This bill mandates that county prosecutors are responsible for initiating internal affairs investigations for municipal, county, and higher education law enforcement agencies. It stipulates that any complaints of officer misconduct received by these agencies must be immediately transferred to the county prosecutor for investigation. Additionally, if a petition for a temporary extreme risk protective order is filed against a law enforcement officer, the petition must be transferred to the county prosecutor, who will then initiate an internal affairs investigation. The prosecutor retains the authority to determine whether the matter should be referred to the courts.

The bill also includes provisions to ensure that law enforcement agencies adopt guidelines consistent with the "Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures" and mandates that they do not supersede existing contractual agreements. The law enforcement officer's employer is required to take appropriate actions based on the findings of the internal affairs investigation, and the officer cannot be terminated during the investigation process. This legislation aims to enhance accountability and transparency within law enforcement agencies in New Jersey.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:58-23, 40A:14-181