The City’s Ombud Program can respond to complaints against a Kirkland police officer. The Police Department will also accept and address all complaints of misconduct in accordance with their policies and applicable federal, state, and local law, municipal and county rules, and the requirements of any memorandum of understanding or collective bargaining agreements. It is also the policy of the Department to ensure that the community can report misconduct without concern for reprisal or retaliation.
Individuals from the public may make complaints in any form, including in writing, by email, in-person or by telephone. Personnel complaint forms are maintained in the lobby of the police department and are accessible through the department website.
Per Police Department policy, all complaints from community members will be courteously accepted by any Department member and promptly given to the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, any Department member becoming aware of alleged misconduct must immediately notify a supervisor. Supervisors must initiate a complaint based upon observed misconduct or receipt from any source alleging misconduct that, if true, could result in disciplinary action. If a supervisor is not immediately available to take an oral complaint, the receiving member must obtain contact information sufficient for the supervisor to contact the complainant. The supervisor, upon contact with the complainant, must then complete and submit an entry into the Department's electronic tracking system as appropriate. In addition, anonymous and third-party complaints should be accepted and investigated to the extent that sufficient information is provided.
Additionally, any member of the public may call or email individual members of the City Council with concerns about a Kirkland police officer. A complaint may be submitted through Our Kirkland, the City’s constituent response system on the City’s main webpage. A resident may also testify at a Council meeting or arrange to meet in-person with Councilmembers to express a concern about Police conduct. Councilmembers usually refer the complaints to the City Manager for review and action and reports back.