Complaints of Police Misconduct: Examining the Timeliness of Completing Investigations

• In Event: Investigating Police Misconduct

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the timeliness of the investigation of internal and external complaints of police misconduct. The current literature on citizen complaints has not identified or operationalized what is meant by thoroughly investigating a complaint in a timely manner. The goal of this study is to fill the gap in police accountability literature regarding the amount of time it takes to complete an investigation of officer misconduct, and the influence this has on the disposition of complaints. Since many police departments review and investigate their own complaints, it is important to examine the amount of vigor police are giving complaints filed by citizens compared to internal complaints lodged by other police personnel. The main source of data for this study consists of 240 complaints filed against police officers working in a Midwestern agency over a 10-year period.

Author

• Thomas Mrozla, North Dakota State University