Internal affairs investigated by a... Civilian?

[FSEP]

I was on the Washington DC job site seeing if they had anything interesting open up... And I found this...

Job Title: INVESTIGATOR


Agency: Office of Police Complaints


Duties


Brief Description of Duties: This position is located in the office of Police Complaints (OPC). The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Chief Investigator and / or his or her designee. Duties include but are not limited to planning. organizing and conducting investigations of complaints by citizens against members of the Metropolitan Police Department; conducting interviews of complainants, witnesses, and officers in order to obtain factual statements and gathering of information or data necessary for the determination for adjudication of complaints; obtaining background information; assembling data and planning investigations; preparing written reports of investigations; entering investigative date into computerized information management system; and performing other related duties as required.


Qualifications


Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, at least one (1) year of specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

https://erecruit.dc.gov/psp/erecruit/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?Page=HRS_CE_HM_PRE


Is it just me, or is it a little weird that they are having a civi handle and investigate "complaints of misconduct"? Every agency I've been apart of, and every single one around me that I can think of have all IA investigations handled by sworn members. No matter what it is.


So tell me, am I just out of the loop on this one, or is it really that weird?

 

[Respondcode3]

not unusual at all.. Chicago has had it for years.


City of Chicago :: Independent Police Review Authority

 

[Zoe]

I would presume that the best setup would be a combination of sworn LE and civilians... considering the concerns many have of cops "protecting" other cops.

 

[proudfirefighter]

I've never seen of that in my area, all IA is done internally.


However, like Zack said, a combination of both civilian and PD would be best.

 

[FireEMSPolice]

This isnt a new concept. When my hometown formed one, it had members of the clergy and NAACP attached to it. THAT part pissed me off. Nothing like having the deck stacked against you with those guys huh?

 

[FSEP]

hmm this all really interesting. I understand the reasoning behind having a civi being apart of some investgations, but not lead. And deffintly not some joe blow off the street who has no idea of how emergency services/stressful situations work.

 

[vc859]

I don't think this orginization is internal affairs, but rather an independent civilian oversight agency.


New York City has one called the CCRB. They are notorious for hiring kids fresh out of college (with no emergency services experience and who just experienced 4 years of liberal thinking) as investigators.

 

[desert rent-a-cop]

A little clarification about the DC Metropolitan Police (MPD) and DC Office of Police Complaints: In college I interned with MPD and they do have a regular IA division that is made up of sworn officers, the Office of Police complaints is an outside agency in city government that investigates certain complaints against MPD, DC Protective Services Police, DC Housing Police etc. officers. Any decision that OPC makes after their investigation can be overturned or reduced by the Chief of Police, which can then be overturned again by a panel of 3 OPS examiners. In the 2 years that I worked with MPD I never heard of OPC actually doing anything.


For more info check out their website: office of police complaints | Office of Police Complaints

 

[FSEP]

A little clarification about the DC Metropolitan Police (MPD) and DC Office of Police Complaints: In college I interned with MPD and they do have a regular IA division that is made up of sworn officers, the Office of Police complaints is an outside agency in city government that investigates certain complaints against MPD, DC Protective Services Police, DC Housing Police etc. officers. Any decision that OPC makes after their investigation can be overturned or reduced by the Chief of Police, which can then be overturned again by a panel of 3 OPS examiners. In the 2 years that I worked with MPD I never heard of OPC actually doing anything.
For more info check out their website: office of police complaints | Office of Police Complaints

Thanks for the info! :thumbsup: