Many groups are now calling for stronger oversight measures of police officers. One of the ideas that is gaining traction around the country is so-called “Brady” lists. 

In the past, Brady lists were pretty much a back-burner issue. That all changed in 2019 when USA Today published a bombshell article titled, “USAT found 85,000 cops who’ve been investigated for misconduct; Now you can read their records” -- see headline, above. The article reveals, “Dishonesty is a frequent problem." 

Which is where so-called “victim-centered” methods -- also known as “Believe the victim” -- come into the picture. The Law Enforcement Oath of Honor states:

• On my honor, I will never betray my integrity, my character, or the public trust.
• I will treat all individuals with dignity and respect and ensure that my actions are dedicated to ensuring the safety of my community and the preservation of human life.
• I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions.
• I will always maintain the highest ethical standards and uphold the values of my community, and the agency I serve.

But victim-centered philosophy represents a negation of this Oath. It calls on officers to bias their interviews, slant their investigative methods, and even prejudice the investigative report in order to make the defendant appear more guilty. These actions place the officer at risk of being charged with dishonesty, and being placed on a career-ending Brady list.

Police1 has published an article that explains why police officers must do everything in their power to conduct themselves honorably to avoid being placed on a Brady list.