How to File a Complaint with the Police Department

The members of the Pennington Borough Police Department are committed to providing law enforcement services that are fair, effective, and impartially applied. It is in the best interest of everyone that a complaint about the performance of an individual employee or the agency in general be resolved fairly and promptly. The Pennington Borough Police Department has formal procedures for investigating these complaints. These procedures ensure fairness while also protecting the rights of both citizens and employees.

Complaint Form

View or download the Internal Affairs Complaint Form (PDF) in English. For other languages see NJ AG Office complaint forms or

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Complaint Process

Complaints can be dropped off in person at the police department, emailed to Chief Doug Pinelli at dpinelli@penningtonboro.org, or mailed to 30 North Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534.  Complaints can also be made via telephone. Anonymous complaints will also be accepted and investigated.

• Your complaint will be sent to either a superior or specially trained internal affairs officer who will conduct a thorough and objective investigation.
• You will be asked to help in the investigation by giving a detailed statement about what happened or by providing other important information.
• All complaints against employees or the agency in general are thoroughly investigated. You will be advised in writing of the outcome of the investigation.
• If our investigation shows that a crime might have been committed, the county prosecutor will be notified. You might be asked to testify in court.
• If our investigation results in an employee being charged with a violation of department rules, you might be asked to testify in a departmental hearing.
• If our investigation shows that the complaint is unfounded or that the employee acted properly, the matter will be closed.
• All disciplinary hearings shall be closed to the public unless the defendant officer requests an open hearing.
• If a person has concerns about making a report directly to the Pennington Borough Police Department about an officer, they may contact the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Internal Affairs Unit at 609-989-6351, via mail or in-person at 209 S. Broad Street Trenton, NJ 08650.

More Information

You may elect to telephone the Internal Affairs Officer, Chief Doug Pinelli at 609-737-1679, ext. 25 with any additional information or questions concerning the case.