If you have a complaint against a police officer or sheriff's deputy, you should first direct your complaint to the local law enforcement agency. A false arrest is one way of committing false imprisonment.To prove false arrest, a person must prove three elements. Find an attorney immediately from a different county than the one you were arrested. Make sure they specialize in police misconduct OR have a lot of guts. In this article, we will delve into the detailed steps involved in filing a complaint against a police officer in California. 5.1. Filing a complaint. By filing a complaint with the police department, you can demand the officer face repercussions for their false arrest. CalVCB processes claims from persons seeking compensation as an erroneously convicted felon pursuant to California Penal Code sections 4900 through 4906. False imprisonment occurs when you unlawfully deprive another person of his or her personal liberty.