The Utah County Sheriff's Office provided information regarding the procedures for submitting compliments and complaints involving agency personnel. The office stated it is pleased to receive reports of positive encounters with employees and has established formal channels for community feedback.
How to file compliments
To file a compliment, individuals could contact the Administrative Services Division at 801-851-4330 or Dispatch at 801-794-3970. Complainants were instructed to provide the name of the employee they wished to recognize so the call could be forwarded to the appropriate division for supervisor review. Additionally, a compliment form was available for download from the agency website and could be submitted via fax to 801-851-4009 or mailed to the Spanish Fork office.
Defining official complaints
For filing complaints, the agency defined a complaint as an allegation of specific acts or omissions by an employee that would constitute misconduct if proven true, or an expression of dissatisfaction with agency policy or service levels. The agency noted that disagreements regarding traffic citations were not considered complaints and should be addressed in court.
Rules for filing complaints
The complaint process required citizens to act in good faith, as false accusations could lead to prosecution under Utah State Criminal Code 76-8-504.5 as a Class A misdemeanor. To initiate a complaint, individuals could contact the Internal Affairs - Police Conduct Unit Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. using the numbers 801-851-4330, 801-851-4331, or 801-851-4332. After hours or on weekends, contact was available through the Dispatch Center at 801-794-3970.
Requirements for written statements
A written statement on an official form was required, which had to be submitted in person at the Utah County Sheriff's Office. The process involved providing positive identification and signing the form in front of a witness.
Complaint investigation and review process
Every official complaint underwent review by the Administrative Services Division Commander. If an investigation was authorized by the Sheriff, investigators interviewed relevant parties and gathered data. The final investigation report included recommendations such as substantiated, not substantiated, exonerated, unfounded, misconduct other than allegation, or policy review. The Administrative Services Division Commander notified complainants in writing regarding the closure of investigations or their right to appeal.
