Senior Staff Investigator

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) is an independent agency composed of staff dedicated to professional, unbiased, and thoughtful oversight of the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD). CPOC works to:

• Increase the transparency and accountability of the PPD
• Improve police conduct
• Enhance the quality of internal investigations
• Improve the relationship between the community and the police department

Civilian oversight of police can take many forms. Review-focused models allow civilians outside of a police department to review police misconduct investigations once they are completed. Investigation-focused agencies employ professionally trained investigators to investigate police misconduct complaints. Auditor/monitor-focused agencies engage in policy and trend analysis and promote broad organizational change within the police departments they oversee. CPOC is uniquely envisioned to be a hybrid of these three models of oversight, with expansive authority and a broad mission. 

The authorizing legislation for CPOC comprehensively lists the oversight functions that CPOC is meant to fulfill. The legislation notes that CPOC may conduct investigations, data analysis, and audits related to any pattern, policy, or practice of the police department. These investigations shall include, but are not limited to, misconduct, policy, training, practice, and customs.

Additional functions mandated in the legislation include investigations of complaints made by residents or PPD personnel about any misconduct ranging from verbal abuse to sexual misconduct, critical incident reviews and investigations, large-scale data reviews, disciplinary recommendations, hosting public meetings and hearings to share information with the public, participation as adjudicators in PPD discipline hearings, administrative prosecution of discipline cases, reporting on data and statistics, and reviewing and investigating all police uses of force, among other functions. CPOC is a growing agency still in its infancy, and is working to operationalize all of these important functions of civilian oversight of police.

CPOC approaches police accountability from many different angles, and as such, has a variety of divisions to focus on different aspects of police oversight. Each division is led by a division director who oversees the functions of their division.

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Staff Investigator for the Citizens Police Oversight Commission will assess and investigate alleged and potential misconduct by officers of the Philadelphia Police Department. The Senior Staff Investigator will conduct independent investigations into allegations of misconduct, monitor ongoing investigations by the Philadelphia Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division, monitor and investigate police shootings, aid in CPOC’s participation in the Philadelphia Police Department’s Use of Force Review Board, and investigate systemic patterns related to departmental practices. Because the Senior Staff Investigator position is responsible for being on-call to respond to police shootings, and because many interviews and other investigative activities will occur outside typical business hours, the Senior Staff Investigator must be willing and able to work evenings and weekends as required. The Senior Staff Investigator may also undertake large-scale investigative projects originating from civilian complaints, officer-involved shooting incidents, media reports, sources within the police department, or any other source. Investigations may overlap with projects completed by other divisions, so the Senior Staff Investig