How is a complaint classified when the investigation shows the alleged act did not occur?

In the context of police complaint investigations, a classification is determined based on the findings of the investigation. When it is established that the alleged act did not occur, the appropriate classification for the complaint is "unfounded." This term indicates that there is no basis in fact for the allegation, meaning the complaint is essentially proven to be false or without merit.

Understanding this classification is important because it helps maintain the integrity of the police review process, ensuring that only legitimate complaints are actionable and that individuals are not unfairly punished based on unfounded claims. In contrast, other classifications such as "exonerated" would apply if the act did occur but was justified, while "not sustained" means there was not enough evidence to prove or disprove the allegation. "Sustained" indicates the complaint was upheld, showing the act did occur as alleged. In this case, since the investigation concluded that the act did not happen at all, "unfounded" is the most accurate classification.