Commendations:

The UNT Police Department welcomes and encourages your comments regarding our employees' service to you. If you would like to recognize an employee and send us your comments, you may e-mail Capt. Jim Coffey or send written correspondence to the following address:

University of North Texas Police Department
1700 Wilshire St.
Denton, TX, 76201
or
P.O. Box 310948
Denton, TX, 76203-0948

Complaints:

General Information regarding Complaints:

All complaints will be addressed in a confidential, courteous, and efficient manner and with respect to the complainant.

All staff members are expected to treat all complaints objectively and without prejudice, bias, or hostility toward any person.

Informal complaints specific to an area of the Police Department are first handled by the appropriate first line supervisor, then by the supervisor of the division, and finally by the Director of the Police, Parking and Transportation Department.

Complaints against other University employees, other than allegations of sexual harassment or discrimination under the law, are handled through the University's staff or faculty complaint and grievance/appeal policies and through coordination of the mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program.

Allegations of sexual harassment or discrimination are referred to and coordinated with the University's Office of Equity and Diversity.

All complaints regarding Department employees will be reviewed and investigated as appropriate. An Internal Affairs and/or criminal investigation may be conducted at the direction of the Director of Police, Parking and Transportation.

Once the complaint has been investigated, the person making the complaint will be notified of the findings without delay.

By law formal complaints of employee misconduct must be reduced to written form and signed by the complainant to help insure appropriate documentation of both the nature and substance of the complaint.

Information regarding the Filing of Formal Complaints:

It is the policy of the University of North Texas Police Department to receive and investigate formal complaints concerning its employees.

Persons desiring to make a formal complaint must understand the importance of submitting their complaint in writing with their signature affixed. The Texas Government Code, Section 614.022 (shown to the right) provides that all complaints to be considered on law enforcement officers must be in writing and signed by the person making the complaint. The Director of Police, Parking and Transportation Department has extended this requirement to formal complaints against all division employees.

The Texas Government Code also requires that a copy of the formal complaint be presented to the employee within a reasonable time and before any disciplinary action may be imposed.

Allegations made in a formal complaint investigation may have one of the following outcomes:
a. Unfounded - The allegation is false, not factual
b. Exonerated - The incident occurred, but was lawful and proper or was justified under the existing conditions.
c. Not Sustained - There is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegations.
d. Sustained - The allegation is supported by sufficient evidence. A sustained complaint may result in disciplinary action against the employee.

If a complainant deliberately gives false information during the complaint process, the information can be presented to the District Attorney’s office for prosecution.

Types of Complaints:

Anonymous Complaints - complainants who do not wish to be identified or refuse to provide their name but want to report a complaint/problem about an employee.

Informal Complaints - complaints that are not of a serious nature and both the complainant and the department official taking the complaint agree that the situation can be handled without going through the formal process.

Formal Complaints - a formal written allegation signed by the complainant against a member of the Department, which could result in disciplinary action up to and including termination, and which alleges the commission of one or more of the following:
a. An infraction of Department rules, regulations, or policies.
b. An illegal act.

Instructions for Filing a Complaint:

After reading the information on this page, contact (by phone or in person) the Professional Standards Officer, Cpt. Jim Coffey, to discuss the incident, allegations, and complaint at (940) 565-3010.

Please complete the information on this form (you will need Adobe Acrobat) to assist with the efficient processing of your complaint. You may submit typewritten and signed information, also.

With the information you provide, a decision will be made regarding the classification of the complaint (anonymous, informal, or formal) and the complaint will be addressed appropriately.

Upon completion of an investigation into a formal or informal complaint, you will be notified as to the outcome.

TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE:

Complaint Against Law Enforcement Officer or Firefighter

Sec. 614.022. Complaint to be in Writing and Signed by Complainant - To be considered by the head of a state agency or by the head of a fire or police department, the complaint must be:
(1) in writing, and
(2) signed by the person making the complaint.

Sec. 614.023. Copy of Complaint to be Given to Officer or Employee.
(a) A copy of a signed complaint against a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, or police office shall be given to the officer or employee within a reasonable time after the complaint is filed.
(b) Disciplinary action may not be taken against the officer or employee unless a copy of the signed complaint is given to the officer or employee.

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch/263. Sec.1, eff. 9-1-93

TEXAS PENAL CODE:

Sec. 37.02 Perjury.
(a) A person commits an offense, if with intent to deceive and with knowledge of the statements meaning:
(1) he makes a false statement under oath or swears to the truth of a false statement previously made and the statement is required or authorized by law to be made under oath; or
(2) he makes a false sworn declaration under Chapter 132, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

Sec. 37.03. Aggravated Perjury.
(a) A person commits an offense if he commits perjury as defined in Section 37.02. and the false statement:
(1) is made during or in connection with an official proceeding; and
(2) is material.
(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to use and print this form.

This agency compiles annual statistical summaries, based opon records of internal affairs investigations, which are made available to the public and agency employees.