The Professional Standards Unit includes:

• Recruitment & Background Investigations
• Internal Affairs
• Civil Liabilities
• Training
• Public Information Officer

Recruitment & Backgrounds

The Background unit is responsible for recruitment for the Police Department as well as conducting background investigations for Department employees.

Internal Affairs & Civil Liabilities

The Internal Affairs and Civil Liabilities Unit is responsible for investigating citizen and employee complaints, conducts internal investigations and reviews of violations of department policy and criminal law.  The unit works with the City Attorneys and Risk Management, reviews matters of civil liability, and represents the Department in civil litigation and court requests for police personnel records.

Citizen Complaint Procedure

A relationship of trust and confidence between employees of the Police Department and the community of Colton, which they serve, is essential.  As it is the absolute right of all citizens to initiate a complaint proceeding, citizens are provided with a form available below and at the Colton Police Department to be completed for this purpose.

Citizen Complaint Form
Formulario Para Inciar una Queja

Once you have completed this complaint form, return it to a supervisory employee of the Police Department.  Whereupon, a thorough investigation will be made of all of the evidence contained in your complaint.  You may be asked to provide additional information during the investigation process.  This request will be made by an investigative officer, appointed by the Chief of Police.

As soon as the facts are known, a complete report will be made for personal review by the Chief of Police who will make a determination regarding the validity and seriousness of the allegation.  You will be notified in writing of such a determination.  Should an employee be found to have conducted himself, or herself, in an unjustified, unlawful, or improper manner, appropriate disciplinary action will result.

It must be noted that this complaint procedure cannot be used to establish your guilt or innocence in any pending criminal proceeding.  Although your complaint will be accepted from you, no formal determination will be made while criminal action is pending.  Further, you may not utilize this complaint procedure if you disagree with any law, ordinance, or established policy or procedure of the City of Colton, or it’s Police Department, if the employee who is the subject of your complaint was complying with such law, ordinance, policy or procedure.

Although, you have the personal assurance of the Chief of Police that your complaint will be given a fair and impartial hearing, if you feel that the nature of your complaint requires further inquiry, you should contact:

1. The Federal Bureau of Investigations-Cases of violation of civil rights;
2. The California State Attorney of General;
3. The San Bernardino County District Attorney;
4. Your personal attorney.

Resource Links:

San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office Public Integrity Unit
California Department of Justice
FBI Public Corruption Unit
Federal Department of Justice Public Integrity Section