POLICE Department
Police Chief McClelland Touts Near Record Low Number of Complaints Filed
January 28, 2016 - Houston Police Chief Charles A. McClelland, Jr. says for a second consecutive year another record low number of internal affairs complaints were filed by citizens against HPD officers in 2015.
Despite responding to more than one million calls for service and having thousands of other contacts with the public, citizens filed only 209 complaints against HPD officers last year, the second lowest number since HPD began recording such data since 2001. In addition, 96 use-of-force allegations were filed, the lowest number in 21 years. In 2014, a record-low 207 complaints were filed against HPD officers with 123 use-of-force allegations.
By comparison, in 2010, there were 358 complaints filed by citizens against officers. In 2001, 887 citizen complaints were filed against HPD officers.
At his recent monthly media meeting, Chief McClelland commended officers on adherence to HPD's core values of "Honor, Integrity and Respect" and said on the HPD YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/n6Ei5HgxXxo that this proves the professionalism of HPD is unparalleled.
Citizen complaints make up only about 20% of all complaints filed with the Internal Affairs Division. The others are complaints generated from within HPD against other employees.
For information on how to file a complaint, visit the HPD website at https://www.houstontx.gov/police/contact/iad.htm or call the HPD Internal Affairs Division Central Intake Office at 713-308-0040.
Chief McClelland says the goal of HPD is to have the most professional police department in the United States, with a strong emphasis on providing good customer service.
VHS/DJW/JFC 1-28-16
For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.
