Office of Professional Standards

The Office of Professional Standards manages and maintains an organized review, development, and implementation of all Burke County Sheriff's Office policies, State Certification and assist with the development of training and practices which encourage employees to perform at the highest level. A primary duty in the Office of Professional Standards is to assist in educating the public regarding law enforcement operations and conducting thorough, timely investigations of any allegation of employee misconduct. 

Internal Affairs

Internal Affairs ensures the integrity of the Burke County Sheriff's Offioce and its employees by investigating all allegations of employee misconduct from any source, outside or inside the agency including third-party and anonymous complaints. To maintain integrity, our agency has gone to great lengths to ensure accessibility to Internal Affairs by as many means possible, to include: telephone, fax, mail, email, and walk-in access.

Complaint or Commendation

Please see the following information regarding the Burke County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Complaint(s) or Commendation(s) process and available forms. These forms are also available in the front lobby of the BCSO during normal business hours.

It is the duty of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office to thoroughly investigate all complaints of alleged employee misconduct, to properly determine whether the allegations are substantiated or unsubstantiated, and to take appropriate follow-up action.

The purpose of having such policy and procedures is to:

1. Identify practices requiring corrective measures through remedial training or policy revision;
2. Protect the reputation of individual employees, the agency, and the public from false or misleading allegations; and
3. Identify employees who may be involved in illegal, unethical, or unprofessional conduct so that the appropriate corrective measures may be taken.

Sheriff Williams believes that all efforts must be taken to build a strong, positive relationship between the handling of information concerning allegations of employee misconduct and to provide the public with a fair and effective means to redress their legitimate grievances against the agency or an individual employee.

Complaints 

Any person who wishes to lodge a complaint may do so in writing, on the telephone or in person. These complaints may or may not be anonymous. Any complaint received is automatically referred to a supervisor in the grade of Corporal or above. This supervisor is mandated to document the complaint. All complaints are then referred to the appropriate Division Commander and the Office of Professional Standards. Minor complaints are investigated by the Division Commander. The Internal Affairs Investigator reviews and monitors these complaints, as well as investigates all complaints of a more serious nature. All complaints will be weighed for validity and compared to supporting evidence.

Commendations

Just as citizens are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office when they have a complaint, we welcome and encourage citizens to let us know when they receive service that is more than satisfactory. We appreciate positive feedback from citizens so that we may provide positive reinforcement to those employees going above and beyond. We need to recognize not only the employees that need improvement but also those who are an example to others. These are the employees we wish to be the future leaders and trainers of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.

Citizen Complaint/Commendation Form -  (Fillable, Printable / PDF Version)