Internal Affairs Bureau

Comprised of 5 investigators the rank of Sergeant or above, the Internal Affairs Bureau is responsible for investigations into the alleged misconduct by employees of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. These complaints include those filed by the public or other employees of the Sheriff’s Office. Investigations may also result from the routine review of reports submitted, primarily consisting of response to aggression incidents. Internal Affairs conducts administrative investigations into any use of deadly force by deputies.

Compliment / Complaint Form

Citizen Complaint Process

The Internal Affairs Bureau of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office reports directly to the Chief Deputy of Administration and has the responsibility of investigating certain complaints of misconduct against employees of the Sheriff's Office. Depending on the nature of the complaint, cases are investigated by either the Internal Affairs Bureau or are sent to the employee's direct supervisor for investigation.

Note: Complaints about the underlying reasons for a traffic citation or criminal arrest must be resolved by the court and cannot be investigated as a complaint against a Franklin County Sheriff's Office employee.

How to File a Complaint

Pick up and complete a Franklin County Sheriff's Office Citizen Complaint form. Forms are available at all Sheriff's Office locations or you can submit the online form.
Turn in the completed form to any supervisor of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, mail the form to the Internal Affairs Bureau, or submit the online form.
The complaint will be immediately referred to the employee's supervisor for investigation or to the Internal Affairs Bureau. If a supervisor is named or involved in the complaint, then the complaint will be referred to another supervisor.
Once a complaint is reviewed, the supervisor investigating the complaint will contact you within a reasonable amount of time.
If the complaint is forwarded to the Internal Affairs Bureau for investigation, the complainant, witnesses and employee may be formally interviewed.
After an investigation is complete, the disposition of the complaint will be summarized and sent to the Sheriff for review. You will be notified of the outcome of your complaint.
When an anonymous complaint is made against an employee and there is no independent corroborating evidence, the complaint shall be classified as unfounded.

If you suspect an employee of committing a crime, you must contact the agency with jurisdiction of where the crime occurred. The Internal Affairs Bureau does not conduct criminal investigations.

Any questions or concerns about complaints against Franklin County Sheriff's Office employees can be directed to the Internal Affairs Bureau.

Ohio Revised Code

2921.15 Making false allegation of peace officer misconduct.

(A) As used in this section, “peace officer” has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) No person shall knowingly file a complaint against a peace officer that alleges that the peace officer engaged in misconduct in the performance of the officer’s duties if the person knows that the allegation is false.

(C) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of making a false allegation of peace officer misconduct, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Contact Us

Phone
(614) 525-3690