate the outcome of an investigation once APD has made a final determination.
APD is responsible for determining the classification of each investigation:
Class A complaints are the most serious allegations that APD investigates. These may result in discipline up to and including indefinite suspension.
Class B complaints are less serious allegations that APD investigates. These may result in discipline up to and including a 15-day suspension.
Class C complaints are allegations that do not qualify as Class A or Class B. APD generally does not investigate these complaints. Whether or not a Class C complaint is investigated, it is addressed through internal APD processes.
Class D complaints are allegations in which APD has determined there is no policy violation.
APD is responsible for determining the result of an investigation and making a disciplinary decision, OPO does not make any disciplinary decisions. The outcome of an investigation that APD has conducted are listed below:
- Sustained: The investigation reveals that the incident occurred and violated policy.
- Exonerated: The investigation reveals that the incident occurred but did not violate policy.
- Unfounded: The investigation reveals that the incident did not happen.
- Inconclusive: There is not enough evidence to show whether the incident occurred.
- Administratively Closed: There were no allegations, or there was no misconduct, the case was classified as a Class C or Class D complaint, or at the discretion of the Chief or their designee.