Florida Statute 112.533 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title X
PUBLIC OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND RECORDS

Chapter 112
PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES: GENERAL PROVISIONS

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F.S. 112.533

112.533 Receipt and processing of complaints.—

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to make the process for receiving, processing, and investigation of complaints against law enforcement or correctional officers, and the rights and privileges provided in this part while under investigation, apply uniformly throughout this state and its political subdivisions.

(2) As used in this section, the term “political subdivision” means a separate agency or unit of local government created or established by law or ordinance and the officers thereof and includes, but is not limited to, an authority, a board, a branch, a bureau, a city, a commission, a consolidated government, a county, a department, a district, an institution, a metropolitan government, a municipality, an office, an officer, a public corporation, a town, or a village.

(3) A political subdivision may not adopt or attempt to enforce any ordinance relating to either of the following:

(a) The receipt, processing, or investigation by any political subdivision of this state of complaints of misconduct by law enforcement or correctional officers, except as expressly provided in this section.

(b) Civilian oversight of law enforcement agencies’ investigations of complaints of misconduct by law enforcement or correctional officers.

(4)(a) Every law enforcement agency and correctional agency shall establish and put into operation a system for the receipt, investigation, and determination of complaints received by such agency from any person, which must be the procedure for investigating a complaint against a law enforcement or correctional officer and for determining whether to proceed with disciplinary action or to file disciplinary charges, notwithstanding any other law or ordinance to the contrary. When law enforcement or correctional agency personnel assigned the responsibility of investigating the complaint prepare an investigative report or summary, regardless of form, the person preparing the report shall, at the time the report is completed:

1. Verify pursuant to s. 92.525 that the contents of the report are true and accurate based upon the person’s personal knowledge, information, and belief.

2. Include the following statement, sworn and subscribed to pursuant to s. 92.525:

“I, the undersigned, do hereby swear, under penalty of perjury, that, to the best of my personal knowledge, information, and belief, I have not knowingly or willfully deprived, or allowed another to deprive, the subject of the investigation of any of the rights contained in ss. 112.532 and 112.533, Florida Statutes.”

The requirements of subparagraphs 1. and 2. must be completed before the determination as to whether to proceed with disciplinary action or to file disciplinary charges. This subsection does not preclude the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission from exercising its authority under chapter 943.

(b) Any political subdivision that initiates or receives a complaint against a law enforcement officer or correctional officer shall within 5 business days forward the complaint to the employing agency of the officer who is the subject of the complaint for review or investigation. Notwithstanding the rights and privileges provided under this part or any provisions provided in a collective bargaining agreement, the agency head or the agency head’s designee may request a sworn or certified investigator from a separate law enforcement or correctional agency to conduct the investigation when a conflict is identified with having an investigator conduct the investigation of an officer of the same employing agency; the employing agency does not have an investigator trained to conduct such investigations; or the agency’s investigator is the subject of, or a witness in, the investigation and such agency is composed of any combination of 35 or fewer law enforcement officers or correctional officers. The employing agency must document the identified conflict. Upon completion of the investigation, the investigator shall present the findings without any disciplinary recommendation to the employing agency.

(5)(a) A complaint filed against a law enforcement officer or correctional officer with a law enforcement agency or correctional agency and all information obtained pursuant to the investigation by the agency of the complaint is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) until the investigation ceases to be active, or until the agency head or the agency head’s designee provides written notice to the officer who is the subject of the complaint, either personally or by mail, that the agency has concluded the investigation with either a finding:

1. Not to proceed with disciplinary action or to file charges; or

2. To proceed with disciplinary action or to file charges.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the officer who is the subject of the complaint, along with legal counsel or any other representative of his or her choice, may review the complaint and all statements regardless of form made by the complainant and witnesses and all existing evidence, including, but not limited to, incident reports, analyses, GPS locator information, and audio or video recordings relating to the investigation, immediately before beginning the investigative interview. All statements, regardless of form, provided by a law enforcement officer or correctional officer during the course of a complaint investigation of that officer must be made under oath pursuant to s. 92.525. Knowingly false statements given by a law enforcement officer or correctional officer under investigation may subject the law enforcement officer or correctional officer to prosecution for perjury. If a witness to a complaint is incarcerated in a correctional facility and may be under the supervision of, or have contact with, the officer under investigation, only the names and written statements of the complainant and nonincarcerated witnesses may be reviewed by the officer under investigation immediately before the beginning of the investigative interview.

(b) This subsection does not apply to any public record which is exempt from public disclosure pursuant to chapter 119. For the purposes of this subsection, an investigation is considered active as long as it is continuing with a reasonable, good faith anticipation that an administrative finding will be made in the foreseeable future. An investigation is presumed to be inactive if no finding is made within 45 days after the complaint is filed.

(c) Notwithstanding this section, the complaint and information must be available to law enforcement agencies, correctional agencies, and state attorneys in the conduct of a lawful criminal investigation.

(6) A law enforcement officer or correctional officer has the right to review his or her official personnel file at any reasonable time under the supervision of the designated records custodian. A law enforcement officer or correctional officer may attach to the file a concise statement in response to any items included in the file identified by the officer as derogatory, and copies of such items must be made available to the officer.

(7) Any person who is a participant in an internal investigation, including the complainant, the subject of the investigation and the subject’s legal counsel or a representative of his or her choice, the investigator conducting the investigation, and any witnesses in the investigation, who willfully discloses any information obtained pursuant to the agency’s investigation, including, but not limited to, the identity of the officer under investigation, the nature of the questions asked, information revealed, or documents furnished in connection with a confidential internal investigation of an agency, before such complaint, document, action, or proceeding becomes a public record as provided in this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. However, this subsection does not limit a law enforcement or correctional officer’s ability to gain access to information under paragraph (5)(a). Additionally, a sheriff, police chief, or other head of a law enforcement agency, or his or her designee, is not precluded by this section from acknowledging the existence of a complaint and the fact that an investigation is underway.

History.—s. 3, ch. 74-274; s. 3, ch. 82-156; s. 1, ch. 82-405; s. 1, ch. 83-136; s. 1, ch. 87-59; s. 2, ch. 89-223; s. 1, ch. 90-32; s. 31, ch. 90-360; s. 3, ch. 93-19; s. 722, ch. 95-147; s. 39, ch. 96-406; s. 2, ch. 98-249; s. 2, ch. 2000-184; s. 2, ch. 2003-149; s. 33, ch. 2004-335; s. 42, ch. 2005-251; s. 2, ch. 2007-110; s. 1, ch. 2007-118; s. 2, ch. 2009-200; s. 4, ch. 2020-104; s. 2, ch. 2024-86.

F.S. 112.533 on Google Scholar

F.S. 112.533 on CourtListener

Amendments to 112.533

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 112.533

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S112.533 4 - OBSTRUCT - DISCLOSE INFORMATION OF INTERNAL INVESTIGATION - M: F

Cases Citing Statute 112.533

Total Results: 48

Donald F. Buxton v. City of Plant City, Florida, Troy E. Surrency, Individually, Troy E. Surrency, in His Official Capacity

871 F.2d 1037

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Jun 13, 1989 | Docket: 672106

Cited 143 times | Published

personnel files. Fla.Stat. § 112.533 (1987) (substantively the same as Fla.Stat. § 112.533 (1983), in effect at

Dennis Reeves Cooper v. Gordon A. Dillon

403 F.3d 1208, 33 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1577, 2005 U.S. App. LEXIS 4703, 2005 WL 653313

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Mar 22, 2005 | Docket: 628100

Cited 76 times | Published

court found, and we agree, that the reference to § 112.533(3) in Dillon’s affidavit was a “scrivener’s error”

Forsberg v. HOUSING AUTH. OF CITY OF MIAMI B.

455 So. 2d 373, 10 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2511

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Aug 30, 1984 | Docket: 1692728

Cited 27 times | Published

e.g. § 63.162 (adoption proceeding records); § 112.533(2) (law enforcement complaint records); § 213

Migliore v. City of Lauderhill

415 So. 2d 62

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 2, 1982 | Docket: 1512947

Cited 27 times | Published

the duties of the complaint review board is Section 112.533, which provides: "Receipt and processing of

Universal Insurance Co. of North America v. Warfel

82 So. 3d 47, 37 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 50, 2012 WL 224104, 2012 Fla. LEXIS 195

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 26, 2012 | Docket: 60306224

Cited 15 times | Published

61.075(5)(a)5, Florida Statutes (1997), and section 112.533, Florida Statutes (Supp. 1990). In In re Estate

Kamenesh v. City of Miami

772 F. Supp. 583, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12703, 1991 WL 179694

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Jul 15, 1991 | Docket: 2419824

Cited 15 times | Published

is to remain confidential. Florida Statutes § 112.533(2)(a). The individual who provided the press with

Kelly v. Gill

544 So. 2d 1162, 1989 WL 63381

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 15, 1989 | Docket: 1286150

Cited 13 times | Published

officer exercising his rights under Part VI. Section 112.533 establishes a system for the receipt and processing

State v. Robinson

565 So. 2d 730, 1990 WL 84421

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 22, 1990 | Docket: 1726048

Cited 8 times | Published

review complaints concerning officer misconduct. § 112.533, Fla. Stat. (1989). This system results in frequent

Demings v. Orange County Citizens Review Board

15 So. 3d 604, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 6554, 2009 WL 1490778

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 29, 2009 | Docket: 1661059

Cited 5 times | Published

firing personnel and setting salaries. Finally, section 112.533 requires the Sheriff to establish and operate

Giraldo v. City of Hollywood Florida

142 F. Supp. 3d 1292, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150542, 2015 WL 6735225

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Oct 19, 2015 | Docket: 64305144

Cited 2 times | Published

2005, the Eleventh Circuit held that Fla. Stat. § 112.533(4) is an “unconstitutional abridgement of core

King v. State of Florida

650 F. Supp. 2d 1157, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 57983, 2009 WL 1928194

District Court, N.D. Florida | Filed: Jun 15, 2009 | Docket: 2378896

Cited 2 times | Published

violations of § 112.532. Additionally, Fla. Stat. § 112.533(1) directs every law enforcement agency to create

McDougall v. Culver

3 So. 3d 391, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 257, 2009 WL 103158

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 16, 2009 | Docket: 1652906

Cited 2 times | Published

IA investigation, they were confidential. Section 112.533(2)(a), Florida Statutes (2008), discusses IA

Dressler v. Jenne

87 F. Supp. 2d 1308, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5620, 2000 WL 255844

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Mar 2, 2000 | Docket: 2154124

Cited 2 times | Published

was required under Florida Statutes § 119 and § 112.533. See id. at 1039 n. 2. If merely including the

McQuade v. Florida Department of Corrections

51 So. 3d 489, 31 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1009, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 18677, 2010 WL 4829816

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 30, 2010 | Docket: 2407832

Cited 1 times | Published

duties of the complaint review board" was section 112.533, Florida Statutes (1981), which provided, "Receipt

Mullins v. Department of Law Enforcement

942 So. 2d 998, 2006 Fla. App. LEXIS 20052, 2006 WL 3452570

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 1, 2006 | Docket: 1471430

Cited 1 times | Published

in the absence of a formal complaint. While section 112.533(1), Florida Statutes (2003), provides that

D'agastino v. the City of Miami

189 So. 3d 236, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 4024, 2016 WL 1051850

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 16, 2016 | Docket: 3044891

Published

is expressly preempted by, Florida Statute Section 112.533, enacted in 1974, was amended in 2003 to add

Miami-Dade County v. Dade County Police Benevolent Assoc.

154 So. 3d 373, 2014 WL 6612901, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 19300

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 24, 2014 | Docket: 2608481

Published

Specifically, the court below found that section 112.533 of the Florida Statutes confers exclusive authority

Fraternal Order of Police, Gator, etc. v. City of Gainesville, Florida

148 So. 3d 798, 2014 WL 4695131

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 22, 2014 | Docket: 1315680

Published

(protection against retaliation), Fla. Stat.; § 112.533(2) (confidentiality of complaints),6 (3) (right

Fraternal Order of Police v. Rutherford

51 So. 3d 485, 32 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 106, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 17647, 2010 WL 4628902

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 17, 2010 | Docket: 2408400

Published

issue a notice of disciplinary action.... Section 112.533(2)(a) provides for confidentiality during the

Avila v. Miami-Dade County

29 So. 3d 401, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 2531, 2010 WL 711799

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 3, 2010 | Docket: 1135692

Published

complainant's allegations and point to Fla. Stat. § 112.533(2)(b) for the proposition that an "investigation