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Commendations & Concerns PDF Print
We are here to serve the citizens of Douglas County. Comments praising a deputy can be made by filling out the commendation form and/or comments concerning a deputy can be made by filling out the internal affairs form.  The completed form can be hand delivered or mailed to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, 111 E. 11th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.  We appreciate your comments.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Internal Affairs

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office provides law enforcement service to our county.  The Sheriff’s Office has trained our personnel to provide consistent and professional service.
 
As a member of our community, you can assist the Sheriff’s Office as we strive to ensure that the service we provide meets the high standards expected.  We encourage your participation.  We want you to give us information when you observe actions by the Sheriff’s Office or individual employees, which you believe needs our attention.  This information can be both actions that you find commendatory and those you believe are not at an acceptable level of professional service.

You may report your observations in person, by letter or on the telephone.  The Sheriff’s Office does accept anonymous information, however we may not be able to act on it as effectively as when you provide your identity.  Anonymous reports are investigated to the extent which the information allows.

You should expect that your initial contact will be with a supervisor of the Sheriff’s Office.  The supervisor will prepare the actual Community and Personnel Relations Report.  This is to insure that all relevant and available information is gathered when it is still fresh.  Your cooperation is very important particularly in identifying witnesses and in helping us to gather evidence including photographs and medical treatment records if necessary.

A member of the Sheriff’s Office will be assigned to investigate your report.  You should expect to hear from that person within a couple of days.  The investigator will attempt to arrange for a convenient time and location to conduct a formal interview with you.  This interview routinely will be tape-recorded.  If you have any questions or concerns you may call Lieutenant Steve Brown in the office of Community and Personnel Relations, 785-830-1004, but you should not feel that you are expected to call.

An essential part of this investigation is our direct contact and interview with the involved Sheriff’s Office employees.  They will be interviewed in a similar manner as your interview.  These employees will be instructed not to contact you unless is in response to a law enforcement service need.  In the case of an employee commendation, the employee will be notified of the event and a copy will be placed in their employment file.

We strive to complete all of these Community and Personnel Relations investigations within thirty days.  Normally the review process takes a few more days.  You will be notified of the outcome of this investigation if you wish.  However, by law and Douglas County policy there is information such as disciplinary action taken, that we are prohibited from releasing. We recognize and value the citizens who are the eyes and ears of our community and its law enforcement.  We respect and welcome your input, both favorable and not.  Whenever you see employee actions that you believe the Sheriff should be aware of, please report those actions to us.

Kenneth McGovern
Douglas County Sheriff
 
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FAQ's

Where do I go for a municipal traffic ticket? -

Municipal Court
1006 New Hampshire
Lawrence, Kansas 66044
(785) 832-6190

What's the difference between a sheriff's office and a police department? -

The main difference is the area of jurisdiction. A sheriff's office provides law enforcement services and/or jail services for a county or other civil subdivision of a state. A police department serves a specific municipality, city, town or village. Often, cities contract for law enforcement services with the county sheriff's office.

How can I commend a Sheriff's Office employee for outstanding service? -

If you received extraordinary service from a Douglas County Sheriff's Office employee, or witnessed something that deserves special recognition, we encourage you to tell us,  so we may share your thoughts with that employee(s) and with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office family.  You may contact Internal Affairs , or use the commendation form.

Your appreciation and encouragement are important to us.

How can I get a copy of an incident report? - The Lawrence Police Department (LPD) stores all incident reports for the City of Lawrence and Douglas County.  Call LPD Records 785-832-7501 for more information or you can get direct access to the report by clicking on "Services" and then click on "Offense Reports".
How do I obtain a copy of an arrest record or a background check. -

For copies of arrest records, contact the Records Division. Since the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office manages the County jail facilities, the agency maintains all arrest records for the county.


For background checks, contact  the Records Division. Background checks include arrest records only and do not include traffic violations or other incidents which did not result in an arrest.


For event (also called incident) reports and accident reports, contact the law enforcement agency to which the report was made. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office only maintains reports taken by a Sheriff's deputy generally in the county jurisdiction.

Contact phone:  785-841-0007

What is the difference between a criminal case and a civil case? -

Civil cases are generally brought by private individuals or corporations seeking to collect money owed or monetary damages. A criminal case is brought by the local, state or federal government in response to a suspected violation of law and seeks a fine, a jail sentence or both.

Child Passenger Safety Requirements -
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office maintains three (3) certified technicians and one (1) instructor who have national certification to assist in installing child safety seats.  The technicians attend a four (4) day eight (8) hour per day class, which prepares them for certification.  Each technician must have several car seat installations after certification to be qualified as a technician able to assist in installing car seats.  After initial certification, the technician must be re-certified every two years, which requires several continuing education classes and installation of several seats. read more.
What's unusual about calling 9-1-1 from a cell phone? -

Because of the way cellular telephone calls are routed, calls to 9-1-1 may not reach the proper dispatch operators. Generally, the police agency that receives a cellular 9-1-1 call is determined by the origination of the call in relation to a specific cellular tower.

If you are reporting an emergency via cellular telephone, it's crucial to inform the 9-1-1 operator of your exact location. The appropriate and closest response can then be activated.

How do I file a complaint against a Douglas County Sheriff's Office employee? - Complaints may be accepted by any Douglas County Sheriff's Office supervisor or you may contact the Division of Internal Affairs directly.  Complaints may be received verbally or in writing and in person, by telephone, by mail or by our online form. You may also use the Public Complaint Form attached to the Division of Internal Affairs brochure which is available in all public access areas of Douglas County Sheriff's Office facilities.

During non-business hours, complaints may be directed to Douglas County Sheriff's Office Shift Supervisor.
How can I get a copy of an accident report? - If the accident report was made by a Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy, the accident report is available at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, 111 E. 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.  You may obtain a copy by calling 785-841-0007,  or clicking on "Accident Report" under "Services". 
If the accident report was made by the Lawrence Police Department, you can click on "Report online" under "Accident Report" under "Services". 
If the accident report was taken by the Kansas Highway Patrol call 785-296-6800.
When I go on vacation, will the Douglas County Sheriff's Office check my home? - Yes, call 785-841-0007 and ask for a "property check".
Do you do fingerprint cards? - Fingerprint cards are done by the Lawrence Police Department.  Call 785-832-7501 for times and fees.
Do you accept stuffed animals? - Due to the overwhelming response by the public, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office is not accepting stuffed animals at this time.  We suggest you contact the Douglas County Fire & Medical Service, the women's shelters, Penn House or other local charity groups.
How do I know if I live in an area served by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office? -

 

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office serves the residents of Lawrence, Eudora, Baldwin and Lecompton.

How do I take Hunter Safety classes? - Hunter Safety classes are offered through the Lawrence Police Department.  Call Captain Affalter at 785-832-7512 or 785-832-3288 for more information.
My license tag was stolen. Now what? -

If you have lost your license tag or suspect it was stolen, file a police report and get a case number. You won't be able to replace your tag without that case number.

Call Dispatch non-emergency number at (785) 843-0250 and a deputy will stop by to take a report. If you reside outside the Douglas County Sheriff's Office  jurisdiction, contact your local police department. Once you have the case number, apply for your new tag at the nearest Department of Motor Vehicles office.

How do I get a background/records check on myself? - For a fee, you may check your own record or view public records from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) at their website , or by calling 785-896-8200.

For Douglas County information, you may contact the Clerk of the District Court at 785-832-5253 for court records.  For city of Lawrence information, you may contact Municipal Court at 785-832-6190.









 

Sheriff's Office News

Deputies Chosen to Receive Awards

April 6, 2010 - Sheriff Ken McGovern is pleased to announce that the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police will honor Corporal Clark Rials and Deputy Dale Flory at their annual Awards Program May 21st, in Hutchinson.  Rials and Flory will receive the Silver Award for their efforts in rescuing the 14-year-old boy who was trapped by rushing water after falling off the Bowersock Dam on June 5 last year. 

Recipients of the Silver Award are chosen for extraordinary action which directly contributes to the significant prolonging or actual saving of a life.  Though the call to this level of response is rare, Sheriff McGovern is proud that his Deputies selflessly respond when the need arises, and that organizations such as the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police reward such actions.

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