A review of the Internal Affairs Complaints and Investigations received during calendar year 2021 revealed there were two (2) complaints/investigations conducted by this police department’s internal affairs function. These two (2) complaints/investigations involved three (3) different officers.
The figures below indicates the number of complaints investigated by the internal affairs function in 2021 remained the same as compared to 2020.
2021: 2
2020: 2
2019: 1
2018: 3
2017: 2
2016: 3
2015: 3
2014: 3
Below are the divisions of the police department and the number of complaints and investigations that each division received in 2021:
Administration: 0
Support Operations
Criminal Investigations Unit: 0
Conveyance Unit: 0
P.A.C.T.: 0
Field Operations
Patrol Division: 2
These allegations of misconduct investigated by the Internal Affairs Function in 2021 resulted in the below finding(s):
Unfounded: 1
Exonerated: 0
Not Sustained: 1
Sustained: 0
In addition to the above complaint investigated by the internal affairs function, the below information includes complaints handled that did not require an internal affairs investigation.
There were four (4) additional complaints received from citizens. Investigations into these allegations resulted in two (2) exonerated dispositions and two (2) unfounded dispositions.
The Richmond Heights Police Department handled over 25,000 calls for service in 2021.
The small number of complaints received in 2021, when compared to the number of calls for service, reflects a record of professionalism and exemplary service by the police officers of this department.
A review of General Order 2.5, “Internal Investigations” found no need for updates or modifications. However, it is worth noting the “Internal Investigations” policy/procedures were removed from the preexisting General Order 2.0 in November 2021. This was done primarily to make Internal Investigations a stand-alone General Order, while simultaneously making changes to accommodate the Police Officer’s Bill of Rights which was signed into law in 2021.
