1. What is the Office of Municipal Investigations?
2. How Does OMI operate?
3. How do I file a complaint?
4. Who may file a complaint with OMI?
5. What happens to complaints after they are filed by OMI? 1. What is the Office of Municipal Investigations?
OMI
investigates and helps resolve complaints about City employees,
including Police, Fire, EMS, and Building Inspection. It conducts
pre-employment background investigations on candidates for public
safety jobs. OMI is completely independent and draws its authority
from the Mayor.
2.
How does OMI operate?
The Office
of Municipal Investigations acts solely as a fact finder and does
not make disciplinary decisions or recommendations. OMI relies
on City work rules, union contracts, civil services regulations,
City codes, and state laws to define illegal and inappropriate
conduct and rules of investigations. By remaining independent
from the Bureaus it investigates and removed from the disciplinary
process, OMI ensures citizens and employees of fairness and thorough
investigations. OMI is staffed by a civilian manager, civilian
coordinator, detectives, civilian investigators, and clerical staff.
3.
How do I file a complaint?
You should
contact OMI as soon as possible after the incident. Some union
contracts have a 90 day statute of limitations on most cases of
misconduct. You may call OMI for assistance and information.
Complaints can be made over the telephone, or you may file in person
at the OMI office, or send a letter, fax describing the complaint.
All complaints should be in writing and include your name, address,
daytime telephone number, and signature. OMI will make arrangements
to assist in getting a complaint by going to your home or
place of employment if necessary. Office hours are Monday
through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 A.M. After hours messages
can be left with the answering service. No appointment is
necessary to file a complaint daily.
4. Who may file a complaint with OMI?
Any
person involved in an incident who questions the appropriateness
of a City employee's conduct. Anonymous and third party complaints
are accepted and investigated if corroborative evidence can be obtained.
5.
What happens to complaints after they are filed by OMI?
Complaints are reviewed
by an intake person and a civilian manager. If the complaint
merits investigation, it is assigned to a police or civilian investigator.
Complainants receive
a certified letter providing the investigator's name and case number.
OMI may request assistance in obtaining private information such
as witness names, phone numbers, photos of injuries and damages,
and medical records. At the conclusion of the investigation,
a final letter is sent informing the complainant of the final case
disposition. OMI renders 4 dispositions to cases it investigates:
- Sustain: facts support allegations of misconduct violations of department rules.
- Regulations/Procedures: not resolved facts; does not prove or disprove the allegations.
- Exonerated: Employee acted within the guidelines of authority.
- Unfounded:
False / inaccurate, not as stated in allegations.
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