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The University of Pennsylvania Police Department’s goal is to improve the quality of services provided, to promote a high level of public confidence, and to enhance and maintain the professional integrity of this department and its members. The UPPD and its members will perform their duties within the boundaries of established contemporary legal and ethical standards. The department has established and promoted these standards through clear, written policy statements, rules and regulations, and through the thorough and impartial investigation of all allegations of misconduct or complaints regarding the directives of the department.
A formal procedure to receive, document and investigate all citizen complaints allows the department to monitor and enforce standards. Behavior deviating from these adopted standards will not be tolerated. With a meaningful and effective procedure for handling citizen complaints, we believe citizen confidence in the integrity of the department and its employees has been achieved and maintained.
It is the policy of the department to accept, document, review, and investigate all instances of alleged misconduct. The focus of these investigations is to equitably determine whether the allegations are valid or invalid and to take appropriate action. All allegations of misconduct will be investigated, regardless of whether initiated by citizen complaint, other external agencies, internally generated, or discovered through the internal review and administrative processes of the department.
It should be understood that the department expects and receives the highest degree of integrity from its members. Anonymous complaints, or complaints from citizens who wish their names to be held in confidence, shall be accepted for investigation. Citizens offering anonymous complaints are advised that our ability to investigate the complaint may be limited by their anonymity.
All citizen complaints concerning alleged officer misconduct shall be documented and investigated by the department. Citizens who have complaints should expect action. All complaints shall be accepted in a courteous, understanding, and professional manner. Forms are available in the following locations:
You may reach out to any of the many other resources on campus, including the Office of the Chaplain and Penn Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics (DRIA), any Penn resource where you feel comfortable can assist you in filing a complaint.
Complaints may be submitted: in person, by telephone, fax, in writing, or submitted electronically from the DPS website.
Upon receipt of a citizen complaint, the Office of the Superintendent of Police shall contact the citizen and advise him/her that the matter is under investigation. If necessary, the citizen shall also receive periodic status reports regarding the investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, the citizen will receive written notice of the final disposition of the case from the Office of the Superintendent of Police. Questions regarding the UPPD Citizen Complaint Process may be directed to the Office of the Superintendent of Police, 215.898.7515.
The below Penn offices may be contacted should you have questions about this process or need assistance.