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 that require law enforcement agencies to adopt guidelines consistent with the "Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures" and ensures that these guidelines do not supersede existing contractual agreements. The law enforcement officer's employer is prohibited from terminating the officer during the internal affairs investigation process. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance accountability and oversight within law enforcement agencies by centralizing the investigation process under the county prosecutor's office.

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