IA Investigations of Off-Duty Conduct

Law enforcement leaders and internal affairs investigators are regularly tasked with investigating allegations of misconduct stemming from “off the clock” officer conduct.  These investigations can prove particularly difficult as they often require investigators to examine highly personal aspects of the private lives of fellow members of the department to determine whether off-duty conduct has interfered with their on-duty responsibilities.

Furthermore, officers often contend that their private lives are never relevant to their professional obligations.  But the essential role of IA investigations in protecting the integrity of agency operations and maintain the public trust does not end with on-duty conduct.  And a litany of court decisions clearly indicate that off-duty misconduct can lawfully provide the grounds for police discipline—up to and including termination.

In this two-hour webinar, Attorney Matt Dolan will examine the legal and practical challenges associated with IA investigations of off-duty conduct and provide guidance for determining when an officer’s private conduct becomes a legitimate agency concern.

Topics covered include:

• Conduct Unbecoming an Officer policy violations—back to basics
• Consistently applying policy standards in the face of case-specific circumstances
• Examining any potential nexus between off-duty conduct to on-duty job responsibilities
• Investigating social media activity considering its impact on agency operations
• Avoiding the unlawful infringement of officers’ First Amendment rights