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Home > I Want To > File a Complaint Against a Cambridge Police Officer or the Department

File a Complaint Against a Cambridge Police Officer or the Department

Police Review & Advisory Board

The Police Review & Advisory Board provides a prompt, impartial and fair investigation of complaints brought by individuals against members of the Cambridge Police Department

How to Start

You can file a complaint in the following ways:

  • By Phone: Call Police Review & Advisory Board at 617.349.6155
  • By Mail: Police Review & Advisory Board, 51 Inman St., Cambridge, MA  02139
  • In Person: Board's office at 51 Inman St., 2nd floor.
  • By Email: Brian Corr, Executive Secretary, bcorr@cambridgema.gov

To file a complaint, you must provide a completed and signed complaint form. 

Complaints may also be made directly to the Professional Standards Unit of the Cambridge Police Department:

  • by phone at 617.349.3384
  • in person at the Police Department at 125 Sixth St., Cambridge
  • by emailing qualitycontrol@cambridgepolice.org

Requirements

  • In all cases, everyone making a complaint is required to provide signed statement describing what happened and the specific complaint.
  •  Complaints must be filed within 60 days of the incident.

Additional Information

Types of complaints that can be filed:

  • Excessive use of force
  • Use of discourteous or demeaning language 
  • Improper stop, arrest, search and seizure
  • Inadequate investigation or improper police reports
  • Discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, sex, religion, disability, or national origin or any other criteria defined in federal and state guidelines.
  • Harassment 
  • Improper police procedures 
  • Improper traffic citation or towing of a car by the police

Once a complaint is filed, Board staff will work with the Professional Standards Unit of the Cambridge Police Department to investigate all complaints. An investigation includes interviews with both the complainant and involved police officer(s), as well as any other relevant individuals, and reviewing police reports, witness statements, and other pertinent information. The staff submits its investigative report to the Board, which reviews the report, and may accept the report or order additional investigation into the complaint. After the investigation process is completed, the Board will deliberate and make a determination whether or not there was a violation of policy or procedures, or whether it is inconclusive.

Depending on the finding, any party to the complaint may request that the Board order a hearing, which is done at the discretion of the Board based on the evidence the Board has received. If a hearing is held, the Board will render a final decision.

In addition, even if the Board finds that there was not a violation of policy or procedures, it may still make a recommendation to the City Manager and the Police Commissioner about changes which should be made.
Page was last modified on 7/24/2023 8:12 PM
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