People have the right under California law to be protected from bodily restraint. By filing a complaint with the police department, you can demand the officer face repercussions for their false arrest.Contact the Police Department: Most police departments have a formal process for filing complaints. If you make a complaint against an officer knowing that it is false, you can be prosecuted on a misdemeanor charge. To file a complaint against a local police department, contact the Internal Affairs division or a civilian oversight board. By Phone: Call the Internal Affairs Division at (909) 3873726 during normal business hours to request a Civilian Complaint form. In the Matter of the Claim of. Find out if you can file a lawsuit against a law enforcement officer for false arrest in this blog. Victim of police misconduct? False arrest, also called wrongful arrest, is when someone is arrested or detained without lawful justification.