Ocean Township Police Department
Office of Professional Standards
Internal Affairs
What is the function of the Office of Professional Standards (Internal Affairs)?
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 Ocean Township 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?
The Office of Professional Standards reports directly to the Chief of Police.
How do I file a complaint against an Officer or Employee of the Police Division?
Complaints will be accepted in person, by telephone, or by letter or email.
- Usually a Supervisor or member of the Office of Professional Standards will take the complaint but any Police Officer can accept a complaint.
- The complaint will be forwarded to the Office of Professional Standards for investigation.
The complaint will be investigated by the Office of Professional Standards or it will be forwarded to the appropriate Supervisor for investigation.
All complaints of officer misconduct shall be accepted from any persons who wish to file a complaint regardless of the hour or day of the week. This includes reports from anonymous sources, juveniles, and persons under arrest or in custody. In the event you wish to file a complaint with the Office of Professional Standards we encourage you to do so as soon possible.
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.
Do any other agencies investigate complaints made against Department members?
Yes, The Ocean County Prosecutors Office conducts a review of any complaint that alleges that a crime was committed.
What rights do Police Officers have during an investigation?
Police Officers are protected by the Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights and their labor contract.
Internal investigations remain confidential until they are concluded. By law, no person involved in the investigation, to include the complainant, witnesses, investigated members, or the Investigators may disclose any information regarding the investigation until it is concluded.
Is there any risk in making a complaint against a member?
No. But if a person deliberately makes a false complaint and statement against a member, that person may be criminally prosecuted or held civilly liable.
N.J.S. 2C:28-3 Unsworn Falsification to Authorities states, ” A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if he makes a written false statement which he does not believe to be true, on or pursuant to a form bearing notice, authorized by law, to the affect that false statements made therein are punishable.” Those who provide false information to members of the Office of Professional Standards will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
What happens when the investigation is concluded?
Once accepted, your complaint form will be forwarded to the Office of Professional Standards for review and investigation. Once the investigation is complete, you will be advised of the outcome in written form. Complaints from the public, whether substantiated or not, increase the awareness of the leadership of this agency to actual or potential problems, as well as the perceptions of the community. This feedback will ultimately assist in determining whether the mission statement and goals of this agency are being attained.
Agency Compliance with New Jersey Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-3
It is the police of this department to implement and utilize Guardian Tracking Software as an early warning system for tracking and reviewing incidents of risk and provide timely intervention consistent with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-3. As required by the NJ Attorney general Directive, all agencies adopting an Early Warning System shall make their respective policy public. Please see the link below for compliance with this portion of the directive.
S.O.P. Personnel Performance Management and Early Warning System
NJ AG Directive 2018-03
S.O.P. Law Enforcement Drug Testing
2018 Office of Professional Standards Year End Summary Report
2019 Office of Professional Standards Year End Summary Report
2020 Office of Professional Standards Year End Summary Report
2020 Major Discipline Report
2021 Office of Professional Standards Year End Summary Report
2021 Major Discipline Report
2022 Office of Professional Standards Year End Summary Report
2022 Major Discipline Report
2023 Office of Professional Standards Year End Summary Report
2023 Major Discipline Report
IAPP Appendix A: Civilian Complaint Information Sheet
Arabic – Civilian Complaint Information Sheet
Chinese – Civilian Complaint Information Sheet
English – Civilian Complaint Information Sheet
Haitian – Civilian Complaint Information Sheet
Hindi – Civilian Complaint Information Sheet
Korean – Civilian Complaint Information Sheet
Polish – Civilian Complaint Information Sheet
Portuguese – Civilian Complaint Information Sheet
Spanish – Civilian Complaint Information Sheet
Tagalog – Civilian Complaint Information Sheet
Vietnamese – Civilian Complaint Information Sheet
IAPP Appendix B: Internal Affairs Report Form
Arabic – Internal Affairs Report Form
Chinese – Internal Affairs Report Form
English – Internal Affairs Report Form
Haitian – Internal Affairs Report Form
Hindi – Internal Affairs Report Form
Korean – Internal Affairs Report Form
Polish – Internal Affairs Report Form
Portuguese – Internal Affairs Report Form
Spanish – Internal Affairs Report Form
Tagalog – Internal Affairs Report Form
Vietnamese – Internal Affairs Report Form
Any citizen wishing to contact the Office of Professional Standards or wishing to file a complaint may do so by completing a complaint form from above and submitting it in person at the Ocean Township Police Department (50 Railroad Ave. in Waretown, NJ 08758) 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.; or by fax at 609-693-8392; or by e-mailing the Professional Standards Unit at GThompson@twpoceannj.gov; or by contacting Lt. George M. Thompson by telephone at 609-693-4007 ext. 295.
