File a Complaint

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The National Park Service Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) documents and investigates allegations of misconduct against law enforcement officers, whether received internally (within agency/administrative) or externally (public/citizen generated).

Please note:

• If you would like to file a general complaint about park operations, or about an employee that is not law enforcement, contact the park through their official webpage. Find a park at www.nps.gov/findapark then click the Contact Us link near the bottom.
• If you would like to file a complaint about waste, fraud, or abuse, contact the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Inspector General

Filing a Complaint Against an NPS Law Enforcement Officer

Persons who wish to file a complaint against a National Park Service (NPS) law enforcement officer have several ways to do so. The fastest way is to file online.

[ Submit a complaint online → ] (OPR complaint form)

You may also file a complaint:

• In person at any National Park Service unit;

• By letter describing the complaint sent to:
  National Park Service Office of Professional Responsibility
  Mailstop 2560
  1849 C Street Northwest
  Washington, DC 20240;

• By calling OPR 24/7 at 888-294-3666 -- leave a voicemail on this recorded line, which is periodically monitored.

When filing a complaint, please include as much of the following information as possible to help ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted:

• Describe the incident — include the date, time, location, and name of the NPS unit.
• The law enforcement officer or special agent’s name, badge number, and description.
• Identification of any witnesses — include name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s).
• Vehicle description — include the plate number and state.
• Reminder: OPR does not handle and will not respond to any issues that are not related to NPS law enforcement officers.

The Complaint Process

When a complaint is received, OPR sends a letter notifying the complainant that the complaint has been received and assigned for investigation.

The investigator assigned to the case will conduct a thorough investigation, to include an interview of the involved employee and any witnesses that have been identified. The investigating official may contact the complainant for additional information or to clarify information already provided. The responsible manager for the investigation will make a determination concerning the complaint based upon the proven facts. The decision will be one of the following six findings:

• Unfounded — The allegation is false or not factual.

• Exonerated — The actions were lawful and within policy.

• Not Sustained — The complaint can be neither proved nor disproved.

• Sustained — There is sufficient evidence to justify a reasonable conclusion of misconduct.

• Other — There is an administrative or legal justification for the incident.

• Suspended — All reasonable investigative leads are exhausted and sufficient information is not available to proceed.

The complainant will be notified by letter at the conclusion of the investigation.

If an allegation is sustained, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against the affected employee. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on the specific discipline imposed on an employee is not released.