Internal Affairs
A proper relationship between the Tallahassee Police Department and the citizens of Tallahassee, fostered by confidence and trust, is essential for the effective delivery of law enforcement services. The purpose of the Internal Affairs Unit is to ensure Police Department personnel comply with professional standards and advise the Chief of Police of changes in the professional environment that could affect existing policy and procedure.
The function of the Internal Affairs Unit is to ensure this proper relationship by providing citizens with a fair and effective avenue to seek redress for legitimate complaints against department employees, and to protect employees from false charges of misconduct.
In order to accomplish this function, the Internal Affairs Unit is responsible for the following:
- Internal Investigations (Formal Complaints)
- Contact Reports (Informal Complaints)
- Special Investigations (Firearm Discharges)
- Tactical Apprehension and Control (TAC) Team Call-Out Compliance Reviews
- Vehicle Pursuit Compliance Reviews
- Use of Force Compliance Reviews
- Employee Traffic Crash Compliance Reviews
- Secondary Employment Coordination and Compliance Reviews
- Employee Early Intervention Program
TPD Use of Force / Pursuits - Policies and Practices
Complaint Reporting Procedure
Complaints may be made in person, via regular or electronic mail, by utilizing the online complaint form on Talgov.com, or by calling the Internal Affairs Unit between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) at 850-891-4321.
After business hours, complaints may be left on the IA voicemail at 850-891-4321 or by contacting the on-duty TPD Watch Commander who will forward the complaint to the Internal Affairs Unit by the next business day. The Watch Commander can be reached at 850-891-4200.
Complaint Investigation and Disposition Process
All complaints are thoroughly investigated. A detailed report is prepared including statements from the complainant, the accused, and all witnesses.
The investigative report presents an unbiased account of the circumstances as they actually occurred. Each report is reviewed by the Internal Affairs Commander for completeness, clarity, and objectivity. The completed report is forwarded to the Chief of Police for a final disposition. If the facts show there was employee misconduct, the Chief directs the employee's chain of command to recommend corrective action (discipline, remedial training).