Answered>Order 844

Police officers often claim that a citizen review board is not needed, and citizens do not understand the police role and therefore cannot be objective when investigating the police. Citizens often claim that there should be a citizen review board to investigate allegations of police misconduct. Citizens’ groups even allege that internal affairs officers cover up for their own. Should the police be allowed to police themselves? Does your local community have a citizen review board? If not, should they, and why? Are these claims justified? Do the police do a good job of “policing” themselves in your community?