Anonymous complaints from Glendale residents no longer are enough to trigger investigations into allegations of misconduct by officers, according to the latest contract the city negotiated with its police unions.

Persons who file complaints against officers must sign affidavits stating that they believe their allegations to be true.

Police say those found to be untruthful could face criminal charges in certain instances.

Police officials still will investigate anonymous complaints against officers if the allegations involve possible crimes, or if they can independently corroborate them.

The change was specified in a two-year contractthat city leaders negotiated with Glendale Police Officer's Coalition, which comprises the city's two police unions.

The changes likely will not have a wide impact. Of the 49 complaints from residents that police received last year, two were anonymous, according to the Police Department.

Police say the contract, which went into effect in July, is a positive move because it clarifies rules for complaints.

"It gives both parties distinct guidelines to follow within the complaint process," said Justin Harris, president of the Glendale Law Enforcement Association, one of the two unions.

Other revisions to the complaint process include:

-�The department should close an investigation into police misconduct within 120 days.

-�Officers should be informed of complaints against them within three days.

-�Police officials must use a specific procedure to determine the appropriate level of discipline to be meted out to officers found to be in violation of policy.

Police Chief Steve Conrad said the revisions to the city's contract came out of negotiations between city and union leaders, who raised issues about anonymous complaints.

Conrad said the city aimed to maintain a balance between preventing frivolous complaints and protecting Glendale residents.

Human Resources Director Alma Carmicle said the updated police-union contract more closely matches guidelines for other Glendale workers who face accusations of misconduct.

Glendale must carefully monitor the impact of the contract, said Hubert Williams, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Police Foundation, which focuses on law-enforcement research and reform.

"These complaints that we're talking about are complaints coming in from the people we are sworn to protect and serve," said Williams, a former Newark, N.J. police chief.

Officers' needs must be considered but the public trust and confidence must be the Police Department's primary concern, Williams said.

The Glendale chief said he considers residents' concerns a priority.

"When citizens come forward, I think it's important we listen to what they have to say," Conrad said. "Our ability to police ourselves is contingent on the cooperation of the public to help us identify problems and deal with them."