Submit a Complaint about a VAPD Officer

The department recognizes the importance of protecting the community from employees who have demonstrated acts of misconduct or have shown they are unfit for law enforcement work, the need to protect employees from false allegations of misconduct, and the opportunity to periodically assess the effectiveness of our policies and procedures. These objectives can only be accomplished through a consistently thorough and objective investigative process.

The Chief of Police of the police department is responsible for administering the complaint process. Should you hold the impression an employee has been involved in misconduct or are dissatisfied with our service you may register a complaint by:

Contacting an on-duty Supervisor at 903-482-5251. or
Completing a complaint form and submit it by email. or
Completing a complaint form and send it via the United States Postal Service to:

Van Alstyne Police Department
Chief of Police
Po Box 247 242 North Preston Ave
Van Alstyne, TX 75495

Texas law requires that all complaints against police officers be in writing and signed by the person making the complaint. Complaints must generally be made within 30-days of the incident unless special circumstances exist. The person who was wronged must file the complaint; other persons may give statements as witnesses.

False Complaints

Filing a false complaint against a police employee is a violation of the Texas Penal Code, Section 37.02. If a person knowingly and intentionally makes a false statement under oath, or swears to the truth of a false statement previously made under oath, a person may be found guilty and punished by a fine up to $4,000, confinement in jail up to one year, or by both fine and imprisonment.