Police misconduct has been an issue in the police force all over the world. Not all police officers take part in misconduct but there are many who do. The ones who do usually do so for quite some time before anything is done about the problem. In one state the citizen complaints against the police had rose from previous years. The state capital had designed a complaint form and procedure to help handle the increase complaints in the state.
When a complaint is filed against an officer the inside unit handles the investigation allegations. “The investigative officer will review the evidence of the alleged incident and use sources to investigate the actions for relevancy, and accuracy” . Once the evidence has been assessed the findings will be handed over to the superintendent in charge. He then looks over the evidence and findings of the investigator and a final decision will be made. The officer will then have an option to defend the allegations against him. If he is found guilty there will be disciplinary charges put towards the officer who had took part in the misconduct.
The disciplinary actions are based upon three stages depending on the severity of the crime or misconduct committed. The less severe of the crimes committed would warrant less action of discipline and the more severe actions would have a bigger disciplinary outcome. The investigative process is being improved to handle each case according to the allegation.
The findings were surprising that the increase in police corruption and misconduct. I was surprised that the process for investigating these allegations were handled so lightly.
Reference
Hill, H. (2009). Police Misconduct. Coping with Police Misconduct, 1-6.
