Professional Standards Bureau

The Professional Standards Bureau is comprised of several units: the Internal Affairs Unit, the Accreditation Unit, and Body-Worn Camera Unit. The primary responsibility of the Professional Standards Bureau is to ensure policy and procedures are followed and that all employees maintain the standards and professionalism expected of everyone who works at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

The responsibility of the Internal Affairs Unit is to investigate external and internal complaints involving alleged personnel misconduct. The Internal Affairs Unit is comprised of sworn law enforcement detectives and supervisors who investigate complaints of misconduct, in addition to conducting staff inspections and departmental audits. The unit is committed to responding to complaints of misconduct swiftly and fairly to ensure and maintain the credibility of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, while preserving the public’s confidence in the agency and adhering to all policies.

Procedure to Compliment an Employee or Make a Complaint:

Whether you wish to compliment an employee, or if you believe an employee of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has acted improperly, you can register your compliment or complaint in any of the following ways:

  1. You can call the Communications Center at (813) 247-8000, to be transferred to a supervisor in the area where the deputy or employee’s actions took place.
  2. You can call the Professional Standards Bureau (Internal Affairs) at (813) 247-8080. This office is staffed Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. After hours you may leave a message with a return telephone number and you will be contacted as soon as possible.
  3. You can make your compliment/complaint in writing directly to the Professional Standards Bureau by mailing it to:
    Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
    Professional Standards Bureau
    2008 East 8th Avenue
    Tampa, FL 33605
  4. You can complete the compliment/complaint form online: https://piaportal.hcso.tampa.fl.us/#/

Disclaimer

Under Florida law, all submitted information can become part of the public record. If you do not want your information released in response to a public records request, you may choose to submit a compliment or complaint anonymously.

When making a compliment/complaint you are encouraged to include your contact information so you can be contacted in the event additional information is needed. It will also enable us to inform you of the disposition of your compliment or complaint.

Compliments

There is no greater form of recognition a deputy sheriff/employee can receive than a compliment from those they have assisted. A few words of thanks from a citizen means a great deal. In cases where a letter of appreciation from a citizen is submitted, the employee and their chain of command, are made aware of their outstanding performance.

Complaints

Complaints will be promptly and thoroughly investigated. In most cases, the investigation of a complaint will be completed within 30 days. Depending on the nature of the complaint, the investigation may be conducted by the Internal Affairs Unit or forwarded to the appropriate District/Division for investigation. The investigator will interview the involved parties and witnesses. He/she will record witness statements and gather other relevant information and evidence. If a complaint is sustained, appropriate discipline and/or corrective action will occur.

Annual Analysis of Employee Misconduct

Annually, a statistical summary report of complaints and disposition is prepared and made available to the public via public records request.
Request a Copy of the Report

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