What is the role of an administrative investigation in relation to officer cooperation?

An administrative investigation serves a crucial role in obtaining information relevant to an inquiry or assessment concerning the conduct of officers. When an administrative investigation is conducted within a law enforcement agency, it enables the organization to hold officers accountable and ensure adherence to department policies and procedures. In this context, officers can indeed be ordered to cooperate with the investigation. This is an essential aspect of ensuring that the investigation is thorough and adequate, as cooperation from involved personnel is vital for collecting accurate and comprehensive information.

In many law enforcement agencies, officers are subject to departmental policies that allow management to require their participation in investigations. This mandate promotes accountability and helps maintain the integrity of the organization, making it a key reason why the ability to order cooperation is a fundamental aspect of administrative investigations.

In contrast, while some may argue for the permissibility of voluntary cooperation, administrative processes specifically grant the authority to compel participation to ensure that all necessary information is obtained. Additionally, while it may seem logical that investigators should be from the same department to understand context, there are situations where external investigators are brought in for impartiality, meaning that the requirement for shared departmental affiliation is not universally applicable.