Ask a Cop? Open Complaints?

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Question:

I have emailed you concerning open complaints a few weeks ago with no repose. Please find the time to respond.

I cannot find anything in local law or police procedures that addresses “open” complaints, in general.

Example:

An individual receives an anonymous letter through the mail and files a complaint with the police. (Charge is minor disorderly charge). The police are unable to trace the letter to anyone, and as a result no one is charged. Simply, how long is does the open complaint stay valid or active in the police files? You input and cooperation is appreciated.

Answer:

Sadly we cannot always respond to emails right away or at all with the volume of emails we get but we are trying to get caught up.

In your issue below, in most cases these complaints go unfounded and have no way to actually enforce them without more evidence or without knowing the specific parties involved.

I would say in most cases as soon as that determination is made there is no one to charge with any kind of crime the complaint is closed and life moves on. The responsibility then falls to you to keep a copy of the initial and the action taken and the verdict to have it as evidence if it was to occur again. Then you have two pieces of evidence to hopefully link it to the potential culprit.

In most cases these types of things go nowhere and also result in nothing more than a letter being sent or they can turn into civil cases where neighbors need to settle their differences in a civil court which is something most law enforcement will not be involved in, that can be when the lawyers come out or you represent yourself. All of this costs money and mainly time.

CopTalk.info
Staff

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