Frequently Asked Questions

When a citizen lodges a complaint against a member of the Smithville Police Department, the complaint goes to the Internal Affairs Division (supervisors) located at the Smithville Police Department. Their duty is to review and thoroughly investigate your complaint. The Internal Affairs Office is open from 8 am to 5 pm each weekday. If the Internal Affairs office is not open you may lodge your complaint with any supervisory officer of the Smithville Police Department. Your complaint will be forwarded to the Internal Affairs Division.

Texas State Law requires that all complaints against police officers must be in writing and signed by the person making the complaint. Just as citizens who are arrested must be notified of the charges against them, the police officer must be given a copy of the complaints before any disciplinary action may be taken. The person aggravated must make the complaint; other persons may give statements as witnesses. The Internal Affairs Division will conduct a thorough investigation of your complaint and you will be advised of the results. Complaints regarding racial profiling, the conduct of an officer, an investigative process, traffic citations issued, or the guilt or innocence of a person arrested will not be investigated unless there are specific allegations of misconduct against the officers or of the Smithville Police Department.

When the investigation of a complaint reveals that the charges are true and should be sustained against a police officer, the Chief of Police notifies the employee and may take one of the following actions, depending on the nature of the violation:

• Verbal Reprimand
• Written Reprimand
• Time off without pay
• Demotion
• Termination

Police employees must be afforded the same rights as all citizens, and complaints must be supported by sufficient evidence. If there is not sufficient evidence to sustain complaints, the officer is notified and continues on duty. If he/she was removed from duty during the investigation, he/she will be paid for that time.

Yes. Just as citizens charged with a criminal offense have the right to appeal the court's decision, police officers also have the right to appeal administrative actions taken against them. The City of Smithville has established procedures for ensuring that complaints by citizens against police officers are thoroughly and honestly investigated.

If you are not satisfied with the results of the investigation by the Internal Affairs Division, you may appeal to the following:

• The Office of the Chief of Police- 105 NW 4th Street, Smithville, TX 78957
• The Office of the City Manager - 317 Main Street, Smithville, TX 78957
• The Office of the District Attorney- 804 Pecan Street, Bastrop, TX 78602
• Federal Bureau of Investigation- 300 E Eighth Street, Suite 215, Austin, TX 78767

The Smithville Police Department is vitally concerned with the welfare of all Smithville citizens and in taking actions where employees have proven derelict in their duties or are guilty of misconduct. If it becomes necessary for you to make a complaint, you can be assured that it will be given a fair and thorough investigation. By the same token, if you have an occasion to see an employee doing outstanding work, tell him/her or drop us a note. The Smithville Police Department is made up of individuals who are dedicated to serving and protecting the health, welfare, and safety of you and your entire community.