THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN GENERAL
"WE FIGHT FOR YOU!"
HELP FIGHT CORRUPTION
BY SUPPORTING
OMBUDSMAN INTERNATIONAL
A United States of America Government Oversight Agency
The Police Complaint Center is a division of Ombudsman International, a United States Government Oversight Agency. One of the primary focuses of our efforts is in the area of police corruption and abuse. We also accept complaints regarding elected officials and civil servants.Due to the increased number of police corruption and abuse complaints received by Ombudsman International, we have created The Police Complaint Center. The Police Complaint Center of Ombudsman International accepts complaints from any individual regarding Police misconduct. ThePolice Complaint Center will investigate all valid reports. Upon completion of the investigation, the Police Complaint Centerwill forward all findings to the Ombudsman General for direction. The Police ComplaintCenter works closely with the Internal Affairs Division of Police Departments, District Attorneys and private organizations throughout the nation to ensure that we obtain accurate information concerning any complaint received. A representative of thePolice Complaint Center will contact the complainant to verify pertinent information upon the receipt of any correspondence.Meetings with complainants are not always necessary and each case is individually reviewed by the Police Complaint Centerstaff. As an integral part of our organization,The Police Complaint Center was created by the Ombudsman General in order to focus direct attention on this ever increasing phenomenon. All correspondence regarding this matter should be addressed to the attention of The Police Complaint Center. Your Support
Did You Know...
that an ombudsman, "OM buhdz MUHN," is a nonpartisan public official who investigates people's complaints about government officials or agencies. Most of an ombudsman's work involves complaints of unjust or harsh treatment of people by police, prosecuting attorneys, or judges, and such matters as housing, taxation, voting, or welfare payments. After investigating a complaint, the ombudsman may dismiss it or may seek correction of the problem-by persuasion, by publicity, or, occasionally, by recommending prosecution.
Ombudsman, an Old Norse word translated to mean "administration-man" or "king's representative" was a concept developed in the Swedish constitution in 1809 as a means to curb governmental abuses and protect citizen's rights. This later evolved into the investigation of unlawful or unfair acts and complaints about services. The Ombudsman then determines wrongdoing, mediates and/or makes recommendations for changes in practices and policies. Nearly 200 years later, this is the primary function of most Ombudsmen. The definition of Ombudsman has also undergone a change. It is more readily translated to mean work "On behalf of Mankind". Now, Ombudsmen can be found around the world in government, educational institutions, business and even in industry.
The idea of the ombudsman originated in Sweden in 1809. It has spread to Japan and to several European, Commonwealth, and newly independent countries. Hawaii has a comprehensive ombudsman plan, and other states and some United States cities have modified plans. The idea also has gained popularity in large organizations, including corporations and universities. The ombudsman's growing popularity coincides with the increasing complexities of administration and with people's need for impartial and informal handling of complaints.Contributor:David R. Berman, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, Arizona State University.
WHAT DO WE DO?
Ombudsman International takes complaints regarding public officials and/or public corruption by civil servants. In that regard, we contract a private investigator to investigate the complaint. Should the complaint be found to be true, we will forward the complaint and fact finding data to the Attorney General and/or other law enforcement agencies.
Our organization is not a political organization yet we do reserve the right to investigate claims of corruption, especially when the lives of our young people, the future of tomorrow, are jeopardized. It is our right and it is our duty, to investigate, report, and disseminate any findings of corruption. Merely taking complaints, investigating complaints, and making those complaints public does not denote political involvement. Our organization is neither pro nor con, neither the Republican nor the Democratic Party. We are not supportive of corruption! Our organization has found that the underlying root to saving our children from the dead-end prison system is predicated on the truth as well as the word of God.
We also attend symposiums throughout the United States of America. These symposiums are specifically about issues relating to youth gangs, drugs, juvenile imprisonment, and prison reform. State agencies, non-profit organizations, as well as churches sponsor these events. Attending such activities is very essential to our organization as it allows us the opportunity to participate in the dissemination of our materials as well as to come together with the others who are working in the area of crime prevention.
Another activity in which we participate is the prison/jail visitation program. We are permitted to visit on a one-on-one basis with the prisoner. In most cases, the prisoner would not receive a visit from anyone. We use this opportunity to fellowship with the prisoners. There is no reimbursement for any expenses (travel/meals) incurred by the volunteer when they visit a prisoner. In addition we are "listeners" when parents of incarcerated youth come to the office to pick up information, vent, find resources, as well as to communicate their concerns regarding their loved ones.
The office is also a distribution center for the many pamphlets, brochures and other printed material such as articles written by actual prisoners that we distribute without charge.
We, Ombudsman International, are completely for the benefit of the public/taxpayers. We are religious in nature because we put God first in everything that we do. We help people who need our help. We fight for people who otherwise lay down and do not fight for themselves. When we visit prisons, we put God first. When we speak out at symposiums, we put God first. In the middle of the night, when we answer calls made by mothers whose children, specifically their sons, are shot dead in the streets and they have no direction as to how to get their many questions answered from the local police departments, we answer their calls and put God first.
While helpful, it is not necessary to make a financial contribution in order to be a supporter and remain on our mailing list. Even so, if you do not want to receive any other information or materials in the future, please tell us so.
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM OMBUDSMAN INTERNATIONAL?
Our Nation's Youth
Community
Parents
Schools
Law Enforcement
Police abuse in America: In the early hours of March 3, 1991, a police chase in L.A. ended in an incident that would become synonymous with police abuse: the beating of a young man named Rodney King by members of the Los Angeles Police Department. An amateur video, televised nationwide, showed King lying on the ground while three officers kicked him and struck him repeatedly with their nightsticks. No one who viewed that beating will ever forget its viciousness.
The Rodney King incident projected the brutal reality of police abuse into living rooms across the nation, and for a while, the problem was front page news. Political leaders condemned police use of excessive force and appointed special commissions to investigate incidents of brutality. The media covered the issue extensively, calling particular attention to the fact that police abuse was not evenly distributed throughout American society, but disproportionately victimized people of color.
But fifteen years later, police abuse is still very much an American problem, as the following examples demonstrate:
2004 - On Long Island, David Glowzenski died after a confrontation in which an officer stunned him nine times with a TASER, and he wasn't on drugs or alcohol, Andrews notes. "He committed no crime; he didn't do anything wrong," Jean Griffin, his sister says.
Oct. 24, 2004- Milwaukee, WI - Frank Jude Jr. suffered a brutal beating on a street in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood. Surrounded by a dozen men, some of whom were off duty police officers, he was kicked repeatedly in the head, stripped naked and threatened with a knife, his attorney said.
"There's no question crimes were committed," District Attorney E. Michael McCann said. "This is not the usual type of case. Instead of police cooperating with you, you have a number of police who are intent on obstructing the inquiry."
On April 14, 2006 a jury returned not guilty verdicts on most charges against fired police officers Jon Bartlett, 34, Daniel Masarik, 26, and Andrew Spengler, 26, in the beating of Frank Jude Jr. On one charge, against Bartlett, the jury reached no verdict and prosecutors say they will retry him.
Oct. 8, 2005- NEW ORLEANS - Two fired New Orleans police officers and one current officer were indicted Wednesday in the videotaped beating of a retired teacher in the French Quarter last fall.
The Oct. 8 beating of Robert Davis, 64, was caught on videotape by an Associated Press Television News crew covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Robert Evangelist, 36, was charged with false imprisonment while armed with a dangerous weapon and second-degree battery; Lance Schilling, 29, was charged with second-degree battery; and Stewart Smith, 50, was charged with simple battery, according to a statement from District Attorney Eddie Jordan.
The fact that police abuse remains a significant problem does not mean there has been no progress. In communities all across the United States people have organized to bring about change. Organizations such as Ombudsman International have come to the forefront of the fight for victim's rights and for the end of police abuse.
Bishop L.J. Guillory, The Ombudsman General, Stephen C. Delgado, Special Agent in Charge (SAC), DEA, LADO, and Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy C. Baca announced the successful completion of a MET Operation LADO MET II concluded its deployment with the LASD in the city of Compton, CA, with exemplary results. At a press conference held at the LASD Compton Station, Gen. Guillory, SAC Delgado and Sheriff Baca were joined by Patricia Donahue, Chief, Organized Crime and Terrorism Section, U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO), Head Deputy District Attorney Stephen R. Kay, Compton Branch, Captain Stephen B. Johnson, LASD Narcotics Bureau, Group Supervisor Eric Harden, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), and Captain Eric Hamilton, LASD Compton Station. The 6-month deployment resulted in 84 arrests of violent felons and or gang members. An unusually high number of armed violators were encountered by the arresting agents. MET II and the LASD made the following seizures: over 25 lbs. of methamphetamine,clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, over 4 lbs. of heroin, 8 lbs. of cocaine, 1 lb. of crack cocaine, 20 lbs. of marijuana, a record 22 firearms, $54,827 U.S. Currency and 6 vehicles.
Police corruption is a complex phenomenon, which does not readily submit to simple analysis. Police corruption is a problem that has and will continue to affect us all, whether we are civilians or law enforcement officers. Police corruption is a specific form of police mistreatment that sometimes involves political corruption, and generally designed to gain a financial or political benefit for a police officer or officers in exchange for not pursuing, or selectively pursuing, an investigation or arrest. An example ofpolice corruption is police officers accepting bribes in exchange for not reporting organized drug or prostitution rings or other illegal activities. Police corruption has increased dramatically with the illegal cocaine trade, with officers acting alone or in-groups to steal money from dealers or distribute cocaine themselves. Large groups of officers involved in police corruption have been caught in New Orleans andWashington, DC. Although improvements have been made to control Police corruption, numerous opportunities exist for deviant, corrupt practices. The opportunity to acquire power in excess of that which is legally permitted or to misuse power is always available. Police corruption can involve a single officer or group of officers, or can be the standard practice of entire police precincts or departments. In most major cities there are internal affairs sections to investigate suspected police corruption or misconduct. However, sometimes an external body with far reaching powers, such as Ombudsman International, is required to investigate widespread police corruption.
Information about the Independent Police Complaint Commission:The Independent Police Complaint Commission of Ombudsman International uses our authority and powers unflinchingly to help those who suffer injustice because of an abuse of police powers to obtain redress. The Independent Police Complaint Commission activities support policing by consent and help to sustain justice. Equally, those against whom allegations have been made can be sure that the Independent police complaint commission will be impartial and our activities timely and fair. The philosophy of the independent police complaint commission is that ‘justice must be sure and proportionate.’Our Independence is proven by:• Our resolve under pressure. • The people we appoint. • The work we undertake. • Scrupulously avoiding conflicts of interest. • The communications we make. Valuing Diversity:• We know that gaining the benefits of diversity is not easy.
• However we are open to the experience, insights and skills of people of different race, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexuality, disability, and other backgrounds from both inside the independent police complaint commission and from external partners.Openness: • We seek maximum disclosure and regular communications with all parties during the course of a complaint.• The independent police complaint commission communicates information about its work and performance widely. • We carefully define where we need to maintain confidentiality or secrecy for operational reasons so that we can protect individuals and retain the confidence of other agencies.• We learn lessons from what we do and take responsibility for the decisions ofthe independent police complaint commission.
Information about the Independent Police Complaint Commission:The Independent Police Complaint Commission of Ombudsman International uses our authority and powers unflinchingly to help those who suffer injustice because of an abuse of police powers to obtain redress. The Independent Police Complaint Commission activities support policing by consent and help to sustain justice. Equally, those against whom allegations have been made can be sure that the Independent police complaint commission will be impartial and our activities timely and fair. The philosophy of the independent police complaint commission is that ‘justice must be sure and proportionate.’Our Independence is proven by:• Our resolve under pressure. • The people we appoint. • The work we undertake. • Scrupulously avoiding conflicts of interest. • The communications we make. Valuing Diversity:• We know that gaining the benefits of diversity is not easy.
• However we are open to the experience, insights and skills of people of different race, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexuality, disability, and other backgrounds from both inside the independent police complaint commission and from external partners.Openness: • We seek maximum disclosure and regular communications with all parties during the course of a complaint.• The independent police complaint commission communicates information about its work and performance widely. • We carefully define where we need to maintain confidentiality or secrecy for operational reasons so that we can protect individuals and retain the confidence of other agencies.• We learn lessons from what we do and take responsibility for the decisions of the independent police complaint commission.
Police corruption is a complex phenomenon, which does not readily submit to simple analysis. Police corruption is a problem that has and will continue to affect us all, whether we are civilians or law enforcement officers. Police corruption is a specific form of police mistreatment that sometimes involves political corruption, and generally designed to gain a financial or political benefit for a police officer or officers in exchange for not pursuing, or selectively pursuing, an investigation or arrest. An example of police corruption is police officers accepting bribes in exchange for not reporting organized drug or prostitution rings or other illegal activities. Police corruption has increased dramatically with the illegal cocaine trade, with officers acting alone or in-groups to steal money from dealers or distribute cocaine themselves. Large groups of officers involved in police corruption have been caught in New Orleans and Washington, DC. Although improvements have been made to control Police corruption, numerous opportunities exist for deviant, corrupt practices. The opportunity to acquire power in excess of that which is legally permitted or to misuse power is always available. Police corruption can involve a single officer or group of officers, or can be the standard practice of entire police precincts or departments. In most major cities there are internal affairs sections to investigate suspected police corruption or misconduct. However, sometimes an external body with far reaching powers, such as Ombudsman International, is required to investigate widespread police corruption.
HELP FIGHT CORRUPTION
BY SUPPORTING
OMBUDSMAN INTERNATIONAL
A United States of America Government Oversight Agency
The Police Complaint Center is a division of Ombudsman International, a United States Government Oversight Agency. One of the primary focuses of our efforts is in the area of police corruption and abuse. We also accept complaints regarding elected officials and civil servants.Due to the increased number of police corruption and abuse complaints received by Ombudsman International, we have created The Police Complaint Center. The Police Complaint Center of Ombudsman International accepts complaints from any individual regarding Police misconduct. ThePolice Complaint Center will investigate all valid reports. Upon completion of the investigation, the Police Complaint Centerwill forward all findings to the Ombudsman General for direction. The Police ComplaintCenter works closely with the Internal Affairs Division of Police Departments, District Attorneys and private organizations throughout the nation to ensure that we obtain accurate information concerning any complaint received. A representative of thePolice Complaint Center will contact the complainant to verify pertinent information upon the receipt of any correspondence.Meetings with complainants are not always necessary and each case is individually reviewed by the Police Complaint Centerstaff. As an integral part of our organization,The Police Complaint Center was created by the Ombudsman General in order to focus direct attention on this ever increasing phenomenon. All correspondence regarding this matter should be addressed to the attention of The Police Complaint Center. Your Support
Did You Know...
that an ombudsman, "OM buhdz MUHN," is a nonpartisan public official who investigates people's complaints about government officials or agencies. Most of an ombudsman's work involves complaints of unjust or harsh treatment of people by police, prosecuting attorneys, or judges, and such matters as housing, taxation, voting, or welfare payments. After investigating a complaint, the ombudsman may dismiss it or may seek correction of the problem-by persuasion, by publicity, or, occasionally, by recommending prosecution.
Ombudsman, an Old Norse word translated to mean "administration-man" or "king's representative" was a concept developed in the Swedish constitution in 1809 as a means to curb governmental abuses and protect citizen's rights. This later evolved into the investigation of unlawful or unfair acts and complaints about services. The Ombudsman then determines wrongdoing, mediates and/or makes recommendations for changes in practices and policies. Nearly 200 years later, this is the primary function of most Ombudsmen. The definition of Ombudsman has also undergone a change. It is more readily translated to mean work "On behalf of Mankind". Now, Ombudsmen can be found around the world in government, educational institutions, business and even in industry.
The idea of the ombudsman originated in Sweden in 1809. It has spread to Japan and to several European, Commonwealth, and newly independent countries. Hawaii has a comprehensive ombudsman plan, and other states and some United States cities have modified plans. The idea also has gained popularity in large organizations, including corporations and universities. The ombudsman's growing popularity coincides with the increasing complexities of administration and with people's need for impartial and informal handling of complaints.Contributor:David R. Berman, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, Arizona State University.
WHAT DO WE DO?
Ombudsman International takes complaints regarding public officials and/or public corruption by civil servants. In that regard, we contract a private investigator to investigate the complaint. Should the complaint be found to be true, we will forward the complaint and fact finding data to the Attorney General and/or other law enforcement agencies.
Our organization is not a political organization yet we do reserve the right to investigate claims of corruption, especially when the lives of our young people, the future of tomorrow, are jeopardized. It is our right and it is our duty, to investigate, report, and disseminate any findings of corruption. Merely taking complaints, investigating complaints, and making those complaints public does not denote political involvement. Our organization is neither pro nor con, neither the Republican nor the Democratic Party. We are not supportive of corruption! Our organization has found that the underlying root to saving our children from the dead-end prison system is predicated on the truth as well as the word of God.
We also attend symposiums throughout the United States of America. These symposiums are specifically about issues relating to youth gangs, drugs, juvenile imprisonment, and prison reform. State agencies, non-profit organizations, as well as churches sponsor these events. Attending such activities is very essential to our organization as it allows us the opportunity to participate in the dissemination of our materials as well as to come together with the others who are working in the area of crime prevention.
Another activity in which we participate is the prison/jail visitation program. We are permitted to visit on a one-on-one basis with the prisoner. In most cases, the prisoner would not receive a visit from anyone. We use this opportunity to fellowship with the prisoners. There is no reimbursement for any expenses (travel/meals) incurred by the volunteer when they visit a prisoner. In addition we are "listeners" when parents of incarcerated youth come to the office to pick up information, vent, find resources, as well as to communicate their concerns regarding their loved ones.
The office is also a distribution center for the many pamphlets, brochures and other printed material such as articles written by actual prisoners that we distribute without charge.
We, Ombudsman International, are completely for the benefit of the public/taxpayers. We are religious in nature because we put God first in everything that we do. We help people who need our help. We fight for people who otherwise lay down and do not fight for themselves. When we visit prisons, we put God first. When we speak out at symposiums, we put God first. In the middle of the night, when we answer calls made by mothers whose children, specifically their sons, are shot dead in the streets and they have no direction as to how to get their many questions answered from the local police departments, we answer their calls and put God first.
While helpful, it is not necessary to make a financial contribution in order to be a supporter and remain on our mailing list. Even so, if you do not want to receive any other information or materials in the future, please tell us so.
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM OMBUDSMAN INTERNATIONAL?
Our Nation's Youth
Community
Parents
Schools
Law Enforcement
Police abuse in America: In the early hours of March 3, 1991, a police chase in L.A. ended in an incident that would become synonymous with police abuse: the beating of a young man named Rodney King by members of the Los Angeles Police Department. An amateur video, televised nationwide, showed King lying on the ground while three officers kicked him and struck him repeatedly with their nightsticks. No one who viewed that beating will ever forget its viciousness.
The Rodney King incident projected the brutal reality of police abuse into living rooms across the nation, and for a while, the problem was front page news. Political leaders condemned police use of excessive force and appointed special commissions to investigate incidents of brutality. The media covered the issue extensively, calling particular attention to the fact that police abuse was not evenly distributed throughout American society, but disproportionately victimized people of color.
But fifteen years later, police abuse is still very much an American problem, as the following examples demonstrate:
2004 - On Long Island, David Glowzenski died after a confrontation in which an officer stunned him nine times with a TASER, and he wasn't on drugs or alcohol, Andrews notes. "He committed no crime; he didn't do anything wrong," Jean Griffin, his sister says.
Oct. 24, 2004- Milwaukee, WI - Frank Jude Jr. suffered a brutal beating on a street in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood. Surrounded by a dozen men, some of whom were off duty police officers, he was kicked repeatedly in the head, stripped naked and threatened with a knife, his attorney said.
"There's no question crimes were committed," District Attorney E. Michael McCann said. "This is not the usual type of case. Instead of police cooperating with you, you have a number of police who are intent on obstructing the inquiry."
On April 14, 2006 a jury returned not guilty verdicts on most charges against fired police officers Jon Bartlett, 34, Daniel Masarik, 26, and Andrew Spengler, 26, in the beating of Frank Jude Jr. On one charge, against Bartlett, the jury reached no verdict and prosecutors say they will retry him.
Oct. 8, 2005- NEW ORLEANS - Two fired New Orleans police officers and one current officer were indicted Wednesday in the videotaped beating of a retired teacher in the French Quarter last fall.
The Oct. 8 beating of Robert Davis, 64, was caught on videotape by an Associated Press Television News crew covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Robert Evangelist, 36, was charged with false imprisonment while armed with a dangerous weapon and second-degree battery; Lance Schilling, 29, was charged with second-degree battery; and Stewart Smith, 50, was charged with simple battery, according to a statement from District Attorney Eddie Jordan.
The fact that police abuse remains a significant problem does not mean there has been no progress. In communities all across the United States people have organized to bring about change. Organizations such as Ombudsman International have come to the forefront of the fight for victim's rights and for the end of police abuse.
Bishop L.J. Guillory, The Ombudsman General, Stephen C. Delgado, Special Agent in Charge (SAC), DEA, LADO, and Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy C. Baca announced the successful completion of a MET Operation LADO MET II concluded its deployment with the LASD in the city of Compton, CA, with exemplary results. At a press conference held at the LASD Compton Station, Gen. Guillory, SAC Delgado and Sheriff Baca were joined by Patricia Donahue, Chief, Organized Crime and Terrorism Section, U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO), Head Deputy District Attorney Stephen R. Kay, Compton Branch, Captain Stephen B. Johnson, LASD Narcotics Bureau, Group Supervisor Eric Harden, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), and Captain Eric Hamilton, LASD Compton Station. The 6-month deployment resulted in 84 arrests of violent felons and or gang members. An unusually high number of armed violators were encountered by the arresting agents. MET II and the LASD made the following seizures: over 25 lbs. of methamphetamine,clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, over 4 lbs. of heroin, 8 lbs. of cocaine, 1 lb. of crack cocaine, 20 lbs. of marijuana, a record 22 firearms, $54,827 U.S. Currency and 6 vehicles.
Police corruption is a complex phenomenon, which does not readily submit to simple analysis. Police corruption is a problem that has and will continue to affect us all, whether we are civilians or law enforcement officers. Police corruption is a specific form of police mistreatment that sometimes involves political corruption, and generally designed to gain a financial or political benefit for a police officer or officers in exchange for not pursuing, or selectively pursuing, an investigation or arrest. An example ofpolice corruption is police officers accepting bribes in exchange for not reporting organized drug or prostitution rings or other illegal activities. Police corruption has increased dramatically with the illegal cocaine trade, with officers acting alone or in-groups to steal money from dealers or distribute cocaine themselves. Large groups of officers involved in police corruption have been caught in New Orleans andWashington, DC. Although improvements have been made to control Police corruption, numerous opportunities exist for deviant, corrupt practices. The opportunity to acquire power in excess of that which is legally permitted or to misuse power is always available. Police corruption can involve a single officer or group of officers, or can be the standard practice of entire police precincts or departments. In most major cities there are internal affairs sections to investigate suspected police corruption or misconduct. However, sometimes an external body with far reaching powers, such as Ombudsman International, is required to investigate widespread police corruption.
Information about the Independent Police Complaint Commission:The Independent Police Complaint Commission of Ombudsman International uses our authority and powers unflinchingly to help those who suffer injustice because of an abuse of police powers to obtain redress. The Independent Police Complaint Commission activities support policing by consent and help to sustain justice. Equally, those against whom allegations have been made can be sure that the Independent police complaint commission will be impartial and our activities timely and fair. The philosophy of the independent police complaint commission is that ‘justice must be sure and proportionate.’Our Independence is proven by:• Our resolve under pressure. • The people we appoint. • The work we undertake. • Scrupulously avoiding conflicts of interest. • The communications we make. Valuing Diversity:• We know that gaining the benefits of diversity is not easy.
• However we are open to the experience, insights and skills of people of different race, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexuality, disability, and other backgrounds from both inside the independent police complaint commission and from external partners.Openness: • We seek maximum disclosure and regular communications with all parties during the course of a complaint.• The independent police complaint commission communicates information about its work and performance widely. • We carefully define where we need to maintain confidentiality or secrecy for operational reasons so that we can protect individuals and retain the confidence of other agencies.• We learn lessons from what we do and take responsibility for the decisions ofthe independent police complaint commission.
Information about the Independent Police Complaint Commission:The Independent Police Complaint Commission of Ombudsman International uses our authority and powers unflinchingly to help those who suffer injustice because of an abuse of police powers to obtain redress. The Independent Police Complaint Commission activities support policing by consent and help to sustain justice. Equally, those against whom allegations have been made can be sure that the Independent police complaint commission will be impartial and our activities timely and fair. The philosophy of the independent police complaint commission is that ‘justice must be sure and proportionate.’Our Independence is proven by:• Our resolve under pressure. • The people we appoint. • The work we undertake. • Scrupulously avoiding conflicts of interest. • The communications we make. Valuing Diversity:• We know that gaining the benefits of diversity is not easy.
• However we are open to the experience, insights and skills of people of different race, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexuality, disability, and other backgrounds from both inside the independent police complaint commission and from external partners.Openness: • We seek maximum disclosure and regular communications with all parties during the course of a complaint.• The independent police complaint commission communicates information about its work and performance widely. • We carefully define where we need to maintain confidentiality or secrecy for operational reasons so that we can protect individuals and retain the confidence of other agencies.• We learn lessons from what we do and take responsibility for the decisions of the independent police complaint commission.
Police corruption is a complex phenomenon, which does not readily submit to simple analysis. Police corruption is a problem that has and will continue to affect us all, whether we are civilians or law enforcement officers. Police corruption is a specific form of police mistreatment that sometimes involves political corruption, and generally designed to gain a financial or political benefit for a police officer or officers in exchange for not pursuing, or selectively pursuing, an investigation or arrest. An example of police corruption is police officers accepting bribes in exchange for not reporting organized drug or prostitution rings or other illegal activities. Police corruption has increased dramatically with the illegal cocaine trade, with officers acting alone or in-groups to steal money from dealers or distribute cocaine themselves. Large groups of officers involved in police corruption have been caught in New Orleans and Washington, DC. Although improvements have been made to control Police corruption, numerous opportunities exist for deviant, corrupt practices. The opportunity to acquire power in excess of that which is legally permitted or to misuse power is always available. Police corruption can involve a single officer or group of officers, or can be the standard practice of entire police precincts or departments. In most major cities there are internal affairs sections to investigate suspected police corruption or misconduct. However, sometimes an external body with far reaching powers, such as Ombudsman International, is required to investigate widespread police corruption.