The absence of genuine public service at police departments continues to amaze me.
When I was on the job I was told endless stories by friends and acquaintances about their encounters with officers or departments who essentially refused to do their job. Quite frankly I refused to believe most of them. Since retiring and "turning to the dark side," I've encountered each of them, and more.
When I attempt to obtain information on behalf of a client and I'm being stonewalled, the last thing I want is to pull the old "thirty-year retired lieutenant card."
This situation, as my friend and counselor Alan Winik has said many times, "stinks like a fish . . from the head back."
Police chiefs set the tone for the agency they lead. Those that are led by educated, caring and progressive chiefs serve their communities with honesty, transparency and competency. Those that are led by chiefs who buy into the "us versus them" mentality foster and provide for this lack of professional service.
Persitency is the key to accomplishing a goal, especially when dealing with the police. Knowledge is also key when trying to establish the truth.
When you call on an officer for help and his response to your request is, "there's nothing we can do," dont buy it. When you provide a public service, there is always something you can do.
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The last paragraph is very true. Even if it is only to give advice about steps the complainant can take to mitigate their problem. I cringe when I hear those words strung together. "There's nothing we can do" = laziness.
ReplyDeleteSo you are saying Tom that you served as a Police Officer for 30 years, part of which you served as a Leiutenant which is most agencies is a supervisor and you were given information about officers not doing their job and you failed to take any action? Is this some sort of thing you did with any regularity "Spike", gain information and fail to act?
ReplyDeleteWhat I was writing about was a general lack of service that exists in certain agencies I have encountered since retirement. Police misconduct is something that all agencies take seriously. At no time during my career did I ever "fail to act," in response to alleged police misconduct.
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