The Staff Inspection

My February 17, 2005, post discussed the criminal investigations, administrative investigations, internal affairs investigations, or special inspections that follow an extreme incident such as an officer-involved shooting. However, competent law enforcement administrators realize that prevention is always preferable to remediation. In other words, find and correct a potential problem before the organic fertilizer hits the spinning impeller.

The usual preventive method is the staff inspection. The December 2004 issue of The Police Chief magazine, published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), included an article entitled Staff Inspection: A Strong Administrative Tool. The article was authored by John Fuller, Curriculum Writer, Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission.

In the introductory paragraphs, Mr. Fuller identifies the staff inspection as a "proactive practice" that can head off problems "...before the problems generate negative media attention and community criticism."

Mr. Fuller goes on to discuss the benefits of staff inspections, the types of inspections, the selection and training of inspectors, the inspection process, the conduct of staff interviews, the inspection report, and a determination of what to inspect.

The linked article ought to be read not only by law enforcement administrators and supervisors but also by the public at large. The article is a thumbnail sketch of what the public should expect from its law enforcement administrators and supervisors.