File a Complaint through the Civilian Complaint Process (CCP)

What is the Community Oversight Board? The Community Oversight Board (COB) was created by the State College Borough to help ensure that the State College Police Department (SCPD) policies support, and activities reflect equitable, ethical and lawful community-based policing.

We are citizens from this community and represent this community.  We are NOT affiliated with the SCPD; we are you.

Why File with the Community Oversight Board? The COB Civilian Complaint Process was created to help ensure that you feel safe and fairly treated when filing a complaint against the SCPD. The COB complaint process provides an alternative way to file a complaint or to voice a concern about the SCPD that supports you and your choices throughout the whole process in a confidential manner. If you feel uncomfortable dealing with the police, would like support or help in filing a complaint, or are unsure about filing a complaint but still want to voice your concerns, the COB complaint process was designed for you.

What is a complaint? You may report or raise a concern about any SCPD employee behaving unprofessionally, acting in a biased manner, using excessive force, or doing anything else you deem to be a violation of the public’s trust. In allegations of child abuse, physical harm, or the threat of physical harm, the COB will be required by law to turn the complaint over to the SCPD to be investigated.

Who Can File a Complaint? Anyone can file a complaint. If you provide your contact information, it will be kept confidential. We accept complaints from people reporting on behalf of others and from outside agencies. You may file a complaint anonymously. Anonymous complaints may or may not be referred to the SCPD.

Is Filing a Complaint Safe? We intend our process to be safe for you. The process is confidential, and we will guide you through the process in a manner that centers your safety, well-being, and personal agency and allows you to decide whether to forward your complaint to the SCPD. You will not be asked about your immigration status or criminal background. You will not need to speak with the officer you are filing a complaint against.

How to File a Complaint:

• Online: Fill in the following web form: online submission form.
• Mail: Print the submission form and mail it to the Community Oversight Board, 243 S Allen Street State College PA 16801.
• Fax: Print the submission form and fax it to the Equity and Inclusion Director at (814) 231-3082
• In-person: Submit your printed submission form to the Equity and Inclusion Director, 243 S Allen Street State College PA.
• Email: Send your submission form as an email attachment to ccp@statecollegepa.us.
• Phone: Call (814) 234-7100 weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or (814) 234-7150 after hours, weekends and holidays. Ask for the Director of Equity and Inclusion. If your call is directed to the voicemail system, please leave your phone number and/or e-mail address in the message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

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