Employee Commendation Procedure
If you would like to commend an employee of the Rhinelander Police Department, please complete the Rhinelander Police Department Employee Commendation Form. You may either mail, e-mail, or return this form in person to the Rhinelander Police Department. Verbal commendations may be given to any Rhinelander Police Department Supervisor. Your comments will be reviewed by the Chief of Police and the commended employee.
You may also commend an employee by writing a letter to:
Employee Complaint Procedure
All citizen complaints should be documented on the Rhinelander Police Department Citizen Complaint Form and signed by the complainant. The shift supervisor shall use the form to determine further action regarding the complaint. The supervisor may attempt to resolve a complaint by an exploration of departmental policies and procedures, where applicable. Attempts to resolve complaints shall be noted as a part of the complaint report.
At the time of filing a Citizen Complaint Form, the shift supervisor shall advise the complainant that he/she may file the complaint directly with the President of the Police and Fire Commission. Filing of a complaint on the Citizen Complaint Form will be considered a voluntary waiver by the complainant of his/her right to file a complaint directly with the Police and Fire Commission.
The shift supervisor will forward a completed complaint and all inter-office reports relating to the incident to the Chief of Police.
The Chief of Police will review the complaint and accompanying reports. If necessary, an investigating supervisory officer will be assigned.
Disciplinary action taken by the Chief of Police on a citizen complaint shall be reported to the President of the Police and Fire Commission pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 62.13(5).
Complaints Against the Chief of Police
Shift Supervisors Receiving complaints directed against the Chief of Police and arising out of specified conduct on the part of the Chief of Police, shall file the complaint with the President of the Police and Fire Commission for investigation pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 62.13(5).
Disposition of Complaints
The Chief of Police shall make the final disposition of the complaint as may be appropriate. No disposition involving disciplinary action will be made without first confronting the employee involved with the results of the investigation and affording the employee an opportunity to respond. The Chief of Police shall inform the employee in writing of a disposition of the complaint.
The case disposition classifications shall be as follows:
Unfounded: Investigation indicates that the allegations are false. If found to be a false accusation, the Chief of Police shall take such action against the complainant as is appropriate under Wisconsin State Statute 946.66, which prohibits individuals from making a false complaint of police misconduct.
Not Sustained: Insufficient evidence to either prove or disprove the allegations.
Sustained: The allegations are supported by sufficient evidence to conclude they are true and an appropriate departmental action was imposed. If sustained, the Chief of Police shall take such action against the employee as is appropriate, which may include disciplinary action against the employee pursuant to Wisconsin State Statue 62.13(5).
Exonerated: Investigation indicates that the incident occurred, but was justified, lawful, and proper under the circumstances.
Policy Failure: The investigation reveals that the allegations are true, however; the employee was acting in accordance with established Department policy. The Chief of Police will conduct a review of the policy to determine areas in need of modification or clarification.
Notification of Disposition
Complainant
The Chief of Police or designee shall inform the complainant named in the complaint, in writing, of the disposition and the reasons therefore within a reasonable amount of time.
B. Police and Fire Commission
The Chief of Police shall notify the President of the Police and Fire Commission of any disciplinary action taken with respect to a citizen complaint.
As a part of the written notification of the disposition of the complaint, the Chief of Police or designee shall inform the complainant that if not satisfied with the results of the investigation, he/she may, within thirty (30) days of the date of such notification, file a written request with the President of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners, for a formal hearing on the complaint before the Board.
The Board of Police and Fire Commissioners shall review all investigative reports of the incident and any supporting or conflicting documentation, and in its discretion either schedule a formal hearing before the Board or place the complaint on file.
A sworn law enforcement officer shall have the right to request a hearing before the Police and Fire Commission (pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 62.13(5)(c) regarding disciplinary action imposed by the Chief of Police.
