Citizen's Comments

The Mono County Sheriff’s Office welcomes any thoughts you have regarding your contact with our Department members, whether that contact is positive in nature or negative. Below you will find links to both a ‘Citizen Survey Form’ and ‘Citizen’s Personnel Complaint Form’. You can download either form and mail it to our Department where it will be forwarded to the appropriate staff member. Please do not hesitate to be forthcoming with your opinions; we value them whether you are a citizen or visitor of Mono County.

Download Citizen Survey Form and the Citizen Complaint form below.

Below you can read our Department Policy regarding Complaints:

Personnel Complaint Policy
The Mono County Sheriff's Office welcomes constructive criticism of the Department or valid complaints about its members or procedures. Prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation of each complaint and criticism is essential if our Department is to maintain the trust and confidence of the people we serve.

Although Deputies must be free to use their best judgment and take action when necessary without fear or reprisal, they must at the same time strictly observe the rights of all persons.

How to make a complaint
A complaint may be made at any time, day or night. When you come into an office of this Department, any employee can assist you by answering questions and referring you to the Watch Commander or available on duty supervisor. If you are under 18 and wish to file a complaint, please bring your parents or guardian with you.

The Personnel Complaint Form has been prepared in order to provide individuals with information regarding the complaint process and to facilitate a timely and thorough investigation. It is not mandatory that you complete the form or personally write out your complaint prior to contacting the Department. A supervisor may assist you in preparing your written statement. You should receive a copy of your statement at the time your complaint is filed. Also, you are required by law to read and sign the advisement on the Personnel Complaint form itself.

You may submit a completed Personnel Complaint Form to the Watch Commander, or take the form with you and mail it to the Department at a later time. All complaints are routed directly to the Sheriff.

Investigative Procedure
The Sheriff will have a supervisor assigned to your complaint. The Supervisor will contact all available witnesses, including the Deputies/Officers involved. He/she will examine any relevant physical evidence and gather information pertinent to each allegation made in the complaint. Each allegation will be examined on its own merit. The investigation of your complaint should be completed within 30 days.

If the allegations are substantiated and the officer's actions were criminal in nature, he/she will be dealt with like any other individual. If they were improper, but not criminal, he/she may be disciplined.

The Sheriff reviews all findings. If the complaint receives a sustained finding, the Sheriff decides whether to take immediate corrective action or to forward the report to the officers Commander for recommendation regarding appropriate corrective action. In all cases, the Sheriff makes the final decision.

Notification of findings
You will be notified of the results of the investigation. There are four possible findings in each case:

1. Unfounded: The action complained of did not occur, or the employee accused was not involved.
2. Exonerated: The action complained of did occur, but was justified, lawful, and proper.
3. Not Sustained: The investigation failed to clearly prove or disprove the allegation.
4. Sustained: The action complained of occurred, and was improper, unlawful, or unacceptable.

Action to be taken
The Sheriff may take/recommend a number of corrective actions. The actions include counseling, training, oral or written reprimand, or other appropriate actions such as suspension, dismissal, or prosecution.

What if you are not satisfied
We sincerely hope that this will never happen. However, if it does, you may contact:

Mono County Grand Jury, PO Box 537, Bridgeport CA. 93517
Attorney General of California, 1300 I St., Suite 1101, Sacramento, CA. 95814
U.S. Attorney's Office, 501 I St., Suite 10100, Sacramento, CA. 95814