Office of Professional Standards

The Professional Standards unit is run by Detective Sergeant Daniel Altman. The Office is responsible for many duties within the Police Department. The main function of the Professional Standards Unit is to conduct and manage Internal Affairs Investigations. This unit is responsible for numerous assignments which include annual drug testing of sworn police personnel, press information officer as well as liaison to Office of Emergency Management. The Professional Standards Unit is also responsible for the execution of Special Projects. These tasks include such functions as Incident Command at major events/emergency situations and planned security for major events.

Internal Affairs

It is the policy of this agency to accept and fully and impartially investigate all complaints of alleged officer misconduct or wrongdoing from any person, including outside agencies, juveniles, persons under arrest or in custody, and anonymous sources. All complaints will be investigated, as long as the complaint contains sufficient factual information to warrant an investigation. Following a thorough and impartial examination of the available factual information, the officer shall be either exonerated or held responsible for the alleged misconduct. Discipline shall be administered according to agency policy and procedures.

It is the policy of the Police Department to accept and investigate all allegations of officer misconduct or wrongdoing from any citizen.  It is the policy of this agency that all internal affairs functions and complaints will be conducted in compliance with New Jersey Attorney General’s Internal Affairs Policy and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

In order to fulfill that policy, located here are the necessary forms and information to answer any questions that a citizen may have regarding the process.

A citizen may make a report of officer misconduct or wrongdoing by following the instructions listed below:

1. Citizens are encouraged to respond to police headquarters and speak with a supervisor about filing their complaint.
2. The complaint will be accepted regardless of the hour or day of the week.
3. Citizens will be asked to complete an Internal Affairs Complaint Form, which will include as much descriptive information about the complaint that the citizen can provide. It is not mandatory that the report be completed, but it will assist in a complete and thorough investigation by the Internal Affairs Office. Click HERE for the form.
4. If the citizen cannot make the complaint in person, a representative from the police department will be assigned to visit the individual at his/her home, place of business or another location to complete the report (this may not always be the case in very minor offense complaints).
5. While it is discouraged, citizens may make the report anonymously. When this occurs, it makes it very difficult for the Internal Affairs Investigator to ask follow up questions or obtain further information. This may result in your complaint not being thoroughly investigated.
6. After a complaint is received by the department, it will be forwarded to the Office of Professional Standards for investigation.
7. If the citizen is uncomfortable reporting the complaint to the Beachwood Police Department, they may report their complaint to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office; Office of Professional Standards. The Prosecutor’s Office can be reached at 732-929-2027.
8. While every member of the Beachwood Police Department is trained in the proper reception and handling of citizen complaints, the citizen may contact Detective Sergeant Altman directly at 732-286-6000 ext. 184 or via email at daltman@beachwoodpolice.com if they feel it is necessary or if they have any additional questions.

FALSE POLICE REPORTS TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
Anyone who makes a fictitious report to a law enforcement agency of an offense or incident, knowing that it did not occur, is a Disorderly Person Offense and can be charged under 2C:28-4b1 of the New Jersey Criminal Justice Code.