Hold Supervisors Accountable

How could this shocking incident have happened in a police department that enjoys such an outstanding reputation?

There apparently was a breakdown in control. Police officers operate without direct supervision. If department policies are to be implemented, they must be accepted universally. When one member violates a rule, others must intervene to enforce it. That did not occur.

Large, decentralized police departments are complex organizations, difficult to administer. Accountability is an indispensable tool for the chief. It must be exacted, fairly but firmly, from assistant chief to sergeant and even at the officer level.

If the evidence supports criminal convictions, the guilty must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Supervisors and commanders who have failed to establish a proper standard of discipline must be held accountable.