Sheriff's Office
Dustin D. Heuerman, County Sheriff

Champaign County Coronavirus Response Webpage

Personnel Complaint Instructions

The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office strives to maintain high professional standards for our employees. We encourage both compliments and complaints about employee conduct. We are committed to fair and effective practices and we do not excuse any wrongful acts by any of our employees.

Personnel complaints include any allegation of misconduct or improper job performance that, if true, would constitute a violation of departmental policy or of federal, state or local law, policy or rule.

REQUIREMENTS TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT:

Complaints must only be submitted by those with first-hand knowledge of an interaction and must be received by the Sheriff’s Office within 60 days of the date of interaction to help ensure preservation of any evidence related to the complaint. By submitting a complaint, you attest that the information you provide is accurate and factual.

A complaint must be based on an allegation of misconduct or improper job performance that, if true, would constitute a violation of departmental policy or of federal, state or local law, policy or rule.

CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE SUBMITTING A WRITTEN COMPLAINT:

The first step to reporting your complaint should be requesting to speak with a Supervisor as soon as possible after the interaction. This can be accomplished by calling METCAD at 217-333-8911 and asking to speak with the deputy’s supervisor. The Supervisor has the authority to handle minor complaints at the initial contact. If you are not satisfied after speaking with the Supervisor, or do not feel comfortable requesting to speak with a Supervisor, you can contact Sheriff’s Office at 217-384-1205 Monday thru Friday between 8:30am – 4:30pm, by e-mailing [email protected], or by submitting a Personnel Complaint Form

Please provide as specific of information as possible to ensure a thorough investigation. Every complaint meeting the above requirements is fully investigated but may be limited based on the information you provide or the ability to contact you for additional information.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about the complaint process:

Does the complaint address guilt or innocence?

No. The complaint process is not intended to address an expression of dissatisfaction that SOLELY addresses guilt or innocence. That will be determined by a court of law. The complaint process will have NO impact upon pending court action.

How is my complaint investigated?

The complaint is reviewed by the Sheriff. The complaint is then assigned for investigation by a supervisor. Upon completion of the investigation, a recommendation is made to the Sheriff for disposition. The Sheriff may concur with the recommendation, modify the disposition, or order further investigation.

Will I be notified of the disposition?

Yes, if the complaint includes your contact information. You will be notified of the disposition within 30 days of making the complaint. If the investigation cannot be completed within that period, you will be contacted and informed of the delay.

Do I have the right to appeal?

Yes. You may appeal the initial disposition by having a meeting with the Sheriff.

What happens if an employee is found to have acted wrongfully?

Aside from arrests arising out of criminal conduct, an employee may be subjected to the following processes if found to be in violation of the rules:

  • Cited for additional training.
  • Disciplined.
  • Terminated.
  • In certain circumstances policies and procedures may be revised as a result of the complaint.

How long do I have to file a complaint?

It is recommended that complaints are filed as soon after the incident as possible. Complaints must be received by the Sheriff’s Office within 60 days of the date of incident to help ensure preservation of any evidence related to the complaint.

Can I file an anonymous complaint?

Yes, however the inability to follow-up with you on the complaint may hinder the investigation. Because of the inability to contact an anonymous complainant to answer any clarifying questions about the incident, it is recommended you are as specific as possible in the complaint. Investigation into the incident may be limited based on the information provided by the complainant. Because we want to stop employee misconduct as soon as possible, it is recommended that contact information be listed with the complaint to help ensure a thorough investigation.