I work for a metropolitan police department. We are currently in a hiring process for an open officer position. The Chief has decided to hire one of our reserve officers (non-sworn volunteer). Here is the question. In the fall of 2006 this male was arrested by our police department for domestic assault, which was later plead out to disorderly conduct and he had to complete anger management and probation. Prior to his arrest he worked on our fire department and he still does. Since his arrest he was hired as a reserve officer. Should the department hire him as a full time police officer? What are the legal, civil, and political reasons you for hiring or not hiring him? I have my opinion, but would like to hear from the John Dee members out there. Thank you, Stay Alert - Stay Alive.
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Hiring the right Police Officer
- Thread starter ctk124
- Start date
My big concern would be the troubles with anger management. Being a police officer is an extremely stressful job,(as you know) if he's already having problems with anger management it's not going to get any better and someone could get hurt.
My ex had problems with anger management and when I told him I wanted a divorce he pulled out a shot gun, this was after he was supposedly getting help for his anger!!
An angery police officer is not who I want pulling me over!
I think your department should be concerned with all kinds of legal ramifications from his actions.
My ex had problems with anger management and when I told him I wanted a divorce he pulled out a shot gun, this was after he was supposedly getting help for his anger!!
An angery police officer is not who I want pulling me over!
I think your department should be concerned with all kinds of legal ramifications from his actions.
I wouldn't hire this guy. Plus if you have trouble in the future with him, people can see he has had anger problems in the past and question why you hired him in the first place. It takes a very special temperament to be a cop and this guy clearly doesn't have it. Guys like this usually want to be a "cop on TV" not one in real life if you get what I'm saying.
polarisrider1
New member
No go. Do not hire. Read the news lately. Angry police shoots wife, Angry Police tazers youth to death, etc. etc. Not worth the risk. The job is very tough.
michaeladams
New member
anyone of the moderaters on here would do a good job
Does anyone know the actual circumstances of the arrest? What I'm getting at is- did his wife/girlfriend/ex call the cops to get him in trouble? Was he actually being violent? And instead of arguing it out, did he just agree to take a class and get it over with? Or was there truly an altercation and need for the anger management? I hate to admit it as a woman, but I've known more than one good guy tick off the wrong chick and get himself in trouble b/c all she had to do was make a phone call and make up a story about how he pushed her and she's frightened. Now- if the fire house guys say yeah, he can be a real hot head, then probably should stay away. Police officers have to deal with all kinds of people. Snotty brats like myself who get all huffy when I'm pulled over. I'm not doing anything wrong, I'm just not being very nice. He can't go all postal on me. Or try and arrest me b/c I got under his skin. Well, he can- but he will end up in trouble. So yeah. I agree w/ Julie- if the guy has anger issues, steer clear. But I'd want to know what the details. If there's that one arrest on his record from 4 yrs ago and that's it- I'd dig a little more to find out the circumstances of the arrest. Hate to pass up a guy who could be a great asset b/c he was dating a psycho a few years ago and never dreamed her little accusation would cost him a job 5 yrs later.
I was there at the time of the arrest and I can say the probable cause was met, no one called, an officer witnessed it on a street corner. I like the guy, and would support him being hired somewhere, I just feel it would not be right for our department to hire him. I feel the citizens would be looking at our department like a good old boys club, protecting our own at their expense.
special_ed
New member
Potential Canidate
Have you asked Nash, oops he's the spelling police, sorry, my bad.
Have you asked Nash, oops he's the spelling police, sorry, my bad.
polarisrider1
New member
I was there at the time of the arrest and I can say the probable cause was met, no one called, an officer witnessed it on a street corner. I like the guy, and would support him being hired somewhere, I just feel it would not be right for our department to hire him. I feel the citizens would be looking at our department like a good old boys club, protecting our own at their expense.
Correct.
Firecatguy
New member
here in Mn if you have been in a domestic your right to carry a firearm is gone....no gun==no job....my dad 40y police officer!!I have seen a few officers go down this path....
Ezra - I believe he made a mistake and knowing the guy I think he has taken the right steps to reform his behavior. He may make a good officer and be able to pull from his life experience, or he make a horrible officer. Nobody but God and he may ever know the answer to that question. All I am saying is, our department hired him as a reserve officer and he has performed his duties well. However, there is a huge difference between a reserve officer and a police officer with full arrest powers. I believe we can support his quest for a job and tell the good and the bad to whatever agency wants to hire him; therefore, allowing that agency the chance to make their own decision. Obviously I do not want an individual with a pattern of abuse to have a badge in any capacity.
Firecatguy - True, but there is an amendment to the 1996 gun control bill called the Lautenberg Amendment. It allows military and law enforcement officials to still carry firearms in the course of their official duties. Right or wrong they are able to still work.
Firecatguy - True, but there is an amendment to the 1996 gun control bill called the Lautenberg Amendment. It allows military and law enforcement officials to still carry firearms in the course of their official duties. Right or wrong they are able to still work.
booondocker
New member
I think that you are missing the point here. Most of these positions are filled without regard to who would make the best possible candidate, but by politics. This isn't limited to the COP shops, or firemen.
It happens all the time.
On the one hand, is it really possible to reform someone who "lost it" in the heat of the battle before? Could you really trust this guy if YOUR life or a citizens life was on the line?
We all make mistakes, but I think we should all pick the very best candidate for a job such as this based upon everything, except race, creed, color, national origin, or religion. If he tops the spot, then hire him. If he doesn't ---meaning has there been others doing just as good if not better job, but with perhaps less time on the temp list and no priors, then go with the better candidate.
Clearly you have reservations yourself, or you wouldn't be asking on here. Furthermore, we should NOT be looking at "possible lawsuits" because of his track record. We should get above that and think of any concern for that one chance in 10,000 that he could lose his cool and take out a kid, or abuse his spot in about 100 other ways.
As state already, this is no place to put a person ANYONE doubts....even if the chief gets to make the decision.
Probably all academic anyway, because if the chief wants him....he is gett'n the job.
It happens all the time.
On the one hand, is it really possible to reform someone who "lost it" in the heat of the battle before? Could you really trust this guy if YOUR life or a citizens life was on the line?
We all make mistakes, but I think we should all pick the very best candidate for a job such as this based upon everything, except race, creed, color, national origin, or religion. If he tops the spot, then hire him. If he doesn't ---meaning has there been others doing just as good if not better job, but with perhaps less time on the temp list and no priors, then go with the better candidate.
Clearly you have reservations yourself, or you wouldn't be asking on here. Furthermore, we should NOT be looking at "possible lawsuits" because of his track record. We should get above that and think of any concern for that one chance in 10,000 that he could lose his cool and take out a kid, or abuse his spot in about 100 other ways.
As state already, this is no place to put a person ANYONE doubts....even if the chief gets to make the decision.
Probably all academic anyway, because if the chief wants him....he is gett'n the job.
1blue99srx600
New member
Right on Boondocker!
Speaking as a wife of a police officer the amount of bureaucracy that is involved is unbelievable and it's amazing anything gets done. The stories I am told blow my mind.
Speaking as a wife of a police officer the amount of bureaucracy that is involved is unbelievable and it's amazing anything gets done. The stories I am told blow my mind.
jerkbait_1075
New member
As far as I'm concerned even considering hiring somone who has displayed that kind of character would not only be a mistake but a disgrace to every other officer on your department.
I too am a police officer. In fact for the last five years I have been assigned to investigations as a detective. Part of my responsibilities include doing background investigations of potential new hires. They have nicknamed me the TERMINATOR..... While doing backgrounds I rarely give someone the "nod" concerning hiring them for the job. Fact of the matter the vast majority of people walking around us today do not have what it takes to wear a gun and deal with the public in a position of authority. I dont say that out of arrogance even though it sounds that way but rather the shear fact that Law Enfrocement in todays wold is a physically, and MENTALLY demanding job that most are not cut out for. I would rather error on the side of caution with my background findings, on the basis of looking out for the general GOOD and BEHALF of the our fellow citizen than reccommend hiring some BONEHEAD that ends up descracing my fellow officers, city and makes an already difficult job even harder by outraging the public who have anger towards the police because of the BAD APPLES already on the job.
In our current hiring process out of 10 finalist for the job thru the background investigation I have narrowed it to only 2. I wish I could tell you more specifics about what these preliminary 10 best had "hiding in the closet" upon digging deep IT WOULD MAKE YOUR HAIR STAND UP
I too am a police officer. In fact for the last five years I have been assigned to investigations as a detective. Part of my responsibilities include doing background investigations of potential new hires. They have nicknamed me the TERMINATOR..... While doing backgrounds I rarely give someone the "nod" concerning hiring them for the job. Fact of the matter the vast majority of people walking around us today do not have what it takes to wear a gun and deal with the public in a position of authority. I dont say that out of arrogance even though it sounds that way but rather the shear fact that Law Enfrocement in todays wold is a physically, and MENTALLY demanding job that most are not cut out for. I would rather error on the side of caution with my background findings, on the basis of looking out for the general GOOD and BEHALF of the our fellow citizen than reccommend hiring some BONEHEAD that ends up descracing my fellow officers, city and makes an already difficult job even harder by outraging the public who have anger towards the police because of the BAD APPLES already on the job.
In our current hiring process out of 10 finalist for the job thru the background investigation I have narrowed it to only 2. I wish I could tell you more specifics about what these preliminary 10 best had "hiding in the closet" upon digging deep IT WOULD MAKE YOUR HAIR STAND UP