Township of Readington, New Jersey

 

Internal Affairs

 

Public approval plays a crucial role in determining a law enforcement agency’s effectiveness. Law enforcement agencies must therefore provide formal procedures for the investigation of complaints as well as the administration of corrective options, such as discipline.

The establishment of such procedures instills confidence in the agency’s integrity which, in-turn, engenders community support. Prevention is the primary means of reducing and controlling employee misconduct. To that end, it is the policy of the Readington Township Police Department to discover and correct organizational conditions which permit misconduct to occur by accepting and investigating all complaints of alleged agency or employee misconduct from any source, even an anonymous one

The Readington Township Police Department has formal procedures in place for investigating complaints against a police officer. These procedures ensure fairness and protect the rights of both citizens and the officer(s).

If you decide to file a formal complaint, your complaint will be sent to a superior officer, or a specially trained internal affairs officer, who will conduct a thorough and objective investigation. You may be asked to help in the investigation by giving a detailed statement about what happened or providing other important information.

All complaints against police officers will be thoroughly investigated. You will be advised in writing of the outcome of the investigation.

You should be aware of the following:

  • If our investigation shows that a crime may have been committed, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office will be notified. You may be asked to testify in court.
  • If our investigation results in an officer being charged with a violation of department rules, you may be asked to testify in a departmental hearing.
  • If our investigation shows that the complaint is not sustained, 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.

You can call police headquarters to have the form mailed to you or stop by police headquarters and pick the form up. Forms can also be found on our website by clicking on "Public Documents".  Completed form can be mailed anonymously to police headquarters, if you wish. The police department address is as follows:

Readington Township Police Department
507 County Route 523
Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889

Details