Appeal Process
Parking and City Code violations
If you feel you have been cited for a city code or ordinance violation unfairly you may file an administrative appeal with the department. Your case will be reviewed by the Chief and evaluated based upon department enforcement policy. This process is not available for those cited for a violation of a state statute.
Praise & Complaints
Commendation & Complaint Procedure
The Genoa Police Department is proud to provide modern, quality law enforcement
services to the citizens of Genoa and its visitors and we support the
highest standards of professional law enforcement.
The Police Department is sincerely interested in both rewarding officer performance that goes above and beyond expectations and, when justified, taking corrective action in those instances where an employee’s performance fails to meet acceptable standards.
Citizen Commendation Procedure
1. To commend or compliment the performance of a Genoa Police Department employee, notify the Chief of Police by calling the Genoa Police Department Office at 784-6633, by email at psolar@genoapd.com or by mailing comments to the address below.
Genoa Police Department
333 East First Street
Genoa, IL 60135
2. When a compliment or commendation is received, it will be forwarded to the officer and his/her supervisor.
3. Letters of commendation from citizens are placed in the employee personnel files. The Police Department and its employees sincerely appreciate this recognition.
Complaint Procedure
Policing can be a difficult, demanding, and dangerous job. It is, without question, one of the most complex endeavors one can undertake in a democratic society. Be that as it may, the Genoa Police Department requires its members to adhere to a set of professional standards of conduct as well as a multitude of policies and procedures. If you feel you have been treated poorly, your input is vital for the continuous improvement we seek.
Formal Complaints-
If your complaint alleges a violation of the law on the part of an officer it will be investigated in the same way as any criminal investigation. A serious law violation is likely to be turned over to another competent police agency for thorough investigation. If a violation of a criminal statute is indicated, including federal civil rights legislation, an officer or member can face prison, fines, and discharge from employment.
Next your complaint will be evaluated based upon the professional
standards of our agency. If a violation of one of these standards is indicated
then we treat the matter in much the same way as a serious criminal investigation.
Such an accusation calls into question the character and integrity of
a police officer and this has serious implications for the officer and
the
department. If violations of these standards are indicated an officer
or member can face discipline up to and including discharge. A copy of
these standards will be provided to you upon request.
Recent law changes require that all complaints alleging misconduct on the part of a police officer be made in writing by submitting a sworn affidavit. You may open the form here, complete it, print it out and deliver or send it to the department to the attention of the Chief or you may call the department and have a form sent to you or you may obtain the form at the police department in person.
Because your complaint is a sworn affidavit, you must include your name, address, and telephone number. Please be as complete in your description of the event as possible. We will be verifying your information and, in serious cases, you may be asked to submit to a polygraph examination to verify the content of your statements as truthful. You will be contacted concerning the status of your complaint.
Informal Complaints-
If your complaint simply addresses things an officer could have done better, in your opinion, we will evaluate the need to take corrective action based upon the substance of your concern in light of the overall police mission and the member’s past record. At a minimum, an officer or member will be informed of your concerns and counseled on their behavior. Corrective Action may result if there is a history of similar problems but a member is not likely to face discharge in this case.
You may voice such concerns to the Chief by calling, writing or sending an e-mail. Such action will not necessarily result in a formal investigation.
Our Mission
We Provide Service, Protection, Leadership, and Guidance to the citizens of Genoa in an effort to eliminate fear of crime, enhance the sense of security our citizens feel, and make our community a more pleasant place to live and work.