Universality
Each one of the 18,000 police departments in the U.S. collects complaints in its own unique way. This poor data consistency creates huge headaches for researchers. To gain better insight into police behavior across the country, we're helping to establish national police complaint data standards.
Objectivity
We strive to be fair and neutral in the way we collect and share data. We cannot check the accuracy of complaint allegations, so we never assume that they are true or false. We only present questions and response options that are non-leading. And we always encourage users to share information that's accurate and truthful.
Transparency
Many state and local laws conceal government-collected police misconduct records from public view. To counter this problem, OpenPolice.org enables users to publish uncensored complaints online. Because the best antidote to state secrecy is public transparency!
Privacy
You choose how your complaint information is shared with police and with the public. For example, you can choose to be anonymous. But no matter which option you choose, we will never publish anyone's private information. Learn more about your privacy options. Read more about privacy options
Openness
Police misconduct victims should never have to deal with rude or intimidating police station employees. That's the opposite of openness – because openness requires accessibility. OpenPolice.org is always easy to use and easy to understand. And, of course, we're always open to receive your complaint!
Empowerment
The people who report misconduct should be at the center of the police oversight process. Filing a complaint is not the end of the road for OpenPolice.org users. We keep in touch because we care about how well – or how poorly – your department responds to your complaint. Your story is too important to be ignored!
Completeness
Police encounters can be chaotic, and the law is complex. That's why people who report misconduct often miss important things or pick allegations that aren't quite right. OpenPolice.org helps you find and organize the details that matter most. We also know the law inside and out, so we'll make sure your allegations match the facts of your story.
