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Thousands of police officers are investigated for everything from assaulting citizens to lying in court, but their pasts are kept secret. We're making public the largest trove of police misconduct records ever, starting with 30,000 cops banned by 44 states
usatoday.com/in-depth/news/…
usatoday.com/in-depth/news/…
Of 200,000 incidents of alleged misconduct were 22,924 investigations of officers using excessive force, 3,145 allegations of rape, child molestation and other sexual misconduct and 2,307 cases of domestic violence by officers. 
Misconduct that might disqualify someone from being hired as a rookie cop hasn’t stopped officers from taking top jobs as police chiefs at law enforcement agencies throughout the USA. usatoday.com/in-depth/news/…
.@USATODAY Network requested public records from thousands of state agencies, prosecutors, police departments and sheriffs across the country so citizens, journalists and researchers can look more closely at the actions of the people whose job it is to keep us safe.
The records we share today are the first of what will be a growing database of records about internal affairs investigations, lawsuits and secret separation deals with departing officers — among other documents. You can search the database here: usatoday.com/in-depth/news/…
Dan Hils, a police union leader, noted there are 750,000 law enforcement officers in the country. Hils said he has no issue with USA TODAY publishing these records, saying it’s the media’s “right and responsibility to investigate police and the authority of government.”
And you can help us investigate. If you’re a resident or police watchdog in your community, and have access to records, we want to hear from you. Email policetips@usatoday.com.
This story was reported by @nicholsmarkc @jamespilcher @ericlitke @jkelly3rd and @A_a_ron_OWH as well as contributors from across the @USATODAY Network.
