West Palm Beach Law Enforcement & Internal Affairs Attorney

Law Enforcement & Internal Affairs Lawyer in West Palm Beach, FL

A West Palm Beach Defense Lawyer To Help You File a Complaint Against an Officer

While the duty of law enforcement is to serve and protect the people, you may have come across an instance when they have negatively affected you. As such, if you have encountered a negative experience with law enforcement, you might want to file a complaint against them. As a former public defender, Attorney Nellie L. King firmly believes in the Constitution’s right to protect its people, but she also recognizes that law enforcement protocol may sometimes fall short of its duty to the people. The Law Offices of Nellie L. King, P.A. can provide you with experienced and personal assistance to file a complaint an against an officer if you seek to do so.

Should I File a Claim with Internal Affairs in Florida?

The Division of Internal Affairs primarily works to investigate incidents and possible suspicions of law-breaking and professional misconduct attributed to law enforcement officers. In a way, it is a like a police force policing itself.

Duties of the Division of Internal Affairs include:

• Investigating alleged misconduct by agency employees
• Providing staff assistance to line supervisors in investigations of alleged misconduct by agency employees
• Investigating critical incidents (i.e., employee-involved shootings)
• Recording, registering, and controlling the investigation of complaints against employees
• Maintaining the confidentiality of The Division of Internal Affairs investigations and records
• Conducting all pre-employment background investigations and truth verification relative to the hiring process
• Processing public record requests under Florida State Statute 119.00
• Preparing an annual report concerning complaints made to the agency

Filing Process

The central function of the Internal Affairs Unit is the receipt, processing and investigation of complaints made against employees of the West Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. After a complaint is received, it will undergo a thorough and timely investigation of the allegation(s) contained in the complaint. All complaints are processed and reviewed by the Division of Internal Affairs and submitted to the Sheriff of Palm Beach County for review and final disposition.

While you may file a complaint against West Palm Beach law enforcement, note that you may also file a commendation for an employee who you feel has provided you with exceptional assistance. If you believe an officer or civilian personnel performed their duties with great skill and dedication to your case, you can submit a formal commendation that will inform the employee or their supervisor of their exceptional work.

The Internal Affairs Unit is located on the third floor of the police facility at 600 Banyan Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401. You may choose to mail in a letter of complaint or commendation, or you can call their office at (561) 822-1858 between the hours of 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. You may also submit an online form to file an employee commendation or an employee complaint.