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Complaints, Concerns and Compliments

The Wheeling Police Department strives to deliver the best possible customer service to the citizens and visitors of our community. We encourage our citizens to voice their opinions, good or bad, to the Police Department. The Department has mechanisms in place to receive and address compliments, concerns, or complaints regarding our employees.

The Wheeling Police Department investigates all complaints against members of the Wheeling Police Department. You may initiate a complaint by telephone, mail, e-mail or in person.

The Wheeling Police Department is committed to working with our community to provide the highest level of police service. We appreciate and encourage citizen communications with the Police Department to improve community relations and help build greater confidence in your Police Department.

To file a complaint, voice a concern or compliment an employee, you may do it in any of the following manners:

In Person

Come to the Wheeling Police Department and request to speak with a Supervisor. Someone is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

By Telephone

Contact the Wheeling Police Department at 847-459-2632 and ask to speak to a Watch Supervisor.

In Writing

Direct a letter to the attention of the Deputy Chief of Police at the Wheeling Police Department, 255 West Dundee Road, Wheeling, Illinois, 60090. You may mail it certified to ensure it is received.

By e-mail

Send an e-mail to wbenson@wheelingil.gov and advise the nature of the complaint and the employee involved. You will be contacted by an Officer in reference to the complaint.

What happens when the complaint is received?

The Supervisor receiving the complaint determines the type of complaint and the conduct involved. First-line Supervisors handle certain types of complaints, while others are investigated by Command Staff.

Generally, First-line Supervisors address complaints regarding discourteous service and failure to take appropriate action. As the complainant, you will be contacted in reference to the specifics of your complaint. The First-line Supervisor will attempt to handle this matter at his/her level. Once resolved, a record of the complaint and the action taken is made by the Supervisor and forwarded to the appropriate Division Commander.

More serious complaints, such as excessive force, criminal conduct, corruption, or ethics violations, are forwarded to the Chief of Police who assigns a Command Staff Officer to investigate the complaint.

What happens after the investigation?

As the complainant, you will be notified of the final classification of the investigation, i.e. unfounded, exonerated, not sustained, sustained, sustained with qualifications. Every attempt will be made to explain these findings to you.

What happens when a complimentary letter is received?

All Department and/or Officer compliments are forwarded to the Awards Committee for officer recognition. The complimentary letter and/or award will be placed into the officer’s/employee’s personnel file.

What happens when a concern is voiced?

The concern is brought to the attention of the appropriate Division Commander and addressed accordingly. The person voicing the concern will be notified of the actions taken regarding to their concern.