Racial Profiling Complaint Process

Racial Profiling Prohibited
The Palacios ISD Police Department has established a policy, concerning the prohibition of racial profiling as set out in state and federal laws concerning racial profiling and discriminatory practices in general. Discrimination in any form, including racial profiling, is strictly prohibited and the department will take immediate and appropriate action to investigate allegations of discrimination. This policy applies to all members of the Palacios ISD Police Department both classified and non-classified. 

What is Racial Profiling?
Racial profiling is any law enforcement-initiated action based on an individual’s race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than on the individual’s behavior or information identifying the individual as having engaged in criminal activity.

Examples of racial profiling include but are not limited to the following:

• Initiating a motor vehicle stop on a particular vehicle because of the race, ethnicity, or national origin of the driver of a vehicle
• Stopping or detaining the driver of a vehicle based on the determination that a person of that race, ethnicity, or national origin is unlikely to own or possess that specific make or model of vehicle
• Stopping or detaining an individual based on the determination that a person of that race, ethnicity, or national origin does not belong in a specific part of town or a specific place

Data Reporting
Personnel designated by the Chief of Police will compile and place into a report format all incidents concerning racial profiling. The Chief of Police shall disseminate this data as required by statute.

Complaint Process
The department shall accept complaints from any person who believes he or she has been stopped, searched, or inappropriately ticketed or arrested based on racial, ethnic, or national origin profiling. No person shall be discouraged, intimidated, or coerced from filing such a complaint, or discriminated against because he or she filed such a complaint. Employees and supervisors shall report any racial profiling practice they observe.

How Do I Make a Complaint?
Complaints against members of the Palacios ISD Police Department may be made by letter or in person. No matter how the complaint is made it is the responsibility of the contacted supervisor to inform the complainant of the proper procedure for filing a complaint. State Law requires that complaints involving police officers be sworn under oath and notarized. Complaints can be filed directly at the:
Palacios ISD Administration Office
1209 Twelfth St.
Palacios, TX 77465
(361) 972-5491

What Happens To My Complaint After It Is Received?
All complaints received by the department are processed through the Prosper ISD Administration Office. When a complaint is received, it is reviewed to determine the nature of the allegations. All complaints are investigated by the Superintendent or Chief of Police or designee. In every case, the person making the complaint will be contacted during the investigation for additional information, and will be notified by mail of the final disposition.

Protection of the Public
The public has the right to receive fair, efficient, and impartial law enforcement. Any misconduct by department personnel must be detected, thoroughly investigated, and properly adjudicated to assure the maintenance of this right.

Protection of the Department
The department is often evaluated and judged by the conduct of its individual employees. It is imperative that the whole organization not be criticized because of the misconduct of a few. An informed public must have confidence that its police department honestly and fairly investigates and adjudicates all allegations of misconduct against its employees.

Protection of the Employee
Employees must be protected against false or misinformed allegations of misconduct. This can only be accomplished through a consistently thorough investigative process.

Important Numbers:
911 - Police Emergency
911 - Fire Emergency
911 - Medical Emergency

Non-Emergency Police Service (Palacios Police Department)
(361) 972-3112

Palacios ISD Chief of Police
(361) 972-5491 

 Palacios ISD Administration Office
(361) 972-5491