university police

Inquiries, Complaints, and Commendations

The UTPB Police Department is committed to providing the highest quality of police service to the university community.  To respond effectively to the needs of our community, it is necessary to have citizen input.  Below you will find the means to obtain answers to any questions about specific actions taken by UTPB PD, how we operated, or let us know if you have a recommendation for improvement.

A survey is also available to provide feedback on our services.

Comments may be taken by phone (432-552-2780), by the following form, or in writing.  Written comments should be sent to:

Chief of Police
The University of Texas Permian Basin
Police Department
4901 E University
Odessa, Tx 79762

Making an Inquiry or Complaint:

Please be prepared to provide the date, time, and location of the event; the names of The UTPB Police employees involved (if known); and the name, address, and telephone number of any possible witnesses.

**The lack of and/or incorrect contact information will impact the ability of the Police Department to process your comments.

Statement of Racial Profiling

During the 77th Texas Legislative Session, Senate Bill 1074 was successfully passed. This bill was designed to address a growing concern regarding the practice of racial profiling in the law enforcement profession. Specifically, this bill mandates that police agencies in the State of Texas shall implement a policy that complies with Section 1, Articles 2.131, 2.133 and 2.134, of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, by no later than January 1, 2002. As such, UTPBPD has instituted a policy that addresses racial profiling and provides a complaint/ compliment process for those who believe they have been stopped or searched based on racial, ethnic or national origin profiling.

Two of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the United States and Texas constitutions are equal protection under the law and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures by government agents. The right of all persons to be treated equally and to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures must be respected. Racial profiling is an unacceptable patrol tactic and will not be condoned.

It is the practice of UTPBPD to police in a proactive and responsible manner and to enforce state and federal laws without regard to race, ethnicity or national origin. All University of Texas Permian Basin police officers are expected to conduct themselves in a dignified and respectful manner when dealing with the public.

Investigation Procedure:

Once your inquiry or complaint is received, it will be investigated by a person designated by the Chief of Police.  The investigation will usually include a close review of all applicable reports, policies and procedures, examination of any evidence or records, and interviews with all parties and witnesses.  The length of time to resolve the complaint will heavily depend on the situation and how much information needs to be processed. 

If the Investigator determines that the employee violated department policies and procedures, appropriate corrective action will be taken.

The Chief of Police will review the complaint and findings.  This review is to assure that the Investigation was handled properly and without bias.  The Chief’s review will also shed light on areas where the Department may need to improve policies and procedures or increase training.

Findings

You will receive written notification of the Investigator’s findings.  The responses will be as follows:

Sustained

The allegation made in the complaint is supported by sufficient evidence

Not Sustained

There is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation made in the complaint.

Unfounded

The investigation shows that the allegation is false, not factual.

Exonerated

The investigation shows that the alleged incident did occur, but was justified, lawful, and proper under the circumstances.

Questions and Answers

What happens to an employee if he or she is found to have acted improperly?

The Chief of Police strives to provide professional police services to the university community.  While some instances may require disciplinary action (reprimand, suspension, termination, Etc.), other situations can serve as an opportunity to train and counsel employees to prevent the behavior from occurring in the future.  If a crime has been alleged, the ultimate decision for criminal charges would lie with the County or District Attorney.

Do I have any guarantee that I will be satisfied?

We guarantee that your inquiry will be investigated thoroughly.  If you are unsatisfied with the findings of the investigation, you will be allowed to discuss the results with the Chief of Police or his/her designee.

Commending Exceptional Performance

Recognizing UTPB Police Department Employees for exceptional performance is always welcomed.  The best way to recognize these employees is to write a brief letter describing the incident and why you think they did an exceptional job. Please make sure to include information such as the date, time, location, and the employee’s name if you can remember it.  You may also contact the Police Department to speak with a supervisor to make a verbal commendation.

Commendations received by the UTPB Police Department are forwarded to the employee and a copy is placed in his or her personnel file.  While not expected, recognition of exceptional service is always appreciated and lets employees know that they are doing a good job.