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Even when an outside agency is involved in investigating a police shooting, there are still potential conflicts of interest. For example, the outside agency may be funded by the same government that employs the police officers who are being investigated. This can create a financial incentive for the outside agency to not find the police officers guilty.

In addition, the outside agency may be staffed by former law enforcement officers, who may be reluctant to criticize their former colleagues. This can lead to the outside agency giving the police officers the benefit of the doubt, even when there is clear evidence of wrongdoing.

The conflict of interest that arises when law enforcement officers investigate one of their own is a serious one. It can lead to cases not being investigated thoroughly, and it can make it more difficult to hold police officers accountable for their actions.

There are a number of steps that can be taken to address this conflict of interest. One step is to create a separate agency that is responsible for investigating police shootings. This agency should be independent of the police department, and it should be staffed by people who do not have any prior law enforcement experience.

Another step is to make sure that the outside agency has the resources it needs to investigate police shootings thoroughly. This includes providing the agency with enough money and enough staff.

Finally, it is important to create a culture of accountability within the police department. This means that police officers should be held accountable for their actions, even when they are investigated by an outside agency.

By taking these steps, we can help to ensure that law enforcement officers are investigated fairly and that they are held accountable for their actions.