State police findings demand greater transparency

Failing to investigate crimes. Driving while intoxicated. Improper searches. Violating protective orders. These are a few of the misdeeds, some of them criminal in nature, that Connecticut State Police officers have been found to have taken part in over recent years. Most of the complaints, however, had long been hidden from public view. Thanks to reforms that have allowed for greater transparency, those complaints are now available to the public.

This is how it should be. Actions taken by those on the public payroll, including police officers, should always be open. The people pay their salaries, and their job is to act on our behalf. Even if the results are embarrassing or, in some cases, criminal in nature, it is always the right choice to let the public know what is happening. It’s the basis of our Freedom of Information laws and at the heart of a free press.

All told, some 900 complaints alleging misconduct by officers and civilian employees between 2015 and 2020 were reported, according to the state police Internal Affairs Unit, which is charged with investigating the allegations. Of those, more than a third were considered serious, and many led to a conclusion that an officer or officers had violated department rules.

At a time of increased debate over spending on police and public safety, it is vital that all information be available to policy makers. The people who break rules are not the majority of officers, but it is common enough that such disclosures must be a part of the decision-making process on future funding.

The findings also raise the question of accountability. The problem of police investigating themselves has long been a problem in terms of the ability to bring real consequences on people who break the rules. Independence is a necessary requirement for any legitimate investigation, but is too often missing in police misconduct cases.

That’s why the police accountability law, which passed in Connecticut in the wake of the protests over George Floyd’s death, is so important. In cases where an officer is accused of using excessive force, an outside investigator will now handle the probe rather than someone inside the system. That’s key to establishing independence and giving the public some reason to believe an honest investigation has been undertaken.

The records examined over state police misconduct do not often rise to that level. However, there are many serious allegations detailed, incidents that include lying, filing false reports, theft, throwing away evidence and injuring suspects, among other things. All of them can be categorized as events that should have been known to the public, and should not have taken changes to transparency laws to become known.

Especially as we learn more about punishment for the detailed offenses, which were often lacking, it becomes clear how much more needs to be done. Trust isn’t built behind closed doors, but can only be developed over time through an open process.

State police are burdened with an enormous responsibility, but that doesn’t include the right to break rules behind closed doors. To ensure the public’s support, it’s vital that openness take precedence. Let the people know what is happening.

Especially as we learn more about punishment for the detailed offenses, which were often lacking, it becomes clear how much more needs to be done.