POLICE VS POLICE - NO ONE KNOWS MUCH ABOUT INTERNAL AFFAIRS BUREAUS, SO EVERYONE DISTRUSTS THEM

• NCJ Number: 66676
• Journal: Police Magazine Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (MAY 1980) Pages: 6-15,17-20
• Author(s): K KRAJICK
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRICE QUOTED IS FOR ENTIRE ISSUE. REPRINTS OF ARTICLE ONLY AVAILABLE IN LARGE QUANTITIES.

Annotation

OPERATIONS OF POLICE INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNITS IN SEVERAL MAJOR CITIES ARE EXAMINED; THEIR PRACTICES ARE VIEWED FROM THE OPPOSING PERSPECTIVES OF POLICE OFFICERS AND THE COMMUNITY.

Abstract

DUE TO PUBLIC PRESSURE, ALMOST ALL LARGE POLICE DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY NOW OPERATE INTERNAL REVIEW BOARDS TO INVESTIGATE CITIZEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CONDUCT OF POLICE OFFICERS AND TO DISCIPLINE THOSE GUILTY OF CORRUPTION, BREACH OF INTERNAL REGULATIONS, MISCONDUCT, OR BRUTALITY. SUCH INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS ARE NOT GOVERNED BY LEGAL CONSTRAINTS, AND POLICE OFFICERS CHARGE THAT THEY HAVE FEWER RIGHTS WHEN THEY ARE CALLED BEFORE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICERS THAN DO CRIMINALS WHO ARE BROUGHT BEFORE JUDGES. POLICE UNIONS, THEREFORE, ARE PRESSING FOR SAFEGUARDS AGAINST INTERNAL REVIEW PRACTICES WHICH CAN RUIN OFFICER'S CAREERS WHILE GIVING THEM NO RECOURSE TO DUE PROCESS OR RULES OF COURT PROCEDURE. CITIZENS' GROUPS, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARGUE THAT INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS SERVE THE POLICE BROTHERHOOD AND ARE INCAPABLE OF OBJECTIVE EXAMINATION AND REPRISAL OF THEIR OWN MEMBERSHIP. CONTRIBUTING TO THE DISTRUST OF BOTH POLICE AND CITIZENS TOWARD INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNITS IS THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THEIR OPERATIONS AND RECORDS. CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARDS ARE A FURTHER THREAT TO POLICE OFFICERS, SHOULD THE COMMUNITY FIND INTERNAL REVIEW INADEQUATE. SUCH A GROUP FUNCTIONS IN DENVER BY MAYORAL APPOINTMENT. OPERATIONS OF NEW YORK'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION ARE GREATLY FEARED BY THE OFFICERS BECAUSE THE DIVISION CONDUCTS CLANDESTINE INTEGRITY TESTS IN ORDER TO WEED OUT CORRUPT OFFICERS. THERE IS MUCH INTERNAL MISTRUST AND EVEN HATRED BETWEEN OFFICERS ON THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS STAFF AND THOSE DOING REGULAR DUTY. BY MOST ACCOUNTS, THE POLICE DISCIPLINARY SYSTEMS ARE NONSYSTEMS, WHERE PERSONAL GRUDGES, WHIMS, AND POLITICS HOLD SWAY. SUCH INCONSISTENCIES ARE ONE CAUSE OF LOW MORALE IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND A MAJOR REASON WHY THE POLICE UNION'S BILL OF RIGHTS IS BEING ADVANCED. ILLUSTRATIONS ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)