How to File a Complaint with Rockdale County Sheriff's Office: Checklist & Legal Warnings

This checklist mirrors the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office Citizen Complaint Form (PDF). Use it to gather everything the form requires - especially your incident narrative - before you start writing. The form includes a sworn-affidavit section with legal consequences for knowingly false statements, so you'll want to be prepared.

Start with the basics. You'll need your full name (last, first, middle) and home address (street, city, state, zip). The form asks for all your contact numbers - home, work, cell - so have those ready too.

Get your incident details straight. The form has fields for incident date, time, and location. It also asks you to identify the location type (business, residence, or highway/roadway), so think about how you'd describe the setting. Then plan your narrative for the

The form asks whether you requested a supervisor at the scene and, if so, whether one arrived. If you remember when you asked, who you asked, and how long you waited, jot that down now.

You'll also answer whether anyone was arrested and whether the incident led to your arrest. If an arrest happened, gather any identifiers you have - like a case number - so your account matches the official paperwork.

If you were arrested, the form gives you space to list all charges. Don't leave any out. Write every charge you were booked on, and attach extra pages if needed.

Near the end, the form asks if you're willing to take a polygraph examination about your complaint. Decide your answer beforehand - it's a recorded part of the form.

The last section is a sworn affidavit. By signing, you're swearing that everything in the document - and anything you tell a Rockdale County Sheriff's Office representative verbally - is true and correct to the best of your knowledge. The form warns that knowingly false statements can be prosecuted under Georgia law, specifically O.C.G.A. § 16-10-17. It defines "false swearing" as knowingly and willfully making a false statement after a lawful oath (in a matter other than a judicial proceeding). The penalty: a fine of not more than $1,000, imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, or both. If you're unsure about something, stick to what you know firsthand.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Write down your full name (last, first, middle) exactly as you’ll put it on the form
• ✓ Confirm your home address (street, city, state, zip) before you start
• ✓ Gather all telephone numbers the form asks for (home, work, cell, etc.)
• ✓ Draft your “Specific Allegations” as a clear timeline that names the employee actions you’re complaining about
• ✓ Attach extra pages if you need more space for your narrative
• ✓ Collect and attach supporting items (witness names, photos, screenshots, or other documents) that back up your timeline
• ✓ Make and keep a copy of everything you submit for your records