False Police Report

[CdwJava]

Good. Thanks. Aside from the sustaining of a complaint, what does an agency and/or a supervisor think about an "sworn" employee that can't seem to fully comply with and spends so much time in court and arbitration - an employee that has so much trouble with the law and his neighbor? What would you think of one of your employees that is surrounded by so much controversy, if you can't come down on the legalities?

Well, it would depend on the details and the information i was able to glean. I live and work in a small town in a county with a small population and a great deal of area, chances are I would know all sides of the story. in your case, it is very likely the Administration only knows what they are being told by the outside parties. So, it depends on the telling.

However, I would not be keen on one of my officers causing so much rancor ... provided I believed he was the source of the problem and not going the extra mile to try and mollify the situation. In my community I could act on the matter as a nexus between one's off duty actions and one's job is easy to make as everyone here knows you and who you represent. I could make a case for actions unbecoming an officer or bringing disdain or disrepute upon the agency.

If he were to actually disobey a court order, and get a ruling to that effect from a judge, then I'd be able to spank him hard. Absent such a court determination, it might be more difficult to apply serious discipline ... but, then, all discipline is to be progressive, so the little things CAN add up.

But, it all comes down to what the Admin. knows and their ability and desire to determine the credibility of the sources.

- Carl

 

[Johnmelissa]

Good. Thanks. The neighbor/cop's agency, Sheriff and contract PD, know all about this stuff. They have been given the "book" I have written which was submitted with complaints. They have court documents and they have sent investigators to interview the individuals involved including a deputy in this county who the neighbor/cop called a "prick" in the presence of that deputy's sergeant. The neighbor/cop's agencies have investigated and SUSTAINED 3 complaints. That took 6 months. Etc., etc., etc. I think they get the picture. Thanks. I've learned much in the last few years living next to a cop (I'm gonna say a bad apple). I'll have to leave it at having my view of cops changed after 58 years. I always thought the cops were the good guys and kept the highest standards. I presumed that the superior officers would not stand for ANY behavior that could be construed as reflecting badly on the organization. But that's from my military days when officers did what they wanted without regard for unions. Thanks.

 

[CdwJava]

Good. Thanks. The neighbor/cop's agency, Sheriff and contract PD, know all about this stuff. They have been given the "book" I have written which was submitted with complaints. They have court documents and they have sent investigators to interview the individuals involved including a deputy in this county who the neighbor/cop called a "prick" in the presence of that deputy's sergeant. The neighbor/cop's agencies have investigated and SUSTAINED 3 complaints. That took 6 months. Etc., etc., etc. I think they get the picture. Thanks. I've learned much in the last few years living next to a cop (I'm gonna say a bad apple). I'll have to leave it at having my view of cops changed after 58 years. I always thought the cops were the good guys and kept the highest standards. I presumed that the superior officers would not stand for ANY behavior that could be construed as reflecting badly on the organization. But that's from my military days when officers did what they wanted without regard for unions. Thanks.

The legal environment drives the issue. Even if the agency thinks he is way out of line, is an ass, and should be booted from the force, unless they can establish the legal sufficiency for that nexus, or that the activity violated an existing written policy, it is a matter of law that the officer cannot be disciplined. Any public employee in this state is imbued with a great deal of rights, and the law sometimes makes it difficult to hold public employees accountable. Have you ever tried to punish a teacher? The teacher's unions are so strong that absent a felony conviction, you can't do diddly to them for the most part.

So, even if his superiors wanted to do something about him for this, they may not be able to as a matter of the law.

- Carl