VOX POPULI: How can the police investigate themselves for alleged misconduct?

Motoo Watanabe, who served as police chief of Kanagawa Prefecture for two years until 1997, said at his inaugural press conference: “My goal is to make the Kanagawa Prefectural Police an organization that works for the inhabitants of this prefecture and who trusts them. »

At his farewell press conference, Watanabe praised himself for solving major crimes and reducing the number of deaths in traffic accidents under his leadership.

“I believe I can give myself a perfect 100 percent,” he said.

But contrary to his self-assessment, scandal overtook him after he left office.

It emerged that the Kanagawa police had been systematically involved in covering up the illegal use of stimulants by one of their own officers.

At a court hearing, Watanabe admitted his own complicity.

“Due to my misguided love for my workplace, I got into the habit of putting a lid on everything that smelled, so to speak,” he confessed.

The judge who gave him a suspended sentence said: “(The accused) deserves to die thousands of times for this crime which jeopardizes the very foundations of this law-abiding nation.” »

I was reminded of this old case by another unusual case currently unfolding, in which a former senior Kagoshima prefectural police officer accuses the current chief, Akiteru Nogawa, of covering up crimes allegedly committed by members of this police force.

The accuracy of the accusation has not yet been determined. Nogawa denied this allegation, but the argument he put forward in his own defense can hardly be considered convincing or sufficient.

Kagoshima police arrested the former whistleblower officer on suspicion of leaking internal documents to a journalist. In fact, the accused arrested the accuser.

Can the truth be discovered if the investigation is entirely in the hands of the parties involved?

The prefectural police chief may want to dismiss the case, insisting that no wrongdoing was committed, but I can't imagine anyone finding that conclusion satisfactory.

After the Kanagawa police case, a former chief of Toyama Police Prefecture was also tried and found guilty of covering up an internal scandal.

Is it true that Nogawa did not practice putting a lid on bad smells? The credibility of the police as an organization is called into question.

—The Asahi Shimbun, June 12

* * *

Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that covers a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives and insight into contemporary Japan and its culture.