COMPLAINTS

The Police Department stores old records on juvenile offenders this way, in the Alexander A. Farrelly Justice Complex.

• V.I. police give civilian complaints against fellow officers a cool reception, markedly different from the way they treat complaints from civilians about civilians.
• The three-page form on which people can file formal complaints against police officers carries an intimidating warning. It says:
  
  "Individuals found to have maliciously filed a false complaint shall be prosecuted. Convicted violators shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."
  
  Finally, the person must sign a statement saying, "The complaint as stated is factual, further I am aware of the consequences of filing a false complaint."
• By comparison, people wishing to file criminal complaints against civilians simply have to give their version of events to an officer, who writes the information on a one-page report form.
  
  There are no warnings about making false reports.
• Since Jan 1, 1993, St. Thomas civilians have formally complained only 12 times about the conduct of cops. On St. Croix, the complaints number 55 for the same period.