Accountability within Law Enforcement Departments
Wisconsin legislation requires departments of law enforcers to offer a grievance system for citizens to confront law enforcers for misconduct.  

Wis. Stat. § 66.0509  Civil service system; veterans preference. 
Requires local governmental units without existing civil service systems to establish a grievance system, including provisions for addressing employee terminations, discipline, and workplace safety.

Wis. Stat. § 62.13 Police and fire departments.
Some municipalities utilize this statute to establish police discipline committees to review matters that could lead to officer suspension, reduction in rank, or removal. (board of police and fire commissioners)

Informal Complaint
Often a non-notarized, complaint regarding minor misconduct, policy dissatisfaction, or service issues that is resolved quickly by a supervisor without a full internal affairs investigation.

Formal Complaint
A structured, written allegation submitted by a citizen regarding officer misconduct, policy violations, or improper behavior, initiating an internal investigation.

To legitimize a grievance complaint of misconduct submitted within a department, first collect validating evidence.  Request the incident report and body-cam footage from the officers’ department to refer to in the complaint or to present in a court of law.  Also identify and outline any violated laws, ethics or position guidelines in the complaint.  Contestable actions of officers include acting unreasonably, misuse of power, violating personal rights, violating specific statutes or Constitutional rights, lack of discretion, lack of evidence, being overbearing and many others.

To submit a grievance complaint within a department, contact department staff for information or search the department website for forms.  Such complaints are reviewed by department superiors or a board established within a city.   Complaints should be submitted quickly after an event or prior to an upcoming initial court hearing.  Only a judge dismisses court hearings, not a submitted complaint.

At the city level of government, the Chief of Police should correct misconduct.  If not, the Mayor is a superior executive.  Next in line are the municipal and circuit court judges.  If neither act on misconduct shown in evidence then all of them can be replaced through elections and agreements made with those new local representatives.

If required, escalate the matter upward through department superiors, the mayor, local review boards, civilian oversight boards, local or county judiciary, Police & Fire Commission and Internal Affairs that are able to address officer actions as well.

Well performed complaints and petitions can motivate the local government to act on behalf of many concerned citizens to provide local expectations.