INTERNAL AFFAIRS

The Internal Affairs Division is responsible for the investigation of professional integrity related matters. The procedures outlined below explain the process used during the investigation of Citizen complaints. 

Citizen complaint procedure.

Any person who wishes to file a complaint that involves the conduct of a member of the Northport Police Department may do so in person at the front desk at the Northport Police Department at 3721 26th Avenue, Northport, AL, by telephone at (205) 339-6600, or they may download a Citizen Complaint Form from the department forms page and complete and return the form by mail to 3721 26th Avenue, Northport, AL 35473 Attn: Chief Green. 

The following excerpts from the Northport Police Department Policy manual apply to Citizen complaint investigation. 

2.30.6 Time limits for completion of complaint investigation.

Standard Citizen Complaint investigations will be completed within fourteen days of the date of the initial filing of the complaint, unless extension time as outlined in section 2.30.7 is requested and approved.

2.30.7 Extension of investigation time limit.

Certain complaint investigations, due to their seriousness or complexity, may require more extensive investigation, and therefore require a longer period of time to process. Extension of time limits, in fourteen day terms, may be granted only by the Chief of Police. In the event that an extension is granted, it is the responsibility of the investigating officer to notify the complainant and all involved Officers of the time extension, and report back to the complainant and all involved Officers, the status of the investigation no less than every fourteen days, until the investigation is concluded and forwarded to the Office of the Chief of Police. Any such extension shall be documented in the final summary of the investigation, along with an explanation for the reason for the extension.

2.30.8 Notification to involved parties of status and final disposition of complaint.

The Complaining party and all involved Officers shall be notified in writing by the Chief of Police, of the final disposition of any complaint which they have filed, at the conclusion of the investigation or disciplinary process. This disposition shall state whether or not the complaint was determined to be ‘founded’, and that corrective action either has or has not been taken to prevent further instances, without specifying the particular action taken.