DCP: anonymous complaints can hamper investigations; here’s how to file one

The Department of Consumer Protection’s investigations staff told the Connecticut Landscape Architecture Board that anonymous complaints are frequently difficult to investigate and explained the agency’s preferred channels for filing and handling those complaints.

Rochelle Hamill of DCP’s investigations said the department received no new complaints for the period 03/01/2026–04/30/2026 and closed one existing investigation after finding no violation. Hamill described the mechanics and limitations of anonymous complaints: "You have to click in the box that says anonymous," she said, because if a filer does not select that option the system captures their email address. She added that anonymous filers who later contact the department seeking status will be told the complaint is anonymous and that investigators cannot engage in a follow-up exchange with someone who has chosen to remain unnamed.

Hamill suggested alternatives and practical tips: use an association (the ASLA advocacy committee was discussed) as a conduit to file complaints; mail documentation to the DCP address at 450 Columbus Boulevard; or tailor anonymous complaints so the respondent cannot reasonably infer the complainant’s identity. Staff also emphasized that complaints, once received, become public record and that some identifying material in supporting documentation could reveal a filer’s identity.

Board members discussed outreach to professional groups and universities to improve awareness of complaint procedures and to reduce inadvertent misrepresentation of credentials. The board asked staff to add a short section to meeting minutes or public materials explaining how to file a complaint and what anonymity means in practice.