Formal complaint: Purpose and scope—Responsibility to the community and other policy violations

OF
CITY
AUSTIN
OFFICE OF
NOTICE OF FORMAL
POLICE OVERSIGHT
COMPLAINT
FOUNDED
ICMS #: 2020-0141
March 27, 2020
Complaint: The complainant, Mr.
alleges that Austin Police Department (APD)
officers
and
illegally stopped him and kept his money and his watch.
This notice of formal complaint is a request for Internal Affairs to initiate an investigation in
order to determine if the employee conduct is within compliance of APD policy, Civil Service
Rules, and Municipal Civil Service Rules.
Recommended Administrative Policies to Review (to include but not limited to):
301.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE - RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY
All persons deserve protection by fair and impartial law enforcement and should be able to
expect similar police response to their behavior wherever it occurs. Employees will serve the
public through direction, counseling, assistance, and protection of life and property. Employees
will be held accountable for the manner in which they exercise the authority of their office or
position. Employees will respect the rights of individuals and perform their services with
honesty, sincerity, courage, and sound judgment.
306.9 FRISK (PAT-DOWN) FOR WEAPONS
A frisk is a mere pat-down of the outer clothing, area, vehicle or container to which a detained
person may have immediate access. The purpose of a limited weapons frisk after an investigatory
stop is not to discover crime, but to allow the officer to pursue the investigation without fear of
violence. An officer does not need to be absolutely certain that an individual is armed; the issue is
whether a reasonably prudent person would justifiably believe that he or others were in danger.
318.5.1 MIRANDA WARNING
(a) Officers will administer the Miranda Warning to a subject during a custodial
interview/interrogation when questioning begins to focus on the person stopped, becoming
accusatory regarding a specific offense.
350.4 VEHICLE INVENTORY
(a) In all incidents where a vehicle is impounded or moved, officers will make an inventory of
the vehicle for damage and any items of personal property. Such an inventory is a
caretaking function intended to protect:
1. The owner's property while it remains in police custody.
2. The police against claims or disputes over lost or stolen property.
900.1.1 RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW AND COMPLY
The rules of conduct set forth in this order do not serve as an all-inclusive list of requirements,
limitations, or prohibitions on employee conduct and activities; employees are required to know
and comply with all Department policies, procedures, and written directives.
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act.
Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request.
OF
CITY
SUBMIT
OFFICE OF
NOTICE OF FORMAL
POLICE OVERSIGHT
COMPLAINT
FOUNDED
1839
900.4.1 DISCRETION AND REQUIREMENT TO TAKE ACTION
Sworn employees are charged with the responsibility to enforce the law, preserve the peace, and
to protect lives and property.
Recommended Classification: The OPO is permitted to make a preliminary recommendation
on the classification of administrative cases.
The OPO recommends that this allegation receive an A classification.
F
A
UNDED
1839
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act.
Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request.