Criminal justice experts and legal scholars are exploring whether an independent inspector general should monitor the New York Police Department.

A panel discussion is set for Wednesday at New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Proponents say an inspector general would create needed transparency for the nation’s largest police department. Advocates note that the FBI, the CIA and the Los Angeles Police Department have such inspectors.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration says the NYPD already gets enough oversight from its own Internal Affairs Bureau and a civilian complaint board, among other entities.

The inspector general idea has been embraced by lawmakers and others troubled by the NYPD’s widespread spying on Muslims. The practice was revealed in a recent series of stories by The Associated Press.

(AP)