Office of the Independent Police Auditor
The Office of the Independent Police Auditor (OIPA) is a City of Tucson civilian oversight body tasked with receiving citizen complaints of Tucson Police Department (TPD) personnel and the auditing of complaint investigations conducted by the TPD Office of Professional Standards (OPS) to ensure investigations are transparent, thorough, objective, and fair. OIPA is a safe, confidential, no-fee resource for all individuals regarding police actions and standards.
OIPA participates as an external source in TPD Use of Force and Critical Incident Review Boards as well as TPD training development.
With goals of establishing best police practices and increasing public confidence in our police force, we also engage in community outreach to improve public understanding of police policy, training, and practices and to solicit community input to share with TPD.
Complaint Process:
When Should You File a Complaint
A complaint should be filed when you believe a member of the Tucson Police Department (TPD) has acted improperly in the course of his/her work. Whether the issue is related to discourteous treatment, unnecessary force, or any other police action you believe to be wrong, you may file a complaint.
How to File a Complaint
A complaint can be filed with the OIPA by telephone, in person, through the mail, or internet. The OIPA can explain the process, help you file the complaint and accompany you through the OPS process. You will be notified by mail that the OIPA received your complaint and that it was forwarded to the OPS for review and investigation. An online complaint form may be found at:
Important Information When You File
When you file your complaint, please include as much information as possible in your description of the incident (date, time, location, name of officer(s) or other TPD staff involved, citation or police report numbers, photographs, etc.). The OIPA does not accept anonymous complaints.
Mediation
Complaints of police attitudinal misconduct (rudeness, customer service) often stem from poor communication and misunderstanding between parties. Mediation is a resolution option in lieu of a formal complaint through a face-to-face meeting with the involved parties in a safe environment under the direction of a neutral, professional facilitator not employed by TPD.
The Outcome of Your Complaint
The outcome of your OPS investigation is audited by the OIPA. Any disagreement that the police investigation was not fair or thorough is brought to the immediate attention of the OPS for consideration and further action. Once resolved, the OIPA concludes its audit and the complainant is notified of the final outcome. A complainant may also contact the Citizens Police Advisory Review Board (CPARB), a City-appointed, volunteer board tasked with the small-scale audit of police complaint investigations. CPARB is an additional resource to you and can be reached at (520) 791-4213.
Your Complaint Can Make a Difference
Individual complaints as well as a statistical analysis of an aggregate of complaints assist TPD identify problems with officers and other staff and can lead to a review and rewrite of police policies to ensure the implementation and exercise of best police practices.
Community Outreach:
Please contact us if you are interested in having the OIPA make a presentation at your neighborhood meeting or community event.
Contact Information
Mailing: P.O. Box 27210, Tucson, AZ, 85726-7210
Office: City Hall, 255 W. Alameda St., 4th Floor, Tucson, AZ,85701
Telephone: (520) 837-4003