Internal Affairs Interview Tips: Stop Talking Too Much

When Internal Affairs interviews you, don't talk too much. Listen to the question, answer that question, and stop.

Most of the damage I see in IA transcripts wasn't caused by the question. It came from what the officer said after the answer was already finished.

I sat on the other side of this as a deputy, and I read these transcripts now as an attorney. The pattern is the same every time.

Really good investigators ask a question and then let the empty space sit there. People get nervous about that space and start talking. What comes out is usually a guess, a justification, or a detail nobody asked for.

If there is empty space, let there be empty space. They ask, you answer, there is a pause.

Let there be a pause.

Don't fill it to make the room feel less uncomfortable. That discomfort is not yours to fix.

Listen to the actual question, too. A lot of officers walk in with their own idea of what IA wants and answer the question in their head instead of the one in the room.

If you think there's a follow-up coming and they didn't ask it, don't supply it. If the question is badly worded, don't answer what you think they meant. Make them ask the right questions.

It's their investigation, and the burden of asking is on them. That holds whether the investigation is about you or you are a witness.

Before the interview.

You should know why you are there. If your state law or agency policy requires notice and you did not get it, that may be a violation. Flag it before the interview starts.

Learn your state's rules and your agency's policy before the interview is scheduled, not during it.

Treat the interview like testimony, because that's what it becomes. Review your report. If there is body worn camera footage, review that too.

In Texas, your agency's body camera policy has to let you see the recording before you make a statement. Other states differ, and some bar review before you write your report after a shooting or in a misconduct investigation. Ask to watch the video before IA questions you about it covers what to say.

If the questions could lead to criminal charges, ask whether you are being ordered to answer under Garrity, and ask for time to consult an attorney.

Bring your union rep if your policy allows representation in the room. Talk to an attorney beforehand if the investigation could be tied to a complaint you made or to something about you that the law protects.

In the room.

Hear the question, think about it, answer it, and stop. Then wait for the next one.

Normal conversation doesn't work that way. An IA interview is a record, and every extra sentence becomes part of it.

After you leave.

As soon as you're out of the room, write down every question you remember and how you answered. Note anything that felt off: a topic you weren't given notice of, a refusal to show you evidence, pressure to keep talking after you'd answered.

Those notes are what your union rep or your attorney will work from if the process was flawed. They are sharpest the same day.

IA interview coming up? Get the checklist before you walk in, so you know your state's rules and your agency's policy going in. Download the Internal Affairs interview checklist.

-Bridget

General information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction.

Frequently asked questions

What is one of the biggest mistakes officers make in an internal affairs interview?

Talking too much. Investigators let silence sit so you will fill it. Answer the question and stop.

Should I volunteer information in an IA interview?

No. Answer only what is asked. If a follow-up seems obvious but they did not ask it, let them ask.

Do I have a right to know what the IA investigation is about?

It depends on your state law and your agency's policy. If either requires notice and you did not get it, that may be a violation. Raise it before the interview.

Does this advice apply if I am only a witness?

Yes. Listen to the question, answer that question, and stop, whether the investigation is about you or someone else.