Professional Standards Division - Internal Affairs Section

The Internal Affairs Section primary function is the receipt, processing and investigation of complaints made against employees of the Walton County Sheriff's Office. When a complaint is received, every effort is made to ensure a thorough, timely and fair investigation of the allegation(s) contained in the complaint. The openness of the agency in the acceptance of a complaint is a principle element of professionalism and community responsiveness. All complaints are processed and reviewed by the Division of Internal Affairs and submitted to the Undersheriff of the Walton County Sheriff's Office for review and final disposition.

The Internal Affairs Section duties include:

  • Investigating alleged misconduct by agency employees.
  • Providing staff assistance to line supervisors in investigations of alleged misconduct by agency employees.
  • Investigating critical incidents (i.e., employee involved shootings).
  • Record, register, and control the investigation of complaints against employees.
  • Maintain the confidentiality of The Internal Affairs Section investigations and records.
  • Prepare an annual report concerning complaints made to the agency.
Investigations Can Have the Following Outcomes:
  1. Sustained - The allegation was supported by sufficient evidence.
  2. Not Sustained - The investigation failed to disclose sufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation.
  3. Unfounded - The allegation was demonstrably false or there was no credible evidence to support the complaint.
  4. Exonerated - An incident occurred but the employee's actions were lawful and proper.
  5. Policy Failure - Alleged action occurred and caused detriment; however, the actions taken were consistent with agency policy.
  6. Administrative Closure - A memorandum completed under circumstances when the completion of a formal investigation or supervisory inquiry is not appropriate.  This may be used if the complainant withdraws the complaint or there is insufficient information to objectively investigate the allegation(s) at the time.

How to File a Complaint:

To initiate a complaint against an employee of the Walton County Sheriff's Office, you may contact The Internal Affairs Section, or any supervisor of the agency.

You may also obtain a complaint form from the front lobby of the Walton County Sheriffs Office during normal business hours.

The the Walton County Sheriff's Office is located at 752 Triple G Road DeFuniak Springs Florida 32433 The Sheriff's Office main number is 850-892-8186. The Internal Affairs Section is open from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday.

Be sure to include all of the information relevant to the complaint in full detail. Include your full name, address, all of your contact numbers, names and contact information for witnesses, the names of the employee (s) involved (if known), and any information that would assist us in conducting a timely investigation.

In order to accomplish this function the unit is accountable for the following basic responsibilities.

  • Internal Investigations
  • Citizen Inquiries
  • Special Investigations/Firearms Discharges
  • Tactical Apprehension and Control (SWAT) Compliance Reviews
  • Use of Force Report Compliance Reviews
  • Early Warning Program
What is expected of me when my formal complaint is being investigated?

Your cooperation will be needed throughout the investigative process. You will be required to meet with the investigator and provide a sworn and recorded statement under oath. In addition, your cooperation may be required in signing a medical release (if your case involves an alleged injury), providing witness information, or otherwise cooperating with the investigator.

What should I expect once my complaint is filed with Internal Affairs?

Internal Affairs will use the information you provide to conduct an initial inquiry into your complaint. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on the allegation. You will then be notified by mail of the results of the inquiry. You will be informed in writing if the complaint will be investigated formally, if there will be no further action taken, or if your complaint has been forwarded to a supervisor.

What should I expect from the Walton County Sheriffs Office if my complaint is formally investigated?

You can expect a fair, thorough, and impartial investigation if your complaint involves misconduct that is deemed by Internal Affairs to warrant a formal investigation. Finding the unbiased truth will be the goal of any internal investigation that is completed by this agency. You will be notified of the results in writing once the investigation is concluded. Most investigations are concluded within a 45 day timeframe but timeline extensions are sometimes necessary during the investigative process.