Twenty three complaints were filed against Lawrence Police Department employees last year — 12 of them from within the department itself.

Of the 23 complaints investigated by the department’s Office of Professional Accountability, 10 were found to have merit, eight of them stemming from internal complaints, according to a report from the department.

“If I see misconduct, it’s my responsibility to report this and I think this report illustrates that we do that,” said Sgt. Trent McKinley, a Lawrence Police Department spokesman.

If a complaint is found to be valid, consequences can range from a verbal reprimand to firing, depending on the seriousness of the offense.

The police department does not make all of the details of the investigations public, but since 2010 it has issued a report each year giving an account of how many complaints were received, how many were found to have a factual basis, and some limited information about the complaints themselves.

Complaints can be filed against not just police officers and detectives, but any employees in the department, including animal control or park control officers, McKinley said. The identity of employees investigated and action taken are not released because they are considered confidential personnel matters.

Last year’s complaints resulting in disciplinary action were:

• An internal complainant reported that an employee might have been engaged in unprofessional conduct and violated the law while off duty.

• An internal complainant reported that an employee was untruthful in the performance of his or her administrative duties.

• An internal complainant reported that an employee failed to properly respond to a medical call.

• An internal complainant reported that an employee acted inappropriately while off duty.

• An internal complainant reported that an employee acted rudely and unprofessionally toward a fellow employee.

• An internal complainant reported that an employee neglected to conduct a proper investigation.

• An internal complainant reported that an employee neglected to conduct a proper investigation.

• A citizen reported that an employee acted inappropriately while off duty.

• A citizen reported an employee violated the law while off duty.

• An internal complainant reported that an employee was unprofessional with another employee.

The Office of Professional Accountability investigates the complaints and can be reached at 832-7551. Residents can report both complaints and compliments online at police.lawrenceks.org/content/compliments-and-complaints-lkpd.