Uncertain about the Commission's knowledge on this matter.
News Article: Police Misconduct Investigations Across the United States and a German Parliamentary Inquiry
Police misconduct investigations and oversight mechanisms vary significantly across the United States, while in Germany, a parliamentary inquiry is underway to examine misconduct within the police.
In the United States
The California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission continues active investigations and certification actions involving serious misconduct allegations. Cases such as dishonesty, abuse of power, excessive force, and violations of law have resulted in agency discharge and separation pending investigation or criminal proceedings. These disciplinary actions or pending criminal proceedings span from 2023 to August 2025 [1].
In Texas, legislative efforts regarding police misconduct records are underway but unresolved. Senate Bill 14 aims to create confidential files for peace officers that include both substantiated and unsubstantiated complaints. However, concerns about transparency, accountability, and civil rights have led to opposition, leaving the bill's future uncertain [2].
New Castle County, Delaware, operates a Police Accountability Board that reviews misconduct complaints and makes policy recommendations. The board, which has been active since 2024, holds regular public meetings, conducts community outreach, and advises on reform measures [3].
The San Francisco Police Department publishes multiple reports on staffing levels and internal affairs misconduct, with available public summaries of investigations dating back to 2020 [4].
In Germany
An ongoing parliamentary inquiry in Stuttgart is investigating misconduct within the police, specifically sexual harassment, promotion practices, and the forwarding of a lawyer's letter by Interior Minister Thomas Strobl. The investigation, which has been ongoing for around three years, was triggered by the case involving the suspended inspector of police, a highest-ranking police officer who was accused of sexually harassing a commissioner [5].
Interior Minister Strobl has claimed memory lapses regarding the investigative committee, stating that the incidents being investigated are too far in the past for him to recall individual details. So far, 57 witnesses have been questioned in the investigative committee [5].
The committee's focus also extends to examining how the suspended inspector of police came to his post. The investigations have been conducted in the state parliament in Stuttgart, with Strobl being questioned for hours by members of parliament in two sessions in the fall of 2022 [5].
This shows that police misconduct investigations and accountability efforts vary widely by state and locality, with a mix of ongoing disciplinary actions, legislative attempts at record handling reforms, local oversight boards, and public reporting.
References
- California POST Commission, News and Updates
- The Texas Tribune, Bill Aims to Protect Peace Officers' Misconduct Records
- City of New Castle, Police Accountability Board
- San Francisco Police Department, Internal Affairs
- Deutsche Welle, German interior minister under fire for memory lapses
In the United States, the California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission actively investigates and takes disciplinary actions against officers involved in serious misconduct, such as dishonesty, power abuse, excessive force, and law violations. On the other hand, in Germany, a parliamentary inquiry in Stuttgart is examining misconduct within the police, focusing on sexual harassment, promotion practices, and ministerial actions.
The ongoing parliamentary inquiry in Germany began around three years ago, investigating multiple allegations against a high-ranking officer. Meanwhile, in the United States, legislative efforts regarding police misconduct records in Texas are ongoing but remain unresolved.
