Crime & Traffic
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If you come into contact with a law enforcement officer in Illinois and believe they acted improperly, you have a right to file a complaint.
You can file a complaint if you believe an officer:
- Committed a crime, even if they were not arrested, charged, or fired
- Used excessive force
- Failed to step in or report when another officer used excessive force
- Turned off, tampered with, or destroyed dash cam or body camera footage
- Lied under oath, made false statements, or created or tampered with evidence
- Acted in a dishonest, unethical, or unprofessional way that failed to meet basic standards of police conduct, even if no one was directly harmed
Complaints to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board
The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) oversees all police officers in Illinois, including state troopers, city police, and sheriff ’s deputies. They have the power to revoke an officer’s certification, which means the officer cannot work anywhere in the state.
To file a complaint with ILETSB:
- Use ILETSB’s “Form Q” (Officer Complaint Form)
- Submit the form by email to [email protected] or submit the allegation through the online portal.
You can file anonymously. If you don’t provide a sworn affidavit , ILETSB can still investigate if there is other clear evidence, such as video or documents of the misconduct. This is called a “sworn affidavit override.”
Complaints may result in:
- Discipline,
- Loss of certification, or
- Criminal charges such as official misconduct, which is a Class 3 felony .
Police departments and sheriff’s offices are also required to report confirmed misconduct to ILETSB once an internal investigation is complete.
For more information, contact ILETSB.
Complaints to the Illinois State Police
If the officer is an Illinois State Police (ISP) employee, you can also file a complaint directly with the ISP’s Division of Internal Investigations. This form usually must be signed and notarized. ISP will review the complaint, and if they confirm misconduct, they can discipline or fire the officer. They also have to report confirmed misconduct to ILETSB.
Local police and sheriff departments
Most city police and county sheriff’s offices have their own complaint forms on their websites. To find these complaint forms, do an internet search like “Chicago police officer complaint form” or “Cook County sheriff complaint form.” Local departments may also take a wider range of complaints than ILETSB, including concerns about bias, rude behavior, or not following department rules.
Some departments let you file a complaint online, while others require you to call or email for instructions. Some accept anonymous complaints, while others may require you to sign or even notarize the form. If a local department refuses to take your complaint, you can still file directly with ILETSB. You do not have to file with a local department before going to ILETSB.
Other options
If you believe a police officer violated your civil rights, you can also file a complaint with:
Worried about doing this on your own? You may be able to get free legal help.
