Oversight of Law Enforcement is Beneficial and Needed—Both Inside and Out

09/01/2010 Scholarship

By Barbara Attard & Campaign Zero

Study: More and more police officials are realizing that internal investigations are controversial and thankless.An oversight agency decreeing that a shooting or use of force was within acceptable policy guidelines has more credibility
than an internal investigation making the same pronouncement. A negative ruling bolstered by an independent
investigation helps to take the sting out of a contentious disciplinary action. Oversight in its many forms provides accountability and transparency for police issues that are otherwise inaccessible to the larger community.