Compliments or Commendations

The Gaithersburg Police Department investigates all public complaints made against the Department or any of its members in a fair, thorough and impartial manner.

The Gaithersburg Police Department believes strongly in our mission and is committed to providing the highest level and quality of service. We welcome compliments or commendations about employee performance, whether for their every day job duties or for actions performed outside of their employment.

To provide a compliment or compliant for a Gaithersburg Police Department employee, please email chris.vance@gaithersburgmd.gov. You may also mail letters or speak with us in person at the Gaithersburg Police Station, 16 South Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877. Lobby hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Complaints of Police Misconduct

Per Maryland Code, Public Safety Article § 3-103, an individual may file a complaint of police misconduct with the law enforcement agency that employs the police officer who is the subject of the complaint.

A complaint of police misconduct filed with a law enforcement agency shall include:

  1. The name of the police officer accused of misconduct;

  2. A description of the facts on which the complaint is based; and

  3. Contact information of the complainant or a person filing on behalf of the complainant for investigative follow-up.

Note: A complaint need not be notarized.

There are three ways in which a member of the public can file a complaint against a Gaithersburg Police Officer:

  1. The individual may complete a Complaint against Officer online here;

  2. The individual may file the Gaithersburg Complaint Form in person at the Gaithersburg Police Station; or

  3. File the complaint directly with the Montgomery County Police Accountability Board. That complaint can be filed here.

Once a complaint is filed with the Gaithersburg Police Department, a determination will be made based on the accusation on whether the complaint alleges:

Police Misconduct – A pattern, a practice, or conduct by a police officer or law enforcement officer that includes:

  • Depriving persons of rights protected by the Constitution or laws of the State or the united States;

  • A violation of criminal statute; and

  • A violation of law enforcement agency standards and policies.

An allegation of police misconduct that includes a member of the public shall be routed to the Montgomery County Administrative Charging Committee through the Police Misconduct Complaint Process.

The Gaithersburg Police Department shall designate an employee as a Victims’ Rights Advocate to act as the contact for the public within the agency on matters related to the Police misconduct. A Victims’ Rights advocate shall:

  1. Explain to the complainant:

    1. The complaint, investigation, administrative charging committee, and trial board process;

    2. Any decisions to terminate the investigation;

    3. An Administrative Charging Committee’s decision of Administratively Charged, Not Administratively Charged, Unfounded, or Exonerated, and

    4. A trial board’s decision.

  2. Provide a complainant with an opportunity to review a police officer’s statement, if any, before completion of an investigation by the Gaithersburg Police Department Investigative Section;

  3. Notify a complainant of the status of the case at every stage of the process; and

  4. Provide a case summary to a complainant within 30-days after final disposition of the case.

The Gaithersburg Police Department has created a database that enables a complainant to enter the complainant’s case number to follow the status of the case as it proceeds through (1) Investigation, (2) Charging, (3) Officer Discipline, (4) Trial Board, (5) Ultimate Discipline, and (6) Appeal.

Once an individual has filed a complaint, they will be given a unique reference identifier to view the status of a filed submission.  That reference identifier can be entered below to check the status of the complaint process:

Status of Complaint

All discipline issued against police officers shall be given in accordance to the MPCTC Statewide Police Disciplinary Matrix Resource Guide.

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