Internal Affairs

[zmancarlvr]

Is the stereotype of regular officers HATING and dispising etc etc I.A. officers true?

I would like to think that officers feel it is just as important for them to follow the rules as it is for the 'clientelle' on the street they deal with...?

Am I completely off?

Just wondering how the general opinion is.

Thank you.

-Z

[Kimble]

Is the stereotype of regular officers HATING and dispising etc etc I.A. officers true?

I would like to think that officers feel it is just as important for them to follow the rules as it is for the 'clientelle' on the street they deal with...?

Am I completely off?

Just wondering how the general opinion is.

Thank you.

-Z

I use to work in Internal Affairs, so I'm a little biased towards having a very positive outlook on their duties (I still go by to say "hi" to the Sgt.'s and staff in IA every now and then). In my experience, the only people that bad-mouthed IA are those that have been brought up for administrative charges or were reprimanded in some way. Everyone else realizes the point of the unit, to maintain the integrity of the department. Our department doesn't use sting operations, but in some larger departments, like NYPD, people from IA will do undercover type work to bust officers who aren't playing by the rules (ex: posing as customers in resturants to ensure officers are getting any special benefits that are against policy). They're not out to get you, unless you're doing something you shouldn't be, in which case you deserve it.

[retdetsgt]

We rotate Sgts through Internal affairs so no one is assigned there permanently. It's just an assignment you hope you don't get, but there's no animosity towards the investigators although some may be towards the administration. IA doesn't decide the verdict of the investigation, the administration does.

[Group9]

As they like to quote in our shop, "We're agents, just like you. And, we're only here to help." :D

[Wombat311]

Our guys are generally pretty good. They do perform stings to catch coppers doing the wrong thing but to my knowledge, this is only done if they have a reason to believe you are bent.

On the downside, if they get you in their sights and for some reason want to get rid of you, they may not get you for the initial complaint, but they will go back through everything you have ever done and FIND something to get you over. Even if it's only not complying with ALL force directives and policies, no matter how minor. (forget to PBT a driver, can't justify a check you made on a certain person, forgot to sign out a vehicle with the log book and so on) Build up enough little ones and they'll get you.

Again, this is generally done for those guy that are like teflon. Too many complaints about the same thing too close together and either non stick or they are BS, it doesn't matter, and you become a liability to the department.

My boss explained this to me when I had 3 complaints (all BS) in 3 months. He used to be in ESD, so I have no reaosn to believe this isn't true.

I have been complaint free since.

[retdetsgt]

As they like to quote in our shop, "We're agents, just like you. And, we're only here to help." :D

Yeah, we're from the government and we're here to help you! :eek:

We make no pretensions of being on the officer's side nor are we out to hang them. IA here does violations of dept policy and regulations, but regular detectives investigate criminal allegations. I've never worked IA, but I've done a few of the latter.

The officer has a bill of rights in the union contract that we honor, but we do order them to talk to us. I think most cops realize that if they are innocent, we'll prove it, but conversely if they are guilty, we'll find probably find that out too. But we don't do the "buddy" crap either. If you're accused, we do nothing to try to trick you. It's probably the most "above board" criminal investigations we do.

[fetom]

Our guys are generally pretty good. They do perform stings to catch coppers doing the wrong thing but to my knowledge, this is only done if they have a reason to believe you are bent.

On the downside, if they get you in their sights and for some reason want to get rid of you, they may not get you for the initial complaint, but they will go back through everything you have ever done and FIND something to get you over. Even if it's only not complying with ALL force directives and policies, no matter how minor. (forget to PBT a driver, can't justify a check you made on a certain person, forgot to sign out a vehicle with the log book and so on) Build up enough little ones and they'll get you.

Again, this is generally done for those guy that are like teflon. Too many complaints about the same thing too close together and either non stick or they are BS, it doesn't matter, and you become a liability to the department.

My boss explained this to me when I had 3 complaints (all BS) in 3 months. He used to be in ESD, so I have no reaosn to believe this isn't true.

I have been complaint free since.

Fortuantely, my complaints have been handled at local level. You can not avoid them in traffic work, some try the complaint to get out of a ticket.

My dealings with ESD have been minimal but they were always professional, but I would not want to be in their sights because they do a thorough job on the bad eggs. Some may say they are bad, but they are a necessary evil {for want of a better metaphor]

[Star]

Is the stereotype of regular officers HATING and dispising etc etc I.A. officers true?

I would like to think that officers feel it is just as important for them to follow the rules as it is for the 'clientelle' on the street they deal with...?

Am I completely off?

Just wondering how the general opinion is.

Thank you.

-Z

If they do hate them then it's because they are doing something wrong and they deserve to get caught. If they are on the straight and narrow, they haven't a reason to dislike them.

[zmancarlvr]

I am very glad to hear what I have regarding Internal Affairs. It is not that I am interested in working there when I get into LE, but I like seeing people do the right thing.

-Z

[acreature]

IA are probably hated by Cops, just as mush as Cops are hated by Non-LE people.

Fair enough?

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Watch out, it's the "Police" Police!

[Wombat311]

Fortuantely, my complaints have been handled at local level. You can not avoid them in traffic work, some try the complaint to get out of a ticket.

My dealings with ESD have been minimal but they were always professional, but I would not want to be in their sights because they do a thorough job on the bad eggs. Some may say they are bad, but they are a necessary evil {for want of a better metaphor]

Yeah, mine were handled by way of PIR's and for one of them, I had a half dozen independant witnesses say that it wasn't the police (me) that cracked his head open, but his mother still complained. :mad: It still creates a file with your name on it at ESD.

But yes, they are necessary.