Police Accountability in the United States...

 In the United States, there is no single national standard for policing. Every state manages its own system of Peace Officer Standards and Training known as POST. These commissions decide who can wear the badge, how officers are trained, and what happens when that trust is broken.

 Because each state writes its own rules, the results vary dramatically.  Some POST commissions have genuine power to hold officers accountable, investigate misconduct, and set high standards for policing. Others serve mainly as advisory boards with little enforcement authority. The strength of a POST commission often determines whether accountability is a standard—or a slogan.

•  Set Standards —Define who is qualified to serve as a peace officer, including education, fitness, and ethical requirements.
• Oversee Training - Approve academies, instructors, and curricula to ensure that training meets legal, professional, and community expectations.
• Certify & Decertify —Issue and, when necessary, revoke certifications.  Decertification prevents officers dismissed for misconduct from quietly transferring to new departments.
• Investigate Misconduct —Some POSTs can launch independent investigations into excessive force or abuse; others must rely on reports from the departments they oversee.
• Advise & Reform —Where POSTs lack enforcement power, they can still     recommend stronger standards and advocate for reform, though they cannot compel compliance.
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 State oversight of police training and certification ranges from strong and independent to weak and symbolic.

States like Massachusetts and Oregon empower their POST commissions to regulate agencies, accredit departments, and independently investigate misconduct. Others—like Texas and New York—limit oversight primarily to training approval, leaving discipline to local departments.

The difference between a strong and weak POST often comes down to power, representation, and resources.
• Power: Whether the POST can enforce its rules or only recommend them.
• Representation: Whether the board includes public voices or is dominated by law enforcement insiders.
• Resources: Whether it’s funded and staffed well enough to do its job.

Who decides how police are trained—and how misconduct is punished—isn’t a bureaucratic issue. It’s a question of democracy.

When oversight is strong, POST commissions serve as a shield between the public and abuse of power. When oversight is weak, that shield becomes paper-thin. Accountability should not depend on your zip code.

Real reform begins with transparency—knowing who sets the standards, how they’re enforced, and who’s watching the watchers.

 Below you’ll find a state-by-state list of the agencies responsible for police standards and training across the United States. Each operates differently, but together they define the framework for professional policing—and our collective expectation that those who enforce the law must also be accountable to it. Following that, feel free to use us to send your grievance to people responsible for these tyrants and abusers amongst us!