Prior Law Enforcement Issue

[EricHansen]

Well I feel a little weird posing this on here, but I am truly concerned with my situation and how it will effect my future career.

About 6 months ago I was hired with a small town (1100 people) in very a rural state. I took the job because I could not get get hired in my home state (Lack of jobs-poor econ) and was willing to do what it took to get some experience.

Almost immediately I noticed that the local Sheriff's Office ran the show in the area and called the shots, even in situations in my city. Having come from an area where LE agencies work closely together I did not consider it a real issue.

Fast forward a month and I found out that the Sheriff's Office was pushing hard to have me removed as a police officer over several incidents that occurred, all involving me arresting people. At first I was not concerned with it at all as I had a video camera in my car and did everything according to policy and training.

I then found out that the local county attorney also wanted me gone. He prepared a list of "Complaints" from citizens about me and had set up a meeting with the city council to show why they should fire me. Ultimately I resigned from my position a day before the meeting as I did not want to be fired. (With all the rumors going around town the Assistant Chief told me the city council had already made up their mind (Again without ever seeing the videos or my reports) and it would be best for me to just resign)

It would be too extensive to go into all the details of the situation but I will add the following in hopes of fully informing you on the main issues.

In all the incidents I had video proof that I did not do what they said (Ie. swear, search vehicle w/o permission, no PC to stop) but no one wanted to view the tapes. I had the full support of the Assistant Chief but the Police Chief didn't want to deal with it and stayed totally hands off. I still have a copy of our department policy manual in which I attempted to show the county attorney that I didn't violate any policy. And I most certainly did not violate any law or anyone's rights.

I also raised concern with the county attorney because only 1 of the 6 complaints was written. And the one that was written was done so by a conviction felon who I am assuming wanted out of his possession charge I gave him. In his letter to the council it contained many facts that were not true and in one case blaming me for something on a day I wasn't even working.

I spoke with my FOP attorney and explained the entire situation to him and he said that without a doubt I had a case were they to fire me, but because I was on probation they could simply let me go without a reason and I would not have any recourse.

Since this occurred the Assistant Chief left for a larger agency and the department folded and now contracts with the sheriff's office.

Having read some posts on here I will say this up front that I am providing all the relevant information up front. It wouldn't help me any to ask for your opinion and lie about what happened.

How are departments going to view this? I have already been DQ'd on a few departments because I resigned over being fired (Note this was during the initial application not in a background)

I am worried because since the department folded, there is really no one to confirm what happened with the exception of the old assistant chief. When I resigned the chief even told me that it all boiled down to "small town politics" but I am worried that a large agency will not understand how small town stuff works and the politics and simply pass on me as a applicant.

I have a 4-year degree, no criminal or drug history and clean driving record. I was hired less than a month after this working security at a hospital where I make 6 more dollars an hour more than being a cop. When I was hired the hospital did a fairly extensive background check (High class place in my home state) and found nothing to not hire me for.

Give it to me straight please and thanks in advance for your comments.

[pac201]

You did what happens in smaller agencies quite frequently; you have to learn to pick your battles. You went into the job wide open full tilt, nothing wrong with that, but you do have to realize that it might not be the way things are done here...

That being said, if you applied at my agency I would want a contact number for your old chief and assistant chief just to verify what you have said.


Politics are at play in a larger department also, it's just easier to manipulate the system when you have more people to work with.

So, to answer your question, be up front answer the questions with an explanation if possible, and make sure that the two mentioned above can be contacted.

Good luck.

[retdetsgt]

I think the main difference in politics of small department vs. a larger one is that in a larger department, you only have to worry about people inside the department. In a small one, people outside it can make your life miserable. In the larger, you're more insulated. For instance, the mayor of my city called me a racist one time and that was no threat to my job at all. Had I been in a 20 man department, it would have been a lot different.

I also agree, be up front and I don't think it will be a huge problem. Most people aren't that naive about what goes on in small town politics.

[EricHansen]

OK thanks for the information. Sorry if I implied that larger places don't have politics, that wasn't my intention. I would consider 20 a fairly big dept, mine was only the 3 of us.

[retdetsgt]

I would consider something with at least a couple of hundred large enough to avoid external politics.

[EricHansen]

I would consider something with at least a couple of hundred large enough to avoid external politics.

Haha that's the plan. Currently in the process with Fort Worth and Dallas.

[greg72982]

Small town politics are about to drive me out of this profession for good.

[retdetsgt]

Small town politics are about to drive me out of this profession for good.

I don't see how you do it. I've gotten some heat and done some punishment tours for things I've done and (mostly) said, but it was over internal stuff, never what I did on the street. I've seen the prosecutor's office do the Muppet's dance over prominent people I've arrested, but no one has ever said a single negative thing to me for doing anything like that. I can deal with the people inside my department that don't like me, but when someone outside has power over me, I'm screwed.

[greg72982]

I don't see how you do it. I've gotten some heat and done some punishment tours for things I've done and (mostly) said, but it was over internal stuff, never what I did on the street. I've seen the prosecutor's office do the Muppet's dance over prominent people I've arrested, but no one has ever said a single negative thing to me for doing anything like that. I can deal with the people inside my department that don't like me, but when someone outside has power over me, I'm screwed.

My patience is wearing thin to say the least. Pittsburgh PD is hiring right now so I'll likely apply and try that end of the spectrum. I just worry because it seems alot of the city guys try to leave there...

I just hate that it's not even council vs. police, it's always personal.

[retdetsgt]

I just hate that it's not even council vs. police, it's always personal.

At least here, it's council vs. the CHIEF of police, not the working grunt.

As I've mentioned before, several of my peers retired and became chiefs of little towns, particularly on the coast. I don't think a one last more than 6 months before they told the city fathers to go sodomize each other and quit.

One guy retired from traffic division and figured he went to heaven since about all the cops in this town did was write tourists driving through town on Hwy 101. What he didn't realize was that there was a policy to ONLY write tourists, not residents. Being a traffic cop, he told his people to write ALL violations since our traffic division gives no one a break. The city council went ballistic after some of their kinfolk got tickets. I think he lasted about 3 months.

[greg72982]

I've been lucky to stay out of it. I try to keep my mouth shut and am careful about who I say things too. Seems to work, for now.