Make A Complaint
General Information
The Southern University at New Orleans Police Department’s goal is to improve the quality of services provided, to promote a high level of public confidence, and to enhance and maintain the professional integrity of this department and its members. The SUNOPD and its members will perform their duties within the boundaries of established contemporary legal and ethical standards. The department has established and promoted these standards through clear, written policy statements, rules and regulations, and through the thorough and impartial investigation of all allegations of misconduct or complaints regarding the directives of the department.
A formal procedure to receive, document and investigate all citizen complaints allows the department to monitor and enforce standards. Behavior deviating from these adopted standards will not be tolerated. With a meaningful and effective procedure for handling citizen complaints, we believe citizen confidence in the integrity of the department and its employees has been achieved and maintained.
It is the policy of the department to accept, document, review, and investigate all instances of alleged misconduct. The focus of these investigations is to equitably determine whether the allegations are valid or invalid and to take appropriate action. All allegations of misconduct will be investigated, regardless of whether initiated by a citizen complaint, other external agencies, internally generated, or discovered through the internal review and administrative processes of the department.
It should be understood that the department expects and receives the highest degree of integrity from its members. Anonymous complaints, or complaints from citizens who wish their names to be held in confidence, shall be accepted for investigation. Citizens offering anonymous complaints are advised that our ability to investigate the complaint may be limited by their anonymity.
The goal of the department is to ensure that objectivity, fairness, and justice are assured by intensive impartial investigation and review. Unless the complaint and allegation are of such magnitude that it requires additional time for review, all complaints will be resolved as soon as practicable. During the course of the investigation, the assigned supervisor shall notify you concerning the status of the complaint. At the conclusion of the investigation, the Chief of Police or his designee will notify you of the findings of the investigation conducted by the department.
Procedures for Filing a Complaint Against Police
All citizen complaints concerning alleged officer misconduct shall be documented and investigated by the department. Citizens who have complaints should expect action. All complaints shall be accepted in a courteous, understanding, and professional manner.
Complaints may be submitted: in person, by telephone, fax, in writing, or submitted electronically from the SUNOPD website.
Investigation of Complaints
Upon receipt of a citizen complaint, the investigating officer shall contact the citizen and advise him/her that the matter is under investigation. If necessary, the citizen shall also receive periodic status reports regarding the investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, the citizen will receive written notice of the final disposition of the case from the Department. Questions regarding the SUNOPD Citizen Complaint Process may be directed to the Chief of Police or Lieutenant, (504) 286-5047.
View Citizen Complaint Statistics