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View Full Version : former chief badmouthing


SERENAs UNIT
02-09-2004, 03:15 PM
Not that I'm looking right now, but I have learned that a chief I used to work for (well, my time under him was actually 9 months - 8 of those in dispatch because I was pregnant & still had 2 immed. supervisors over me) is blackballing me.

I have a copy of a file from a dept I worked for, briefly, and in a Lieutenant's handwriting it says exactly what this "chief" said about me...which was "She's a supervisor's worst nightmare." The people I've worked for who hired me despite his comments, have made mention of his comments about me & that, basically, he is wrong.

I thought all you could say is that a person worked there or not, and if they're eligible for rehire..? And, I thought it was the human resources dept. who took these kind of phone calls.

Over time, I've applied at various places (law enforcement AND others) & about the time they do "previous employer" checks, I get a "Dear John" letter.

How can I handle this in a professional manner without messing up MY career?

I work at a school PD who is within the same city where this man is a chief. So, if I were to go and "rock the boat", it WOULD be detrimental to our NEW department. Not "could be" but no doubt it "WOULD be."

Delta_V
02-10-2004, 01:44 AM
Originally posted by SERENAs UNIT

I thought all you could say is that a person worked there or not, and if they're eligible for rehire..? And, I thought it was the human resources dept. who took these kind of phone calls.

Why would you think this? Employers can say essentially anything that they want to about one of their previous employees. That said, most choose not to say detrimental things and make defamitory statements because they know that they can be sued if their statements cost someone a job.

SERENAs UNIT
02-10-2004, 07:37 AM
I believe I was told that information in some other conversation.

And, the reason was because of law suits. So, what "thye" CAN do & what they SHOULD do are 2 different things.

chinchilla
02-10-2004, 09:33 PM
Id say try talking to a lawyer. Of course what would work to clear you from boss bashing in the civilian world might not work so well in a LE agency.