Commendations and Complaints

• Call (402) 228-5243 and ask to speak to Chief Jay Murphy. After business hours, ask to talk to the Shift Supervisor.
• Come to the Beatrice Police Department and file the complaint in person.
• Fill out the Complaint Statement online or Commendation of Officer online.
• Fill out the Complaint Statement form and mail or hand deliver to:

Beatrice Police Department
201 North 5th Street
Beatrice, NE 68310

Be prepared to furnish as much information as possible. Your contact information is not required; however, it is helpful should the investigator need additional information. When making a complaint, simply relate the facts as you know them.

The Beatrice Police Department will not investigate the lawfulness of any arrest or citation. The guilt or innocence of any criminal charge or traffic citation is determined only in court. If your complaint alleges that you were not advised of your Miranda Rights, this issue is also resolved in court. 

The investigation may include the taking of formal signed statements, gathering and preservation of physical evidence, and any other information relevant to the investigation. At the conclusion of the investigation you will be contacted by mail and be advised if your complaint was sustained or not sustained. There are five (5) possible dispositions to a complaint. 

• Unfounded – The investigation conclusively proved that the act complained of did not occur.
• Exonerated – The investigation revealed that the act was justified, lawful, and proper.
• Non Sustained – The investigation failed to disclose sufficient evidence to clearly prove the allegation made in the complaint or to conclusively disprove such allegation.
• Sustained – The investigation disclosed sufficient evidence to clearly prove the allegation made in the complaint.
• Sustained Against Policy – Policy Failure, inappropriate for subject questioned.

If a complaint is sustained against an employee, disciplinary action is taken. Disciplinary action can range from counseling by a supervisor to termination of employment. City, state, and federal personnel laws govern an employee’s privacy rights.

Complaints will be referred to the Internal Affairs Officer or the employee’s supervisor.

Any person who witnesses or has direct knowledge of police employee misconduct may make a compliant with the Beatrice Police Department. The Beatrice Police Department will investigate any employee action that is contrary to department policy, is a violation of city, state, or federal law, or involves the use of excessive force or discourteous treatment. A compliant may be made anonymously; however, these complaints will be reviewed first to see if justification exists to initiate an internal investigation.