GARWOOD
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Honor, Integrity, Service
An Accredited Law Enforcement Agency
403 South Avenue, Garwood, NJ 07027
908-789-1500
Internal Affairs Unit
The Internal Affairs Unit is responsible for the maintaining the high quality of law enforcement services that The Garwood Police Department offers. Improving the relationship between employees and the public facilitates cooperation vital to the department's ability to achieve its goals. This department is committed to providing law enforcement services that are fair, effective, and impartially delivered. Employees are held to the highest standards of conduct and are expected to respect the rights of all citizens. This department must be responsive to the community by providing formal procedures for the processing of complaints regarding individual employee performance. An effective disciplinary framework permits department personnel to monitor employee compliance with department directives, assist employees in meeting department objectives, enhance performance, and permit managers to identify problem areas, which require increased training or direction.
Finally, the Internal Affairs Unit shall ensure fundamental fairness and due process protection to
citizens and employees alike.
All allegations of officer misconduct or wrongdoing shall be thoroughly and objectively investigated to their logical conclusion.
All department members are directed to accept reports of employee misconduct from all persons who wish to file a complaint regardless of the hour or day of the week.
This includes reports from anonymous sources, juveniles, undocumented immigrants, third-person parties and persons under arrest or in custody.
A person may file a report in person, over the telephone, through traditional mail or any form of electronic media.
Juveniles wishing to file a complaint are not required to have a parent or guardian present, however notification shall be made to the parent/guardian after the complaint is received.
A person may file a complaint regardless of their immigration status or citizenship. A person shall be encouraged to submit their complaints in person as soon after the incident as possible. If the complainant cannot file the report in person, a supervisory member or sworn member shall accept the complaint and forward the completed report to the Internal Affairs Unit.
Internal Affairs Commander: Captain P. J. Lewis, p-lewis@garwood.org.
Attorney General Internal Affairs Policy: https://www.njoag.gov/iapp
