The Department of Internal Affairs investigates police misconduct and criminal acts committed by officers in the United States. The Home Affairs Department investigates questionable actions, and civilians can file complaints with them. Officers of investigative rank handle investigations, and violators can face warnings, suspension, or termination.
Police or law enforcement officers are expected to abide by the law and be blameless. While this is generally the case, just like any other profession, there are some who cross the line or take advantage of their position of authority. For this reason, law enforcement agencies in the United States have a Department of Internal Affairs. The primary responsibility of an internal affairs department is to investigate reports of police misconduct or criminal acts committed by officers. Additionally, a Home Affairs Department will routinely investigate situations in which a police officer has discharged his firearm while apprehending a suspect or engaged in a high-speed pursuit of a suspect, among other potentially questionable actions.
Within a law enforcement agency, the Home Affairs Department typically operates almost like a separate agency. Department members usually report directly to the Chief of Police or to a civilian review board. Understandably, detectives assigned to the Department of Internal Affairs are not always particularly popular with other police officers. The members of the department are as a rule all officers of investigative rank.
When a civilian files a complaint against a law enforcement officer, they can file a formal complaint with the Department of Home Affairs. Each jurisdiction has its own policies and procedures for filing a complaint; however, the procedure must be made available to anyone wishing to make a complaint in all cases. The complaint will then be passed on to a detective within the department for review. If the investigator believes the complaint warrants an investigation, a formal investigation will be opened. The exact procedures for investigating a complaint vary by department and the type of complaint filed, but an interview with the complainant and the officer in question is usually a starting point.
If the investigation of a complaint leads the detective in charge to conclude that the officer in question violated department policy or committed a felony, then he or she will report the finding to the Chief of Police or a civilian review board for appropriate action . A law enforcement official who has violated department policy can face a verbal or written warning, suspension with or without pay, or even termination of employment. If an officer is found to have committed a crime, he will be charged just like a civilian under the same circumstances. All complaints filed, as well as the results, must be recorded in the officer’s personal file.
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