What can the board do if they receive insufficient evidence after investigating a complaint?

When a board receives insufficient evidence after investigating a complaint, serving an order of dismissal is the appropriate and lawful action to take. This order formally indicates that the investigation did not yield enough evidence to proceed further with the complaint, thereby closing the matter.

The procedural handling of complaints ensures that only cases with sufficient substantiation are moved forward for potential disciplinary action. Issuing an order of dismissal helps maintain the integrity of the investigation process and communicates to both the complainant and the subject of the complaint that the claim has been thoroughly reviewed.

In contrast, ignoring the complaint would undermine the accountability process, and closing the board office for a day would not address the matter at hand. Furthermore, issuing a warning to the complainant does not address the lack of evidence regarding the complaint itself, as it assumes there is a basis for concern when the investigation did not support that notion. Therefore, serving an order of dismissal is consistent with the board’s responsibility to handle complaints fairly and effectively.