52A - Internal Affairs, Maintaining Professional Standards - 2019

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Policy & Procedure Page 1 of 13 Lexington Police Department Subject: Internal Affairs: Maintaining Professional Standards Policy Number: 52A Accreditation Standards: Reference: 52.1.1; 52.1.2; 52.1.3; 52.1.4; 52.2.1; 52.2.2; 52.2.3; 52.2.6(a-e); 52.2.7; 52.2.8; 82.1.3 Effective Date: 12/9/15  New  Revised Revision Dates: 1/24/19 By Order of: Mark J. Corr, Chief of Police The Municipal Police Institute, Inc. (MPI) is a private, nonprofit charitable affiliate of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. MPI provides training and model policies and procedures for police agencies. This policy is an edited version of MPI Policy 4.01, “Internal Affairs.” GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES The Lexington Police Department is committed to providing the best possible police services to the community. Critical to this goal is the commitment of each Department employee to perform his or her duties in an honest, fair and impartial manner. The integrity of the Department is dependent on the self-discipline of each employee. When there is an allegation of misconduct, the Department must respond appropriately in order to maintain the community’s trust. The Chief of Police shall have the responsibility for supervising, conducting, coordinating, and maintaining professional standards for the Department. The Chief of Police will establish procedures that are lawful and conducted with the strictest confidentiality. The goals of this internal control function will include: • Maintaining at all times a high level of acceptable conduct for all members of the department. • Guaranteeing the right of all personnel to a fair and impartial investigation of complaints made against them. • Objectively investigating all complaints and, if appropriate, taking proper corrective measures. • Increasing public confidence in the Department's ability to govern and regulate personnel in the performance of required duties. An internal affairs policy must include the following: • Protecting the Public. The public has a right to expect efficient, fair and impartial law enforcement, therefore any misconduct by Department personnel must be