The purpose of the Internal Affairs Division is to maintain a high quality of law enforcement services. 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. 

It is the policy of the Watchung Police Department to accept and investigate all complaints of agency and employee’s alleged misconduct or wrongdoing. All persons who wish to file a complaint may do so, regardless of the hour or day of the week. This includes reports from anonymous sources, juveniles, undocumented immigrants, and persons under arrest or in custody. All allegations of employee misconduct shall be thoroughly, objectively, and promptly investigated to their logical conclusion in conformance with this policy, regardless of whether the employee resigns or otherwise separates from the agency. 

Disciplinary/corrective action in all matters will be determined based upon the merits of each case. Investigators conducting the investigation of any allegation of misconduct shall strive to conduct a thorough and objective investigation respecting the rights of the principal, any other law enforcement officer, and all members of the public. 

It is also the policy of the Watchung Police Department to implement and utilize Guardian Tracking® Software as a personnel performance management and early warning system for maintaining, retrieving, and analyzing information regarding the performance of employees. The full department policy for Early Warning is available for review by clicking this link.

It shall be the policy of the Watchung Police Department to conduct reasonable suspicion and random drug testing of applicable employees.The purpose of this policy is to deter illegal drug use, including unregulated marijuana, by law enforcement officers. The policy provides a mechanism to identify and remove those law enforcement officers engaged in the illegal use of drugs. Because illegal drug use is inconsistent with the duties, obligations and responsibilities of sworn law enforcement officers, the policy mandates that officers who test positive shall be terminated from employment. The full department policy for Drug Testing is avaible for review by clicking this link.

Supervisor:

Captain Sherif Zaiton

Phone Contact:

908-756-3663 x111

E-Mail Contact:

WPD-IA@watchungpd.com