Police Misconduct Effects Criminal Justice Negatively

The United States Department of Justice considers police misconduct very seriously. Not only is it considered a civil offense, but in many cases it is also considered a criminal offense. Any person under uniform of the law is required to uphold the law and maintain order in a civil and legal manner. By acting or not acting a way the law describes constitutes a variety of disciplinary actions, including but not limited to monetary fines, suspension, employment termination, and incarceration. (U.S. Dept. of Justice, 2000) 

There are many different laws that are broken on an everyday basis within the police force. One is depriving a citizen of their rights. By restraining a person who does not need restraining or beating a person who is unarmed and cooperating during an arrest, a criminal complaint is filed and an investigation takes place. Under some circumstances, the officer or officers will receive suspension with pay, and other times suspension without pay until the investigation is complete.
Police misconduct harms a community. When people see police acting "out of line" they become untrusting of the police and even afraid of them. How can police keep the crime rate down and enforce the law when they do not uphold the law themselves, whether on or off the time clock. Being a representative of the Department of Justice, an officer of the law is required to act responsibly at all times. 

If an officer is not working but is arrested for driving while under the influence, a community will not take that officer seriously, especially if it becomes a repeated offense. Who is to say that officer will not go to work the next morning with a hangover unable to do his job, and the community also does not know if that officer is drinking while he is working as well.