The Law Enforcement Officers' Protection Act, effective January 9, 1997, mandated that every municipal law enforcement agency adopt and implement guidelines consistent with the Internal Affairs guidelines promulgated by the Division of Criminal Justice of the Attorney General’s office (commonly referred to as “the AG Guidelines”). That requirement is codified at NJSA 40A:14-181. An interesting question under the statute is what happens in the event a municipal police force tries to discipline an officer either without following, or without having adopted, the AG Guidelines? That question was answered, at least in part, by the unpublished Appellate Division decision of Neary v. Borough of Ridgefield, A-4266-03T2 (App. Div. 1/26/06).