Why Do Police Departments Need Program Evaluations From Outside Agencies?

Police departments are responsible for protecting and serving their local communities. They deal with extremely sensitive situations and their actions can be called in to question by victims of crimes, perpetrators of crimes and other parties such as civil liberties advocates.

Independent Oversight

• To ensure that police departments act fairly and treat citizens equitably, regardless of their color, race, religion, nationality, sex or sexual orientation, it is important that independent commissions, review boards or organizations oversee their actions. For example, in the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the police department is overseen by the Police Oversight Commission (POC). According to City ordinance, the POC "shall be composed of nine members who broadly represent the diversity of this community, and who reside within the City of Albuquerque. There shall be one member of the Police Oversight Commission representing each City Council District."

Complaints

• External oversight is also important to instill and increase public confidence in the complaints processes of police departments, by objectively reviewing police misconduct investigations and providing recommendations for program improvements. For example, in the City of San Jose, California's Independent Police Auditor provides this function.

Abuse of Laws

• Police can be accused of abusing the laws they enforce. Illegal arrests, disorderly conduct and brutality are some of the most common allegations against police departments. These can have far-reaching consequences, such as the violent riots that ensued after Los Angeles Police Department officers were caught, on camera, beating Rodney King in 1991. According to the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, police oversight agencies are necessary and effective in their role.