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AB 11 Internal Affairs and Criminal Investigations

Version 6.1 by Spencer Dobson on 2022/12/19 20:24

Washington County Sheriff's Office

SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION

Policy Manual

Volume: AB Services and Programs

Chapter: 11 Internal Affairs and Criminal Investigations

Replaces and/or Supersedes: AB 11 05/03/2021

Approved: 12/19/2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AB 11_101  Definitions

AB 11_102  General

AB 11_103  Staff Responsibilities

AB 11_101  DEFINITIONS

  1. WCSO:  Washington County Sheriff's Office
  2. PCF:  Purgatory Correctional Facility

AB 11_102  GENERAL

  1. Policy:
    1. Internal investigations on WCSO employees should be conducted only with authorization from the Sheriff, or the Sheriff's designee, and when necessary, with the direction of the County Attorney's Office.
    2. Criminal investigations on WCSO employees should be referred to an external (non-WCSO) agency by the Sheriff or the Sheriff's designee.
    3. A separate internal investigation by the WCSO should be conducted while an external investigation is still ongoing. Internal investigators shall not interfere with the external investigation and shall not share Garrity-protected information with external investigators.
  2. Rationale:
    1. An investigation of an employee's suspected criminal actions will provide information necessary for the WCSO to prepare for potential litigation.
    2. An external investigation of an employee's suspected criminal actions may be considered more credible.
    3. The interference or sharing of information by internal investigators could compromise the integrity of an external investigation.

AB 11_103  STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Policy:
    1. Staff on leave will remain available for contact via telephone and in-person Monday-Friday, 0800 hours to 1700 hours without prior approval for being unavailable.
    2. Staff on leave while under investigation will not contact, relay information to, or discuss the ongoing investigation with other staff members or members of the public.
    3. Staff members will not attempt to contact, relay information to, or discuss the ongoing investigation with those under investigation. If a staff member feels it necessary to make contact with an employee on leave for reasons not explicitly listed above they may contact the Sheriff or designee for approval prior to contact.
    4. Staff members will not discuss, speculate, or make assumptions about the incident leading up to the investigation, the current status of, or the potential outcome of investigations.
    5. Staff members under investigation are expected to comply fully and truthfully with the investigation.
  2. Rationale:
    1. Any attempt by an employee to discuss an ongoing or completed investigation of themselves or another could hinder the ability of the investigation to determine the truth. Such impedance could be a violation of Standards of Conduct AB 05_104 ABUSE OF POSITION, AB 05_105  CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AB 05_107 DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION, AB 05_110 HONESTY AND LAWFULNESS, and AB 05_114  INTERACTION AND COMMUNICATION as well as a potential criminal action depending on the information distributed.
    2. Failure to fully and honestly comply with an investigation is a direct violation of Standard of Conduct AB 05_110 HONESTY AND LAWFULNESS, and will result in disciplinary action.