Complaint Procedure

The Bethlehem 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. That is, the Department 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 and 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, and is the administrative statement that 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 will be achieved and maintained.

It is the policy of the Department to accept, document, review, and investigate all instances of alleged misconduct, to include complaints regarding the directives or procedures of the Department, and 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 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, and accordingly presumes, unless evidence is discovered to the contrary, that all employee actions are performed in good faith.

Procedures for Filing a Complaint

All citizen complaints pertaining to Departmental policies or procedures, or that allege 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 made in person, over the telephone, email, or in writing.

• Complaints that are made in person shall be made at the Bethlehem Police Department located at 10 E. Church St. Bethlehem, PA.
  
• Phoned complaints should be directed to the House Sergeant at 610-865-7179.
  
• Emailed complaints should be directed to: bethlehempolice@bethlehem-pa.gov.

Generally, complaints should be made during normal business hours, however, the Department will accept complaints at any time.

Complaints that are made in person should complete an Employee Misconduct Allegation Record and receive a receipt copy.

Complaints received over the phone, mail, or email shall be investigated as thoroughly as possible, however, in person complaints are preferred.

All complainants will be notified of the status of their complaint, and if any further action by them is necessary.