| FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS 1. What
is a complaint? There are two kinds of complaints: 1. The policies of,
or services provided by the St. Thomas Police Service; Any member of the public who is directly affected by the conduct of a police officer, the service provided by, or the policies of the St. Thomas Police Service. How long do I have to file a complaint? You must usually file a complaint within six (6) months of the incident. How can you file a complaint? A complaint must be in writing, signed by the complainant and mailed, faxed or delivered to the St. Thomas Police Service or to the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services. You may write your complaint in a letter or use a standard form available at any station or at the office of the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services. If the complaint is sent to the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services, it will be forwarded to the involved police service. To assist us in handling your complaint in a timely manner, we need as much detail as possible, such as time, date, witness(s), if any, your address and phone number. A complaint may be filed about the conduct of an off-duty police officer as long as there is a connection between the conduct and either the duty of a police officer or the reputation of the Police Service. What is the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services? It is an independent civilian agency that report to the Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services. It is responsible for ensuring the adequacy and effectiveness of policing services in Ontario. How is the complaint dealt with? Initially, the complaint will be classified as having to do with the conduct of a police officer, or the service provided by, or the policies of the St. Thomas Police Service. At this point, the Chief of Police may decide not to deal with the complaint on the basis that it was filed after the six (6) month limit, or it is frivolous, vexatious or made in bad faith, or that the complainant was not directly affected by the incident. What happens next? There are four possible conclusions to your complaint: 1. The Chief may decide,
if all parties agree, that the complaint can be resolved through an informal
resolution; What is an informal resolution? A less serious complaint about an officer's conduct may be resolved by way of an informal resolution. This involves bringing the complainant and the subject officer together to hear each others concerns. This resolution requires the mutual consent of the complainant, the officer and the approval of the Chief of Police. How can I withdraw a complaint? After filing a complaint, you may decide not to pursue the matter. You can withdraw a complaint by writing to the St. Thomas Police Service or to the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services. Despite your withdrawal, the Chief may decide to continue to deal with the matter if it is felt that the allegations merit investigation. Can I appeal a decision? A complainant may request that the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services review the following: 1. A decision made
by the Chief with respect to classification of the complaint; You must write or fax your request for a review to the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services within thirty (30) days of being informed of the decision. If my complaint is substantiated, what will happen to the officer? There are a range of options available to the Chief of Police including:
In some cases, training is an appropriate remedy. Do I have any guarantee that I will be satisfied? We cannot guarantee that you will be satisfied with the results, however, we can assure you that your complaint will be thoroughly and impartially investigated.
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St. Catharine Street, St.Thomas, Ontario, Canada - Phone: (519) 631-1224
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