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Internal affairs: issues for small police departments
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,The, July, 2003 by Sean F. Kelly
I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decision. With no compromise for criminals and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courageously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence, and never accepting gratuities.
I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of police service. I will constantly strive to achieve those objectives and ideals, dedicating myself to my chosen profession--law enforcement.
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Source: International Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
Functions of the Internal Affairs Process
* Protection of the public: The public has the right to expect efficient, fair, and impartial law enforcement; therefore, any misconduct by department personnel must be detected, investigated, and properly adjudicated to assure the maintenance of these qualities.
* Protection of the department: The department often is evaluated and judged by the actions of its individual members. It is imperative that the entire organization not be subjected to public censure because of the misconduct of one member. When the public knows that the department honestly and fairly investigates and adjudicates all allegations against its members, it is less likely that the public will find the need to raise a cry of indignation over alleged incidents of misconduct.
* Protection of the employee: Employees must be protected against false allegations of misconduct. Although being the subject of an investigation may be unpleasant or uncomfortable, the best protection for an employee is a complete and thorough investigation conducted in a timely manner that clearly and unequivocally supports the employee's honesty and integrity.
* Removal of unfit personnel: Personnel who engage in serious acts of misconduct or who have demonstrated that they are unfit for law enforcement work must be removed for the protection of the public, the department, and fellow employees.
* Correction of procedural problems: The department constantly is seeking to improve its efficiency and its personnel. Occasionally, internal affairs investigations disclose faulty procedures that otherwise would have gone unnoticed.
Source: Durham, New Hampshire, Police Department, Personnel and Administration Manual, February 2001.
Lieutenant Kelly serves with the Durham, New Hampshire, Police Department and currently is assigned as a leadership fellow at the DEA Academy.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Federal Bureau of Investigation
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