In this inaugural CLE course, we will explore the legal, social, and political challenges inherent in developing and sustaining effective police oversight boards and offices. We will examine the legal protections afforded to police officers that oversight agencies must navigate, as well as how these agencies manage community expectations, foster trust in policing, and strike a balance between fairness and judiciousness when investigating alleged misconduct. Additionally, we will consider the political hurdles oversight agencies face, particularly in light of budgetary constraints and competing political priorities. These are issues that every lawyer, regardless of field, should understand at least at a working level, and we will discuss why that knowledge is essential. Welcome to this new and exciting intellectual journey!