The job of Internal Affairs (IA) is to investigate complaints filed against Sheriff's Office employees and to investigate willful failure of employees to conform to administrative and operational policies and procedures. The Administrative Captain is responsible for administering Internal Affairs and also conducts most investigations that are of a serious nature.

Supervisors working for the Sheriff's Office will take all complaints, including those filed by people anonymously. The employee's immediate supervisor will usually conduct an initial investigation into the complaint and has the authority to resolve minor complaints. Complaints that are more serious and complaints requiring more in-depth investigation are forwarded to the Sheriff. The Sheriff then assigns these complaints to be investigated, usually by a Lieutenant or Captain.

If the investigation determines that the complaint is sustained then some type of corrective action is taken. This action will depend on the seriousness of the violation and the employee's work history. Corrective actions range from counseling the employee to termination of employment. It is important to know that the purpose of any corrective action is not to punish the employee but to convince the employee to change the unacceptable behavior. This may also require some type of training or remedial training and an important function of Internal Affairs is to determine whether misconduct is intentional or caused by a lack of training or understanding expectations on the part of the employee.

The San Juan County Sheriff's Office is committed to employing people who are ethical and have a desire to treat every citizen with respect and dignity. We take all complaints seriously and make every attempt to learn the truth and deal with violations of public trust in a manner that is fair and consistent. We also recognize that employees have rights and we are committed to performing the Internal Affairs function in a manner that recognizes those rights and will treat employees in a fair and consistent manner.