The Metropolitan Police Department remains committed to upholding our core values of Service, Integrity, Leadership and Fair Treatment to all. It is our hope that each employee does his or her best to assist the citizens of St. Louis when they require police attention. If you feel an employee has acted improperly, we encourage you to file a complaint with the Internal Affairs Division. If it is determined the employee indeed behaved improperly; appropriate action, ranging from an oral reprimand to discharge from the Department, will be taken. Our complaint and disciplinary procedures are designed to provide prompt and fair service to the people of St. Louis. Below you’ll find additional information about the process of filing a complaint against a member of the Department.

How to make a complaint against a Metropolitan Police Department employee: Complaints can be made through the Civilian Oversight Board online, by phone (314-657-1600), or visit Police Headquarters or a District Station for a Civilian Oversight Board complaint form.

We want you to understand how the complaint process works.
What happens after a complaint has been filed?

• The Civilian Oversight Board reviews the complaint and sends the complaint to the Internal Affairs Division.
• An Internal Affairs Division investigator is assigned to investigate the complaint.
• The Complainant (the person(s) making the complaint) is interviewed by an Internal Affairs Investigator, with a Civilian Oversight Board investigator present if the complainant chooses.
• All facts pertinent to the incident are compiled.
• The Internal Affairs investigator prepares a report when their investigation is complete.
• The completed investigation with recommendation for discipline is forwarded to the Police Commissioner.
• Once the investigation is signed and complete, it is sent to the Civilian Oversight Board for final review.
  

Upon conclusion of the investigation, complaints will receive one of the following dispositions:

• If a complaint is classified “sustained,” recommendations for discipline are forwarded with report.
• If the proposed recommendation is that the complaint be classified “exonerated,” “unfounded” or “not sustained,” there are no recommendations for discipline.

Filing a complaint with the Civilian Oversight Board in no way replaces any legal action you might wish to initiate.

If the investigation reveals the complaint was made maliciously, in bad faith, or with knowledge that the accusation was false, steps shall be taken, whenever possible, to prosecute the complainant for making a false report of a law violation.