Professional Standards
Lieutenant Norm Galipeau
Officer-in-Charge
Contact Number (401) 762-6104
The Woonsocket Police Department is committed to providing the citizens of Woonsocket with the most professional, courteous, and trustworthy police personnel. To provide this, the Department has established an Office of Professional Standards. This Office, sometimes called the internal Affairs Office, has the basic task of investigating all complaints made against police and civilian employees of the Woonsocket Police Department. The Office of Professional Standards has also been tasked with the vocational development of the Department.
To effectively conduct this assignment, the Office of Professional Standards needs the input of not only the supervisory staff of the Department but the general public as well. By receiving input from both of these sources, it is the goal of the Chief of Police and the Office of Professional Standards to provide the citizens of Woonsocket with a well trained, disciplined, professional police department.
While it may be obvious how police supervisors train their personnel and ensure discipline, it may not be so obvious how the public can help. By providing complaint forms at several locations, citizens, who feel a member of this Department wronged them or acted inappropriately, may file written reports with the Office of Professional Standards. The Detective Lieutenant assigned to this office thoroughly and objectively investigates all complaints received. The investigation is conducted without interference from any source internally or externally. When the investigation is complete, the investigator makes a recommendation to the Chief of Police and his Command Staff on a proper course of action. This may range from no-action if the complaint is unfounded or exonerated, to re-training if appropriate verbal/oral reprimands, suspension or termination if necessary when complaints are sustained. These complaints are essential to this agency if we wish to succeed in providing a well-disciplined, well-trained Department.
You may obtain a complaint form from the following locations:
- Woonsocket Police Department at 242 Clinton Street Woonsocket, RI 02895
- Woonsocket City Hall at 169 Main Street Woonsocket, RI 02895
- Or lodge a complaint online using the following link:
While it is important that we receive these complaints, it is equally important to receive praise or recognition for a job well done. Feel free to let the Office of Professional Standards know about the good things our personnel are doing. They may be doing certain things in a unique way that can be taught to everyone.
You may obtain a commendation form from the following locations:
- Woonsocket Police Department at 242 Clinton Street Woonsocket, RI 02895
- Woonsocket City Hall at 169 Main Street Woonsocket, RI 02895
- Or commend a Department member online using the following link:
By working closely with the public, we can and will provide a police service that is unrivaled in excellence, integrity, and professionalism.