4 key takeaways from Hearst CT's investigation into the secret world of police officer misconduct

Howard is quoted in this news story: 4 key takeaways from Hearst CT's investigation into the secret world of police officer misconduct.

This thorough investigation of Connecticut police officers’ misconduct found that officers typically receive light punishments, complaints of misconduct are often dismissed, and police departments are not transparent about their officers’ histories of misconduct. The investigation found that these problems exist in part because police disciplinary rules are written by the police, both through union contracts and internal rules of conduct.

To be held accountable for their misconduct, police officers need progressive discipline. As Howard says in the article, “You can’t keep giving a reprimand.” Police disciplinary records should be made public so that community groups and the public can review misconduct allegations, the findings, and the discipline imposed. The public needs to know the officer’s prior discipline as well to ensure the police internal investigation unit is working properly.

Police departments in Massachusetts share the same problems that this investigation identified in Connecticut. In both states there are instances of officers being fired for their misconduct, but then reinstated by an arbitrator. One example from Massachusetts is officer David Williams, who was twice fired by the Boston Police Department. The first time, he badly beat a fellow officer in plainclothes, thinking he was a civilian. The second time, he used a chokehold on our client and then lied about it. Both times, an arbitrator overturned the Boston Police Commissioner’s decision to fire Officer Williams. Arbitrators should have less authority to override disciplinary decisions and to determine what constitutes excessive force.