In what situation would a complaint be classified as "unfounded"?

A complaint is classified as "unfounded" when it has been determined that the incident reported in the complaint did not actually occur. This means that upon investigation, there is substantial evidence showing that no such event took place, which is critical in handling complaints.

In contrast, the other options suggest scenarios where evidence or actions indicate that something did occur, either improperly or legitimately, thereby categorizing them differently. For example, a lack of evidence does not necessarily mean that an event did not happen; it may simply indicate insufficient proof but not a false report. In addition, instances of officers acting improperly or legitimate violations of protocol suggest wrongful actions happened, thus not aligning with the definition of "unfounded." The classification focuses specifically on verifying the occurrence of an event rather than its merits or legality.