Internal Affairs
What is Internal Affairs?
The Live Oak Police Department maintains a separate unit for receiving and investigating complaints from citizens against Live Oak Police Officers and Civilian Employees. The Internal Affairs Section is a separate unit, which reports directly to the Chief and his Executive Staff. It is a fact-finding entity and its purpose is three-fold:
- Protecting the Public: The public has the right to receive fair, efficient and impartial law enforcement. Any misconduct by Live Oak Police personnel must first be detected, thoroughly investigated and, finally, properly adjudicated to assure the maintenance of these qualities.
- Protecting the Police Department: The Police Department is often evaluated and judged by the conduct of its individual employees. It is imperative that the whole organization not be criticized because of the misconduct of a few. An informed public must have confidence that its Police Department honestly and fairly investigates and adjudicates all allegations of misconduct against its employees.
- Protecting the Employee: Employees must be protected against false or misinformed allegations of misconduct. This can only be accomplished through a consistently thorough investigative process. Sworn statements submitted to the Internal Affairs Section are notarized and treated in the same manner as testimony in a court of law. Therefore, perjury statutes apply. Complaints that are shown to be false will be forwarded to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of criminal charges.
- The Live Oak Police Department prohibits its officers from engaging in racial pofiling. A person wishing to make a complaint in reference to alleged racial profiling by a Live Oak Police Officer should follow the complaint process.
Contacting Internal Affairs:
The Internal Affairs Section is located in the Live Oak Police Department at 8022 Shin Oak Drive, Live Oak, TX 78233. The office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone messages can be left anytime after hours and will be promptly returned (210) 945-1700.
E-mail contact: professionalstandards@liveoaktx.net
What Happens to My Complaint After it is Received?
All complaints received by the Police Department are routed by the severity of the complaint. The most serious types of complaints invetigated by the Internal Affairs Section involve allegations such as excessive force, any discharge of firearms, or serious rules violations. Complaints comparatively less serious in nature, such as rude behavior or improper procedure, are forwarded to the individual officer's division for investigation. In every case, the person making the complaint will be notified of the final disposition either by telephone or U.S. Mail.
How Do I Commend an Officer?
Everyone likes a pat on the back when they do a good job. Live Oak Police employees are no different. Each year, the police department receives numerous employee commendations from the public, but for each one we receive, there are twice as many commendable acts that go unnoticed. When you receive service from the Live Oak Police Department that you feel is worthy of commendation, we would like to hear from you. Call the employee's supervisor (if you know it) or the Internal Affairs Section (210) 945-1700. Please include the information you can remember such as the employee's name, the address, date, or any other circumstances about the incident. The employee will be notified of your commendation as will his/her supervisor. A copy of your commendation will also be placed in his/her employee file.
Please feel free to contact the Live Oak Police Internal Affairs Section (210) 945 1700 or a patrol supervisor if you have a specific questions or concern.
Contact
The Internal Affairs Section is located in the Live Oak Police Department located at 8022 Shin Oak DR. Live Oak, TX 78233. The Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Phone messages can be left any time after hours and will be promptly returned. Please feel free to contact the Live Oak Police Internal Affairs Section or a Patrol Supervisor if you should have a specific question or concern.
(210) 945-1700
Racial Profiling Policy
- Live Oak Police Department
- Policy#: 3-20
- Issue Date: 1/30/2015
- Revised:
- Standard: TBP 2.01
Racial Profiling
The purpose of this policy is to affirm the Live Oak Police Department’s commitment to unbiased policing in all its encounters between officers and any person; to reinforce procedures that serve to ensure public confidence and mutual trust through the provision of services in a fair and equitable fashion; to comply with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the prohibition of racial profiling and law enforcement policies on racial profiling (see Tex. Code Crim. P. Chapter 2 et. seq.); and to protect our officers from unwarranted accusations of misconduct when they act within the dictates of departmental policy and the law.
It is the policy of this department to police in a proactive manner and to aggressively investigate suspected violations of the law. Officers shall actively enforce state, federal and local laws in a responsible and professional manner, without regard to race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, age, cultural group, or any other identifiable group. Officers are strictly prohibited from engaging in bias-based/racial profiling as defined in this policy and as outlined in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. This policy shall be applicable to all persons, whether drivers, passengers or pedestrians.
This policy shall not preclude officers from offering assistance to persons when appropriate, e.g. someone appears ill; person appears lost; person has vehicle problems etc. Additionally, this policy does not prohibit consensual encounters with persons, absent a racial profiling basis. Nor does this policy prohibit stopping someone suspected of a crime based upon observed actions and/or information received about the person.
- Bias-Based Profiling - The selection of an individual based solely on a trait common to a group for enforcement action. This includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, age, cultural group, or any other identifiable group. Bias-Based Profiling includes Racial Profiling.
- Racial Profiling – A law enforcement initiated action based on an individual’s race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than on the individual’s behavior or on information identifying the individual as having engaged in criminal activity.
- Racial profiling pertains to persons who are viewed as suspects or potential suspects of criminal behavior. The term is not relevant to witnesses, complainants or other citizen contacts.
- The prohibition against racial profiling does not preclude the use of race, ethnicity or national origin as factors in a detention decision when they are used as part of an actual description of a specific suspect for whom an officer is searching.
- Detaining an individual and conducting and inquiry into that person’s activities simply because of that individual’s race, ethnicity or national origin constitutes racial profiling. Examples of racial profiling include but are not limited to the following:
- Citing a driver who is speeding in a stream of motor vehicles where most other drivers are speeding because of the cited driver’s race, ethnicity or national origin.
- Detaining the driver of a vehicle based on the determination that a person of that race, ethnicity or national origin is unlikely to own or possesses that specific make or model of vehicle.
- Detaining an individual based upon the determination that a person of that race, ethnicity or national origin does not belong in a specific part of town or a specific place.
- Race or Ethnicity – Of a particular descent, including Caucasian, African, Hispanic, Asian, Native American or Middle Eastern descent.
- Pedestrian Stop – An interaction between a peace officer and an individual who is being detained for the purpose of a criminal investigation in which the individual is not under arrest. The detention does not originate from a motor vehicle contact.
- Motor Vehicle Stop – an occasion in which a peace officer stops a motor vehicle for an alleged violation of a law or ordinance.
- Officers are required to adhere to all Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) training and the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) requirements as mandated by law.
- All officers shall complete TCOLE training and education program on racial profiling not later than the second anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under Chapter 1701 of the Texas Occupations Code or the date the officer applies for an intermediate proficiency certificate.
- The chief of police, as part of the initial training and continued education for such appointment, will be required to attend the LEMIT program on racial profiling.
- The department shall accept complaints from any person who believes he or she has been stopped or searched based on bias-based or racial profiling. No person shall be discouraged, intimidated or coerced from filing a complaint, nor discriminated against because he or she filed such a complaint. A complaint may be filed by the guidelines outlined in the department’s Professional Standard policy, Section VI(D).
- Any employee who receives an allegation of bias-based/racial profiling, including the officer who initiated the stop, shall address the complaint in conformance with the department’s Professional Standards policy, specifically Section IV(D).
- Investigation of a complaint shall be conducted in a thorough and timely manner, consistent with pertinent provisions of the department’s Professional Standards policy, which provides procedures for addressing citizen complaints.
- If a bias-based/racial profiling complaint is sustained against an officer after an investigation and in violation of this policy, it will result in appropriate corrective and/or disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
- If there is a departmental video or audio recording of the event upon which a complaint of racial profiling is based, upon commencement of an investigation by this department into the complaint and upon written request by the officer made the subject of the complaint, the department shall promptly provide a copy of the recording to the officer.
This department will inform the public of its policy against racial profiling and the complaint process. Methods that may be utilized to inform the public are the news media, radio, service or civic presentations, the Internet, as well as governing board meetings. Additionally, information will be made available as appropriate in languages other than English.
- An officer is required to collect information relating to motor vehicle stops in which a citation is issued or an arrest made as a result of the stop. On the citation officers must include:
- The race or ethnicity of the individual detained;
- Whether a search was conducted, and if so, whether the search was consensual (an inventory search or search incident to arrest is not counted as a search for reporting purposes);
- Whether the peace officer knew the race or ethnicity of the individual detained before detaining that individual; and
- Whether the violator was arrested.
- Each year, the Chief of Police (or the designated chief administrator) shall submit an annual report of the information collected under Section VII(A) to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and its governing body that includes the pertinent information collected on the citations from the preceding calendar year. The report will include:
- A breakdown of citations by race or ethnicity of the individuals detained;
- Number of citations that resulted in a search;
- Number of searches;
- Number of searches that were consensual;
- Information on whether peace officer knew the race or ethnicity of the individual detained prior to the stop; and
- Number of motor vehicle stops that resulted in custodial arrest or citation.
- The first such report shall be submitted by March 1 of the current year for the period beginning January 1 through December 31 of the previous year. The report may not include identifying information about a peace officer who makes the motor vehicle stop or an individual who is stopped or arrested by a peace officer.
- Data Entry of Required Information
- Race: Use “unknown” for unoccupied vehicles where a citation is issued, e.g. parking violation.
- Search Conducted: Select either “yes” or “no.” Do not select “N/A” or “Unknown.”
- Search Consensual: Correct responses are “yes”, “no”, or “N/A” if a search was not conducted.
- Knowledge of Race Prior to Stop: Select either “yes” or “no.”
- Arrest: Select either “yes” or “no.”
- If a motor vehicle regularly used to make motor vehicle and pedestrian stops is equipped with a mobile video camera, each video recording shall be retained for a minimum of ninety (90) days. If a complaint is filed alleging that a peace officer engaged in racial profiling with respect to a motor vehicle or pedestrian stop, the video recording shall be retained until final disposition of the complaint or expiration of filing deadline for all lawsuits, whichever is later.
- If a motor vehicle regularly used to make motor vehicle and pedestrian stops is equipped with a mobile video camera, officers shall activate the video and audio recording on all such contacts. Additionally, officers shall, when feasible, adjust the camera as necessary to capture the contact with the citizen.
- Supervisors will ensure officers of the department are properly using the video and audio recording features by conducting spot checks as appropriate. An officer’s failure to use the video and audio recording features may be grounds for discipline.
- Patrol supervisors shall review a minimum of three motor vehicle and/or pedestrian contacts as captured on video/audio by each officer under his/her command each calendar month.
- In reviewing audio and video recordings, the supervisor shall seek to determine if the officer, who is involved therein, has engaged in an incident or pattern of racial profiling.
- On commencement of an investigation by the department of a complaint pursuant to Section V in which a video or audio recording of the occurrence on which the complaint was made, the Department shall promptly provide a copy of the recording to the peace officer who is the subject of the complaint on written request of the officer.
- Patrol officers shall refer to Policy #3-16 Mobile Video Recording for guidelines and operating procedures regarding the use of mobile video.
How to Make a Compliment or File a Complaint
The Live Oak Police Department is dedicated to providing the best police service possible to the residents and visitors of Live Oak. Police employees are carefully selected and given the best training possible in order to provide professional service. In addition, public input and compliments are welcomed and appreciated. However, you may have occasion to lodge a complaint in reference to the actions of a member of the Live Oak Police Department. In order to be responsive to you, we are providing the following information about how complaints are made, how they are investigated and their results.
Complaint Form
Any person wishing to make a compliment or complaint may do so by coming into the Live Oak Police Department, 8022 Shin Oak, Live Oak, Texas, or by e-mail to professionalstandards@liveoaktx.net. Complaints or compliments can be reported 24 hours a day to any department supervisor or from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays to a member of the Professional Standards Unit.
TEXAS STATE LAW (Government Code 614.022) requires that all complaints against police officers be in writing and signed by the person making the complaint. Just as citizens who are arrested must be notified of the charges against them, police officers must be given copies of complaints before any disciplinary action may be taken. The person who claims to be aggrieved must make the complaint. Other persons involved in the incident may give statements as a witness.
False Complaints
People who intentionally make false complaints or allegations against police officers violate Chapter 37 of the Texas Penal Code. Texas law provides punishment for an individual adjudged guilty of committing an offense if, with intent to deceive and with knowledge of the statements meaning, he / she makes a false statement under oath or swears to the truth of a false statement previously made; and the statement is required or authorized by law to be made under oath.
A person who commits an offense under this section can be charged with offenses ranging from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Felony of the Third Degree. Punishments can range from confinement of 180 days in jail to 10 years imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $10,000. This information is not intended to intimidate the complainant or any witness, but is provided to avoid retaliation against police officers or departmental staff.
Complaints can be reported 24-hours a day to any department supervisor or from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays to a member of the Professional Standards Unit.
What Happens To My Complaint After It Is Received?
All complaints received by the Police Department Office are routed by the severity of the complaint. The most serious types of complaints investigated by the Internal Affairs Section involve allegations such as excessive force, any discharge of firearms or serious rules violations. Complaints comparatively less serious in nature, such as rude behavior or improper procedure, are forwarded to the individual officer's division for investigation. In every case, the person making the complaint will be notified of the final disposition either by telephone or U.S. Mail.
Welcome to the web page of the Live Oak Police Department. We hope this site provides you with additional resources to address any needs or questions you may have.
On behalf of the Live Oak Police Department, we recognize and thank all law enforcement colleagues, as we observe National Police Week. We honor and recognize those men and women who have given their lives in the line of duty. Their deaths remind us all that the safety and freedom we enjoy do not come without a price.
LOCAP (Live Oak Citizens Assisting Police) is a volunteer 501c3 non-profit group that was formed in 2011 to assist the Live Oak Police Department. In order to be a LOCAP member one must first attend and graduate from the Live Oak Citizens Police Academy. Once this is completed there is an application process, which includes a background check. Volunteers assist with various duties such as, filing, assisting with Municipal Court, auto auctions, calling on municipal court warrants, answering phones and driving the LOCAP vehicle around the business districts.
