Complaints Against Employees

All Department employees strive to provide the highest level of service to the public and to do so in a professional manner. The Department recognizes that on rare occasion employees may act or speak inappropriately. There are also times that employees may take action that while correct and appropriate leaves members of the community with questions.

The Department has a citizen complaint policy to address these and other issues related to professional conduct. The policy outlines how people who believe that an employee has done or said something inappropriate may file a complaint against that employee and how the Department must respond to the complaint.

The preferred method for filing a complaint is for the citizen to come to the Station and first meet with the employee’s supervisor to see if the matter can be resolved at that time. This can be done by coming to the Department Building located at 435 N. Michigan Avenue during regular business hours. It is our hope that we are able to resolve these matters quickly and to the satisfaction of all concerned which is why we request the first step be with the employee’s supervisor.

Complaints of criminal activity or other serious wrongdoing will be forwarded directly to the Director of Public Safety. Complaints may also be called in at (231) 527-0005 or citizens may email the complaint by using either police@ci.big-rapids.mi.us or fire@ci.big-rapids.mi.us depending on who is the subject of the complaint.

Complaints that are not resolved at the initial stage will be sent to the Director of Public Safety who will then assign the complaint to a Command Officer for investigation. Generally the Department goal is to complete the investigation within 2 weeks and advise the complainant in writing of the outcome of the investigation. Employees found to have acted inappropriately face Department sanctions ranging from reprimand to termination.

The Department takes complaints against employees very serious and will investigate every complaint made. It is our goal to provide the most professional service possible.