Complaints and Commendations

It is the policy of the Jupiter Police Department to investigate all complaints made against its employees regardless of the source of such complaints.

This policy will include the investigation of alleged or suspected violations of laws, ordinances, and Department/Town policies, procedures, orders, or rules and regulations.

You may submit a complaint in person, by phone, e-mail, webpage, or by mail. Anonymous complaints are also accepted and reviewed.

Jupiter Police Department

196 Military Trail

Jupiter, FL 33458

561-799-4445

The purpose of reviewing complaints is to ensure the continued confidence of the community by upholding the integrity of the police department. The complaint procedure provides citizens with a way to make legitimate complaints regarding police employees. It also protects employees who perform their job in a reasonable, lawful, and impartial manner from false or unwarranted accusations.

Every complaint, regardless of its nature, will be vigorously and impartially investigated. It is departmental policy that complaints be handled at the lowest appropriate organizational level and as quickly as possible. Minor breaches of regulations are assigned to the accused employee’s supervisor. He/she will contact you by phone, e-mail, or in person. Upon completion of the supervisory review, the complaint is also reviewed by the Administrative Services Bureau Commander. Many times, complaints can be resolved at this level. However, traffic citations, certain legal issues, or arrests that have not been adjudicated, must await the decision by the Judge.

More serious fact-finding investigations of alleged improper or illegal conduct by employees are conducted by the Administrative Services Bureau Commander or designee.

A report is prepared with the sworn, recorded statements of the complainant, witnesses, and accused employees. Additional evidence and documents are included in the report, which is evaluated by the Administrative Services Bureau Commander for thoroughness and objectivity. Within 45 days, the report is presented to the Chief of Police who reviews it and decides whether the complaint is sustained, unfounded, exonerated, exonerated due to policy failure or unsubstantiated. All cases remain confidential until a final disposition.

If the allegation is sustained, the second phase of the process is to determine disciplinary action, which ranges from remedial training, reprimand, transfer, suspension, demotion to termination. The employee and the complainant are notified of the case finding.

It is the policy of the Jupiter Police Department to recognize employees for exemplary performance of their duties through the formal use of commendations. There are various categories of commendations: written acknowledgement (letters of recognition), departmental awards, and community-sponsored awards.

Numerous written correspondence of recognition and phone calls are received each year by citizens to express gratitude for an employee’s job well done. You may compliment an employee in writing or by phone call, but all written correspondence is placed in the employee’s personnel file.

Jupiter Police Department

196 Military Trail

Jupiter, FL 33458

561-799-4445