That the State Police Accountability Commission (SPAC) had received over 240 complaints of misconduct—40 of them of “serious misconduct”—against the state’s police personnel in 2021 makes a disturbing reflection on the Assam Police. The Sunday edition of this newspaper, quoting SPAC’s annual report for 2021, has also mentioned two complaints for custodial death, two complaints for grievous injury, one complaint of molestation, rape, or attempt to rape, ten complaints for arrest or detention without due process of law, three complaints for forceful deprivation from the rightful ownership or possession of property, five complaints for blackmailing or extortion, and 17 complaints for non-registration of FIRs. Other cases include complaints of alleged misconduct by police personnel; alleged police inaction, negligence, or delay in investigation; allegations of harassment, atrocities, misbehaviour, or threatening; and misuse of power, to name a few. Assam Police has a rich legacy dating back to the time of the British annexation of Assam. It also has the rare distinction of being the only police force in the country to have participated in the Second World War. Moreover, the role that Assam Police played during the post-Partition disturbances, the Chinese aggression of 1962, the refugee influx of 1970–71, and in bringing the insurgency under control makes it a police force that can claim a rank of distinction among all police forces in the country. It was only in May last year that Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented Assam Police with the President’s Colour for its exemplary service during the last 25 years. Given such a wonderful track record, it is unfortunate that the state police have attracted so many serious complaints from the citizens. The Assam Police insignia speaks of welfare for all and welfare round the clock. But the 240-odd complaints—many of which may not turn out to be true and substantiated with hard evidence—have given the organisation a bad name. While the report refers to the complaints received during 2021, some recent incidents have also prompted the citizens to form adverse opinions about the Assam Police. These include the mysterious death of a lady officer in Nagaon and the arrest of an SP and an Additional SP of Darrang in a case involving the death of a minor. What appears from the above is that the Assam Police require serious introspection. Moreover, the recruitment process itself probably calls for a thorough review so that only honest, upright, and patriotic people are selected.