Who is authorized to conduct a written counsel for an officer?

The correct answer is that any supervisor or Internal Affairs (IA) officer is authorized to conduct a written counsel for an officer. This is important because written counseling often involves addressing performance issues, misconduct, or policy violations, and it typically requires a level of authority and oversight that a supervisor or IA officer possesses.

Supervisors have the direct responsibility for managing their team and are trained to handle disciplinary matters, including the proper procedures for counseling an officer. They have the experience to assess situations and provide constructive feedback while also ensuring that the process aligns with departmental policies and regulations.

In contrast, other options might limit the authority or expertise necessary for such a significant action. For instance, while the Chief of Police certainly has the highest authority within the department, limiting written counsel to only their purview could lead to inefficiencies and delay in addressing issues. Allowing any officer on duty or external investigators to conduct written counseling would likely compromise the integrity of the process and the chain of command, as those individuals may lack the necessary background in departmental protocols or may not have sufficient knowledge of the specific circumstances leading to the counseling.