I’ve been a sex crimes investigator for several years now in a large metropolitan area now that has a civilian oversight committee. I have personally arrested law enforcement officers and high ranking military members for sex crimes more often than most people would think.

I had one police lieutenant of a neighborhood agency come in for an interview in his uniform and confess to sex crimes against his three grandchildren. After the interview, he said “thanks for letting me get this off my chest” and got up to leave. He actually thought he wasn’t going to be held accountable. I informed him that he was being charged and I arrested him. He tried to resist and it took three of us to get him into custody. He screamed the entire time that we were traitors.

I took him straight to the detention center in his uniform and handcuffs. I told him if he was so proud of his profession everyone at the jail could know.

In my experience this is the issue: there is no Federal standard for law enforcement oversight and training throughout the USA. The onus is on each state to come up with guidelines for oversight and training standards, and each jurisdiction to decide how they monitor these both. It’s such an archaic system because without a set standard for training and oversight, each agency is left to its own devices.

Some mid-size to larger agencies do well IF there is proper funding for public safety, proper vetting for potential hires, proper training for recruits, and proper oversight for all sworn personnel. Without all of these working together the police department will self-police and that’s never a good idea. I have kids and I wouldn’t let them make the decision to drive a car and handle dangerous weapons, and THEN let them decide their punishment if they run someone over and shoot someone. It doesn’t make sense and it’s not too for anyone. Until we decide to have a set standard for hiring, training and oversight there will continue to be issues with police agencies— even the most well-meaning ones.