Clauses in police union contracts often protect officers from the consequences of their misconduct. That’s according to a new analysis from the ACLU of Connecticut.
The ACLU released copies of contracts from every police union in the state. They found dozens of provisions that weaken accountability and oversight.
Some limit police chiefs’ power to punish officers accused of wrongdoing. Others mandate the destruction of disciplinary records after a few months, or shut down misconduct investigations that aren’t completed in a specific timeframe.
One clause in a contract in Bridgeport, the state’s largest city, says police can’t be suspended without pay unless they’re charged with a felony. The ACLU says that allowed one Bridgeport officer to remain on the payroll after three misdemeanor domestic violence charges.
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