Issues between officers

[primalclaws1974]

A lot of suggestions on this forum state that cops are like brothers and sisters, and they would protect their own. But what happens when an unresolved issue comes up between officers? How does this get solved? Does the commanding officer try to settle it? Does he/she send them to a psychiatrist or counselor? Do they get reassigned to another shift/precinct/jurisdiction? Are they punished?

 

[Rainman]

A cop I know when he was vacation went into a bar to drink. He's one of those loud aggressive people. His attitude angered some guzzlers [local cops] and this confrontation ended in them duking them out. When they identified themselves to each other and found out they were all cops, they didn't arrest him. Later this same cop in another bar, beat up the sheriff. That got him suspended for a while, but somehow the issue was resolved and he's back on the force.

I think for some cops who love conflict, the best way to work with them is avoid them. And as for solving the issues, I think it would depend on that person's personality. If it's a reasonable person, you can discuss what you're upset about in a civil manner.

 

[Shimus]

Issues between officers should be handled by their immediate superior. Failing that, avoiding them is a good way to do it as well, tried and true method. But it solves nothing in the long run, so tradeoffs.

I'd imagine you could handle on a per-person basis as everyone WILL be different in how they go about things, it's just going to happen. Maybe a good talk to set things straight is really all that's needed, or some space.

 

[GemmaRowlands]

It is like any other job that you might have - you have to realise that your job comes first, and you have to do your very best to try and put any differences that you might have to one side and forget about them. If this is not possible, then you have a few options, including switching duties to work with another officer if this is something that your station would allow. However, you should remember that you have to be professional, so changing your duties should be a last resort. If your problems are to do with the other officer's ability, then you should try and think about whether something needs to be brought to the attention of your superiors, because there is obviously always the risk that they may be doing something wrong that needs to be sorted out.

 

[missbishi]

Regardless of where you work, you need to try and maintain a professional attitude with your colleagues at all times. Even if you hate each other, you need to be civil as personal issues shouldn't come into it. I'm sure that these conflicts occur as frequently in police stations as they do in any other workplace.

A commanding officer may attempt to make sure you are no different shifts but there is every chance that you'll just get told to "deal with it". After all, grown adults, especially those who enforce the law, should try to lead by example.

 

[tanker]

It really isn't an issues, they usually just make sure the two cops don't work together. There will always be personality differences, but they can be usually sorted out. Also between different law enforcement agencies there is a lot of rivarly, this is not the same thing as working together. So the CIA is always competing with the FBI, NSA etc. This is actually a bigger problem.

 

[blur92]

Issues between officers should be handled by their immediate superior. Failing that, avoiding them is a good way to do it as well, tried and true method. But it solves nothing in the long run, so tradeoffs.

I'd imagine you could handle on a per-person basis as everyone WILL be different in how they go about things, it's just going to happen. Maybe a good talk to set things straight is really all that's needed, or some space.

I agree that it should be handled by an immediate superior. If the problem does not get resolved then generally it is because both or one of the two won't come to some settlement or understanding. The individual who is uncooperative and instigating an issue should be reprimanded; they may even need to be stripped of some privileges.

Part of virtually any job is working with others. It is an understood requirement, and if an individual cannot meet this qualification then perhaps they are altogether not qualified for the job.

 

[Shimus]

I find if there isn't a type of mediator that the hostility will sit there unresolved and just boil over and then you'll have issues again down the line. If not be an immediate superior, than at least by fighting. And nobody should fight their brothers and sisters, when we need to be fighting wars and crimes on drugs and poverty. People are too focused on their own selves wayyyy too much.

 

[stevesxs9]

I would think if its bad enough, one of the officers might have to transfer to another precinct. I would think that continuous hostility between the two can't be good for moral. If not they may have to get rid of one or both altogether.

 

[Rosyrain]

I am sure every officer has issues at some point in time because that is what happens when you work together and are always around d each other, you start to bicker like brothers and sisters. That is what supervisors are for and if that does not work, there are internal relations people that get involved.

 

[mrsbright]

I did hear about a very nasty officer in the village where I currently live, and how he was going against the law (illegally spying people he considered suspects and planting evidence to get them in trouble), and I have no idea how it was dealed with the other officers, but he did get fired at some point because they found child pornography on his computer and the rumor was that his colleagues planted it there because they all hated him.

The only argument for this (except their dislike of the guy and his methods) was the reasoning that "the officer would not be this dumb to let his illegal porn be found there!".

I'm not sure that's enough to make a case for it, but for a village rumors mill, it sure is.

But otherwise I hope cops are taught conflict resolution for their jobs that they can apply in their interpersonal relations too!

 

[blur92]

I would think if its bad enough, one of the officers might have to transfer to another precinct. I would think that continuous hostility between the two can't be good for moral. If not they may have to get rid of one or both altogether.

I think this is the most logical and likely possibility in the given situation. Either transfer them or fire them because as I mentioned above, part of their job requires working together. If they cannot meet that qualification then they remain unqualified for the job. Also, I am sure it varies on the situation as well.

 

[RingoBerry]

As immature as that would be specially for police officers, scenarios like that do happen. I guess if their issues start to affect their work, their superiors may reprimand them but assigning them somewhere else. Since this is also a display of poor conduct in a work place and unprofessional behavior, they might need to worry more about demotion than being transferred.

 

[shilpa123]

If there is any issue between the officer the higher should try to settle it. I think it is best if the issue gets solved in the nicest possible manner.

 

[shilpa123]

It is best if the issue between the officers are taken care by the people who are at a higher authority than them. It is best if the people understand their mistake and do not think about repeating it.

 

[shilpa123]

The issues between officer should be solved at the right manner. To work efficiently all the offices must be Cooperative. The head of the office is a responsible for making sure that they work efficiently without any problems.

 

[jesuslover0314]

Down here in the state of Tennessee if the cops don't get along and fight or something they get punished. Sometimes they even get suspended without pay for a couple of weeks to a month. However, the chief of police deals with all those problems and makes those decisions.

 

[dyanmarie25]

Just like any other employee, you've got to do your job and just be professional. If the situation or the issues between the police officers have now taken out of hand, I guess a superior should already interfere and make a decision regarding it.

 

[Gabe]

There has to be trust as your life could depends on it, so if there are issues then people can get transfers if they can't be resolved. Team work is essential and if there are issues it can ruin an operation and jeopardize their colleagues so it's not worth the risk. That's why a partnership is important and if it doesn't work out, it is best to ask for a new partner or transfer. Personality clashes happen in all jobs, so it's not unusual, but should be dealt with early on rather than lingering on for too long.

 

[JoanMcWench]

It's pretty rare (where I am anyway) an officer gets suspended without pay. Oh, they'll get suspended but with pay. Even when there have been some serious offenses I've seen suspension with pay. I'm sure there are certain reasons as to why one would not get suspended without pay but I'm not fully aware of them.