Blog

September 19, 2024

Who Investigates Police Misconduct?

Written by Pointer & Buelna, LLP. Lawyers For The People, reviewed by Adanté Pointer

People wonder who investigates police misconduct and, at least in California, there are independent oversight agencies contracted to investigate police misconduct as well as internal affairs divisions within the law enforcement agencies themselves. Additionally, the California Attorney General will review citizen complaints against police officers when substantive allegations of unlawful conduct are made, and local resources for redress have been exhausted. In reality, oversight agencies often have limited resources, and internal affairs bureaus do not always provide an objective, thorough investigation that holds officers accountable. 

If you survived police misconduct and are getting nowhere with these means, don’t hesitate to contact a Sacramento Police Misconduct Lawyer our find the lawyer near you in California here.

What Is Police Misconduct?

Police misconduct refers to any inappropriate or unlawful actions committed by law enforcement while performing their official duties. This can include excessive use of force, racial profiling, false arrests, corruption, and other forms of misconduct. Police misconduct is a deadly and pervasive social evil. American police killed a minimum of 1,200 people in 2022, according to Mapping Police Violence. In the same year, about 1,100 people were shown as shot and killed by the police, according to the Washington Post’s tracking database, 

Differences Between Internal and External Investigations

Again, police misconduct investigations can be conducted internally by the law enforcement agency or externally by independent entities. Internal investigations may be conducted by the police department or agency to which the accused officer belongs. These investigations are often criticized for their lack of impartiality, as officers are no doubt biased about investigating their fellow colleagues. External investigations are carried out by independent organizations, like civilian review boards or state-level agencies. External investigations are generally seen as more objective and unbiased.

How to File a Complaint Against the Police for Misconduct

If you have experienced police misconduct, please take action. Filing a complaint against the involved officer(s) is imperative to hold them accountable for their actions. As Sacramento police misconduct lawyers, these are the steps we recommend you take:

• Document the incident: Gather all relevant information, including dates, times, locations, and any evidence, such as photographs or videos.
• Identify the agency: Find out the appropriate department to file the complaint with.
• Contact an attorney: The sooner you learn your rights and legal options, the better. Pointer and Buelna are happy to stand against police misconduct with you.
• File the complaint: Be sure to provide detailed information and any supporting evidence.
• Follow up: Stay in contact with the investigative agency to ensure that your complaint is being taken seriously.

Ways to Reform the Police to Reduce Misconduct

Addressing and preventing police misconduct requires systemic changes within law enforcement agencies. Here are some ways to reform the police and reduce misconduct:

• Improved training
• Accountability measures
• Community engagement
• Independent oversight
• Transparency and body cameras

Contact a Sacramento, California Police Misconduct Attorney

Pointer & Buelna is a reputable Sacramento law firm dedicated to stomping out police misconduct. Our diverse, competent team of steadfast Sacramento police misconduct attorneys fiercely advocates for our clients.

Call our office at (510) 929-5400 or schedule a free legal consultation with one of our lawyers. Together, we can hold law enforcement agencies accountable!