Division Contact

Sergeant John Divine
Professional Standards Unit
(707) 428-7339
Email

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Professional Standards Unit

What is the function of the Office of Professional Standards?
The Office of Professional Standards is responsible for receiving, processing, and supervising internal affairs investigations that involve allegations of criminal conduct and acts of misconduct made against members of the Police Division. The Office of Professional Standards ensures that allegations made against members of the Fairfield Police Department are thoroughly and objectively investigated to their logical conclusion. The Office of Professional Standards maintains a comprehensive index of all complaints received against all members. This information is submitted to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office on an annual basis.

What does the Office of Professional Standards do?

The Office of Professional Standards has the responsibility to investigate all allegations of misconduct by members of the Department, and to review and adjudicate all minor complaints which are handled by supervisors.

In addition, the Office of Professional Standards will review all firearms discharges by this agency personnel that are not related to training, all use of force incidents, all vehicular pursuits undertaken by department personnel and all collisions involving department vehicles.

To whom does the Office of Professional Standards report?

How are complaints investigated?

Your Complaint will be sent to a superior officer or a specially trained internal affairs investigator who will conduct a thorough and objective investigation. If the complaint alleges minor violations of departmental policies or procedures or the complaint alleges acts of discourtesy, the complaint will be forwarded through the chain of command to the member’s immediate supervisor for an investigation.
You might be asked to help in the investigation by giving a detailed statement about what happened or providing other important information.
All complaints against law enforcement officers are thoroughly investigated. You will be advised in writing of the outcome.
If our investigation shows that a crime might have been committed, the county prosecutor will be notified. You might be asked to testify in court.
If our investigation results in an officer being charged with a violation of department rules or regulations, you might be asked to testify in a departmental hearing.
If our investigation shows that the complaint is unfounded or that the officer acted properly, the matter will be closed.
All disciplinary hearings shall be closed to the public unless the defendant officer requests an open hearing.

To learn more about community policing, click here for a recent report on the topic by the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office, which provides a national overview of recommendations about community policing.