Personnel Roles and Functions   I

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Personnel Roles and Functions

I. Intruding Ima and the Falsified ReportAn 8-year employee of your police agency, OfficerIma Goodenough, is a patrol officer who oftenserves as a field training officer. Goodenough isgenerally capable and experienced in both thepatrol and detective divisions. She takes pride inbeing of the “old school” and has developed aclique of approximately 10 people with whom shegets along while mostly shunning other officers. Asan officer of the old school, she typically handlescalls for service without requesting cover units orbackup. She has had six complaints of brutalitylodged against her during the last 3 years. For Imaand her peers, officers who call for backup are“wimps.” She has recently been involved in twohigh-speed pursuits during which her vehicle wasdamaged when she attempted to run the offenderoff the road. Ima will notify a supervisor only whendealing with a major situation. She is borderlineinsubordinate when dealing with new supervisors.She believes that, generally speaking, the administrationexists only to “screw around with us.” You,her shift commander, have been angry about herdeteriorating attitude and reckless performancefor some time and have been wondering whetheryou will soon have occasion to take some form ofdisciplinary action against her. You have alsolearned that Ima has a reputation among hersupervisors as being a “hot dog.” Some of her pastand present supervisors have even commentedthat she is a “walking time bomb” who is unpredictableand could “blow” at any time.One day, while bored on patrol, Ima decides togo outside her jurisdiction, responding to a shootingcall that is just across the city limit and in the county.She radios the dispatcher that she is out “assisting,”then walks into the home where paramedics arefrantically working on a man with a head woundlying on the floor. Nearby on the floor is a largeforeign-made revolver; Ima holds and waves therevolver in the air, examining it. A paramedic yells ather, “Hey! Put that down, this may be an attemptedhomicide case!” Ima puts the revolver back on thefloor. Meanwhile, you have been attempting to contactIma via radio to get her back into her jurisdiction.Later, when the sheriff’s office complains to youabout her actions at their crime scene, you requireher to write a report of her actions. She completes areport describing her observations at the scene butdenies touching or picking up anything. Looking atIma’s personnel file, you determine that herperformance evaluations for the past 8 years are“standard”—average to above average. She has neverreceived a suspension from duty for her actions.Although verbally expressing their unhappiness withher for many years, Ima’s supervisors have notexpressed that attitude in writing.Questions for Discussion1. What are the primary issues involved in thissituation?2. Do you believe that there are sufficientgrounds for bringing disciplinary actionagainst Goodenough? If so, what would be thespecific charges? What is the appropriate punishment?3. Do you believe that this is a good opportunityto terminate Ima’s employment? Do groundsfor termination exist?4. Does the fact that Ima’s supervisors have ratedher performance as standard have any bearingon this matter or create difficulties in bringinga case for termination? If so, how?