Citizen Commendation & Complaint Procedures

A police department’s integrity is integral to maintaining a trusting relationship with the community it serves. Integrity is established, in part, through aggressive investigation of both internal and external complaints against its members. The department also recognizes the need of member’s to be offered administrative due process should they come under investigative review.

Professional Standards

The Port of Galveston Police Department is dedicated to providing the best police service possible to all citizens. Employees are carefully selected and trained to provide service to the community. This web page gives an overview of the ways to commend exemplary performance or file a complaint against a Police Department employee.

Commendations

If you see a Police Department employee exhibit outstanding behavior, tell the employee, or us, about it. Following are suggestions for commending an employee.

How to commend a Police Department employee:

• Write a letter to the employee’s Sergeant, Lieutenant, or the Police Chief at:
  Port of Galveston Police Department
  2803 Wharf Rd.
  Galveston, TX 77550
• Commendation letters are logged and placed in the employee’s permanent personnel file
• Call the Police Department Chief’s Office at 409-766-6109 and ask to speak with the employee’s supervisor
• If you are unsure of the employee’s name, describe the employee and list the specific actions or demeanor that impressed you. Mention the location, date and time the incident occurred.

Complaints

When a citizen has a complaint against a Police Department employee (commissioned or civilian), the complaint is directed to the department’s Internal Affairs Office, located at the Port of Galveston Police Department, 2803 Wharf Rd. in Galveston, Texas, 409-766-6109. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. If the office is closed, you may still file a complaint with any Police Department supervisor, who will then forward your report. Complaint forms are available in the Police Department front lobby or online below.

Texas law (Local Govt. Code 614.022) requires that all complaints against police officers be in writing and signed by the person making the complaint. Complaints must be made within 30 days of the incident unless special circumstances exist. The person who was wronged must file the complaint; other persons may give statements as witnesses. Official complaint statements will be notarized under oath at the police department.

Officers utilize in-car and body camera’s to record citizen contacts. In-car camera recordings are kept for 90 days. Body camera recordings are kept for 90 days. If a complaint is not filed in a timely manner, the department investigation will be hindered if the video of your contact is no longer available. Complaints must be timely for a proper investigation to occur.

Internal Affairs investigators will ensure that a thorough investigation of your complaint is conducted. Just as citizens who are arrested must be told the charges against them, a police employee must be given a copy of the complaint before any disciplinary action is taken. When the investigation is completed, you will be notified of the results and action taken.

Notice: If you are complaining about receiving a citation then your recourse is to have a trial in front of a judge. The police department cannot dismiss a citation.

Complaint forms may be submitted in person at the Port of Galveston Police Department or emailed to: Email