Opinion ID: 1902272
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Legal bureau

Text: For many years, the Police Department had its own legal bureau that was staffed by both police-officer attorneys and civilian attorneys. The civilian attorneys worked with internal affairs and with the Police Director on various matters. The police attorneys reviewed documents signed by the Police Director, drafted policy directives for the Director, handled negotiations and contracts, prosecuted medical/psychological appeals of rejected police candidates, and served as hearing prosecutors in police disciplinary procedures. Legal work comprised no more than 15% of the legal bureau's work, however. Most of the work was akin to senior staff advisor or administrative assistant. The legal bureau was abolished in September 1993 and its legal duties were transferred to the City's Corporation Counsel's office. The hearing officer dismissed without comment the unfair practice charge that centered around the abolition of the police legal bureau and the transfer of the bureau's legal duties to the City's Corporation Counsel.