Darien Cops Get 6 Citizen Complaints in 2022

DARIEN, IL – Darien police received six citizen complaints in 2022, down from eight the year before.

Of the 2022 complaints, five were for alleged policy violations and another was for conduct. That is according to the police department's annual report, which was released last week.

In response to one complaint, the police department determined an officer violated policy, for which the officer received an oral reprimand, the report said.

For two other complaints, officers were exonerated, with the police finding that alleged acts were justified.

Police said they determined that two other complaints were unfounded, while in another, they could neither prove nor disprove the allegation.

At this week's City Council meeting, Police Chief Greg Thomas said it was good news when only one complaint was substantiated considering the police answered 14,000 calls for service in 2022. The department also made nearly 7,800 traffic stops and 450 arrests.

"The officers are doing very well," the chief said.

The police department has long investigated anonymous complaints, even though state law until recently only required such inquiries for signed ones.