Report to Oversight Bodies
When local accountability fails, state and federal agencies can investigate. Here’s how to file complaints.
Michigan Attorney General
The AG’s office investigates public corruption and official misconduct.
Public Integrity Unit Michigan Attorney General P.O. Box 30212 Lansing, MI 48909
Online complaint form: michigan.gov/ag
Phone: (517) 335-7622
What to Include
- Summary of the governance failures
- Reference to sworn deposition testimony
- Specific concerns about evidence destruction
- Request for investigation
U.S. Department of Justice — Civil Rights Division
The DOJ can investigate patterns of civil rights violations by law enforcement.
Civil Rights Division U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530
Online: civilrights.justice.gov
Phone: (202) 514-4609
What to Include
- Description of systemic failures (not just one incident)
- Evidence of pattern or practice
- Constitutional concerns (due process, equal protection)
- Request for pattern-or-practice investigation
FBI Detroit Field Office
The FBI investigates civil rights violations and public corruption.
FBI Detroit 477 Michigan Avenue, 26th Floor Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 965-2323
Online tips: tips.fbi.gov
Sample Complaint Letter
You can adapt this template for any oversight agency:
Re: Request for Investigation — St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office
Dear [Agency]:
I am writing to request an investigation into governance failures at the St. Clair County, Michigan Sheriff’s Office.
Summary of Concerns:
Sworn testimony in federal civil rights litigation (Jones v. St. Clair County, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan) has established:
Conflict of Interest: Sheriff Mat King investigated a matter directly involving his brother, Deputy Marc King, without recusal or referral to an external agency.
Evidence Destruction: Multiple officers, including Captain Matthew Pohl, admitted under oath to deleting text messages after the incident occurred. No litigation hold was established despite foreseeable legal action.
Lack of Independent Oversight: The investigation was handled entirely by individuals with personal relationships to the subject.
Documentation:
Deposition transcripts supporting these allegations are publicly available at [stclairunderoath.com].
Request:
I respectfully request that your office investigate whether these governance failures constitute violations of [applicable law] and whether systemic reforms are warranted.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Address] [Your Contact Information]
What Happens After You File
Michigan Attorney General — Reviews complaint, may request additional info, decides whether to investigate.
DOJ Civil Rights — Assesses for pattern-or-practice concerns, may open investigation or refer to local US Attorney.
FBI — Evaluates for federal criminal violations, may investigate or coordinate with DOJ.
Federal agencies receive many complaints and investigate selectively. Your complaint adds to the record even if no immediate action is taken. Multiple complaints about the same agency strengthen the case for investigation.
Tips for Effective Complaints
- Be factual — Stick to documented evidence, not speculation
- Be specific — Reference specific testimony, dates, and individuals
- Be concise — One page is often more effective than ten
- Include sources — Link to or attach supporting documentation
- Follow up — You can inquire about status after 60-90 days
- Coordinate — Encourage others to file similar complaints
Other Resources
ACLU of Michigan aclumich.org May provide guidance on civil rights complaints
Michigan Press Association For media inquiries and investigative journalism tips
National Police Accountability Project nlg-npap.org Resources for police misconduct cases