Course Description

In an era of unparalleled transparency and calls for police accountability to the public they serve, internal affairs investigations are more vital to agency operations than ever before. This training is geared towards any investigators and/or supervisors who are involved in the process of investigating officers for potential wrongdoing, making disciplinary decisions and/or defending those findings and decisions in court, arbitration or civil service proceedings.

This training will help prepare investigators and supervisors to conduct investigations in a way that avoids common pitfalls, utilizes best practices and proceeds in a manner that is defensible in the court of law and the court of public opinion.  

Case studies will be utilized in this training to help attendees in balancing officers’ rights to fair treatment along with the organization’s obligation to maintain the highest standards of conduct for the men and women who protect and serve.

The damage caused by police misconduct—to the organization and to the public

  • Organizational failures to address performance issues before isolated instances become habitual misconduct
  • Getting back to Peelian Principles—understanding and reflecting community priorities
  • Early intervention as a part of IA operations


Complaint intake, transparency and the public trust

  • The complainant’s perspective in IA investigations
  • The challenge of maintaining objectivity in internal investigations
  • Laying investigative foundation through pre-interview information collection
  • Focusing on issues material to the investigation and avoiding “rabbit holes” and “fishing expeditions”
  • When a citizen complaint is better than a lawsuit—a sense of urgency in addressing routine complaints


Officers’ rights in IA investigations

  • Officers’ rights under the First Amendment, Fourth Amendment and Garrity
  • Distinguishing between administrative and criminal investigations regarding internal affairs
  • Investigating off-duty conduct, including social media
  • Maintaining fairness and a sense of “procedural justice” for officers subject to investigations


Making Discipline Stick in Law Enforcement

  • The most common supervisor errors in investigations and disciplinary decisions
  • Inconsistent discipline
  • Insufficient evidence
  • Due process violations
  • Employee’s past record of performance

Instructor

Director, Dolan Consulting Group

| Attorney Matt Dolan

Matt Dolan is a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois, who specializes in training and advising public safety agencies in matters of labor and employment law. His practice experience focuses on employment discrimination claims brought under federal law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII"), the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA"). He received his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from DePaul University and his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Matt serves as a public safety instructor with Dolan Consulting Group. He has trained and advised thousands of public safety professionals throughout the United States in matters of legal liability related to personnel management.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Before You Start

    • Consent Questions

    • Course Workbook

  • 2

    Day 1

    • Day 1: Section 1

    • Day 1: Section 2

    • Day 1: Section 3

    • Day 1: Section 4

    • Day 1: Section 5

    • Day 1: Section 6

    • Day 1: Section 7