Frequently Asked Questions

A MESSAGE FROM CHIEF OF POLICE CHRISTOPHER COOK

The employees of the White Settlement Police Department are committed to delivering the highest level of public safety to our citizens, businesses, and visitors in our community. We hold ourselves to the high standards of professional conduct that is expected of 21^st Century law enforcement agencies. We are accredited by the Texas Police Chiefs Association under their Agency Best Practices Program and certified by the Georgetown University Law Center under the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement Program. Our vision is “Excellence In Everything We Do,” and our values are honor, service, and integrity. 

While we love to hear the positive accolades of our employees going above and beyond through our commendation processes, we also know that we can fall short of expectations or make mistakes at times. When this happens, our goal is to correct the deficiency, retrain employees, review policies and practices, and improve our service delivery to the community and those impacted. 

If you have a complaint about the department or a team member, the attached form contained within this packet will allow our agency to evaluate our employee’s actions or departmental policies, based upon the facts of the incident. This may include a thorough review of digital media such as body-worn cameras, surveillance videos, dash camera video systems and our employee’s statements of what transpired. As your Chief of Police, I have the ultimate responsibility for the conduct of our employees. Legitimate complaints are welcome, and our team will thoroughly investigate allegations of misconduct and service deficiencies according to policy, best practices, Civil Service Rules, and state laws.

I also have responsibility to provide due process to our employees and protect them and our Police Department against false allegations and disinformation efforts that are intentionally spread to undermine the rule of law, erode public trust, and damage our reputation and standing in the community. Our team will vigorously defend against such disinformation and the malicious spreading of non-factual information or invalid personal attacks against our employees. Allegations will be judged and evaluated by the facts of each case as they are determined. The filing of false complaints may result in criminal prosecution with the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office or the United States Attorney’s Office. 

All complaints filed will be reviewed for merit, validity, and/or reliability through a preliminary review before being assigned to a supervisory inquiry or transitioning to a formal investigation by the department, if warranted. Complaints lacking merit, validity, and/or reliability, in addition to other factors, will not move forward beyond a preliminary review. 

Complaints that contain merit, validity, and/or reliability will be thoroughly reviewed for appropriate findings of fact and appropriate outcomes. Outcomes where allegations are sustained could result in performance management techniques including, but not limited to, coaching, mentoring, re-training, disciplinary actions, and/or policy or procedural changes, when appropriate. Outcomes where allegations are not sustained, determined to be unfounded, or where employees are exonerated will result in no action being taken against an employee or the department.