File a Commendation or Complaint

Police Department Commendation or Complaint Form

The Forest Park Police Department is committed to excellence in police services to the Village.
We appreciate when a citizen takes the time to recognize the efforts of one of our staff members. We will investigate all complaints made about any member of the Forest Park Police Department.

Citizens are encouraged to download the Commendation form (PDF) with your commendation as well as a Complaint form (PDF) if you feel a complaint is warranted. A member of the Forest Park Police Administrative Staff will contact you for further information. You can either drop your completed Complaint form at the police station or mail it in. If you have no way of printing a form off of our website, pick up a Complaint form located in the lobby of the Forest Park Police Station located at 517 Desplaines Ave, Forest Park, 1160130.

Complaint procedure

The Forest Park Police Department takes all complaints against our employees seriously; we investigate all complaints regarding its service and personnel to determine the validity of the
complaint. Upon completion of the investigation, the department shall consider any recommended changes to our policy and/or take the appropriate action against the named employee(s), (we will follow the Illinois Peace Officer Bill of Rights Act). All investigations shall be investigated in a timely, fair, impartial, and consistent manner, maintaining the rights of all employees and citizens.

How are complaints filed?

Throughout the year, members of the Forest Park Police Department handle a multiplicity of calls and have numerous contacts with the community. In some of those instances, individuals
may feel a member of the Forest Park Police Department treated them unfairly or were treated unprofessionally. If you feel this occurred, you may contact the Forest Park Police Department at (708) 366-2425 and ask to speak with the sergeant or watch commander. A complaint may be filed against a department member in person, by letter, email or telephone.

If you have been issued a traffic citation, village ordinance violation, or were arrested, the Forest Park Police Department will not accept complaints if you feel those actions were improper; these complaints or grievances should be argued in the appropriate court of law. Although, if the behavior of the employee is in question or you feel they may have violated department policy or procedures, we will receive those complaints and investigate them.

The sergeant or watch commander will listen to your complaint and may attempt to resolve the complaint informally over the phone. We have found an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the call is enough to settle many situations. If the sergeant or watch commander is unable to satisfy the caller or, at the recommendation of the sergeant or watch commander, they may request you file a Formal Complaint.

A Formal Complaint is a written statement describing the particulars of the incident, identifying any potential witnesses and is a sworn statement once filed and properly notarized. Under Illinois Law, a Formal Complaint must be supported by a Sworn Affidavit (50 ILCS 725/3.8(b)). Anyone who knowingly files a false complaint against a police officer or other employee of the department may be subject to criminal charges or even possibly a civil suit.

What happens when a complaint is filed?

Once a complaint is filed, it will be forwarded to the chief of police who will then assign it for investigation. A member of the administration will contact you, indicating the complaint is assigned and an Internal Affairs report number has been generated. Generally, an investigation takes no longer than 30 days; however, the investigation may take longer given the complexities of a thorough investigation if the chief of police agrees it is justified. You will be kept informed of the status of your complaint and you will be notified by mail as to its eventual outcome.

If the complaint is found to be true (SUSTAINED), the department member may be disciplined at the discretion of the chief of police.
One or more of the following actions may be taken:

• Counseling
• Verbal reprimand
• Written reprimand
• Suspension without pay
• Recommend of termination to Board of Police and Fire Commission

Click Here for Commendation Form

Click Here for Complaint Form