benefits of being a boss

[JRT6]

We were almost two hours behind in our calls last night and neither the LT or Sgt of the shift answered one call. Sgt. didn't even leave the building. :rolleyes:

[retired]

I can relate to that!

Retired

[207]

Yeah, we had something like that last night. The only difference is the Sgt left the building... we just couldn't locate him.

[retired]

On a serious note, Sgts. and Lts. on my department do not respond to calls for service. That isn't their job.

Retired

[JRT6]

Ours don't get zone assignments but the department policy is clear when there are calls pending all uniformed officers are expected to answer them.

The jail was empty and it wasn't like they had any life or death paper work to complete. Although I hear there was a good movie on in dispatch.

[Don]

I know what you mean. I've been called to drive 50+ miles to the station to take a BS report because the sergeant was too busy reading a novel! :mad:

[retired]

Don,

Originally posted by Don:
<STRONG>I know what you mean. I've been called to drive 50+ miles to the station to take a BS report because the sergeant was too busy reading a novel! :mad:</STRONG>

Don't forget television!

Retired ;)

[Buck Savage]

We have that same problem here. Unfortunately the reason the Sgt doesn't answer calls is because he is usually out of the car with his portable off. The only time he shows up is to micromanage officers, the most junior being me with 9 years experience.

[Joseph]

I can really relate to this. My last words to my troops use to be don't call me and I won't call you except if the press shows up. :D

[FlaLaw]

My favorite boss (road patrol sgt) will be 60 this year and has been a cop since 1968, (longer than I've been alive). He does not answer calls. He is a good cop. But I wouldnt want him alone on a call where it could get physical. I'll clear whatever I am on to handle it so he doesn't. He will always show up or at least ask about the call, because he likes to keep track of us. He is kind of like Mother hen keeping track of her chicks. In fact he wont go home until all of his guys turn in. He'll be changed waiting by the door for you. Now I think about it I am going to miss working for him.

[ateamer]

The best sergeants I've worked for are those who are not seen and not heard. I've got plenty of years on and know the job inside out; the last thing needed is a sergeant, especially one with half the years of service, showing up at a call after most of the work has been done and second-guessing me. They know if I have a question, I ask, but some just can't handle not having total control over every call everywhere in the county.

I've suggested on several occasions that if they want to show up and start re-questioning witnesses after I already got their statements, that they need to be writing the reports.

[Zamboni]

At my dept Sgt's actually do have to work. They actually have the worst job at the dept. For getting promoted to Sgt we get no pay raise, complete loss of seniority when it comes to choosing shifts and cars (now you are arbitrarily assigned), no overtime, and all the crap and blame roll uphill and downhill to them. But once you get past Sgt its all relaxing in the office doing nothing. As a result over the last few years fewer and fewer are testing for Sgt. It used to be that about 80% of eligble officers would test. But now its down to about 30%. Personally I have no intention of ever testing unless things change.

[JRT6]

We can't get our Sgt's to retire. I wouldn't either if i got paid to watch tv with the dispatchers. Our sgts. make 10% more and can take any OT available to the patrol.

Just yesterday I investigated vehicle breakins at our hotels. I had another city(where suspect lived) see if the suspect was home. They said he was and when I went there the sgt. I mentioned earlier was telling the two dispatchers that I wasn't arresting anyone. We caught the guy with the stolen stereos and he confessed but I wasn't allowed to arrest. I have to get a warrant. Now if I had been a member of that Sgt's elite "fourth platoon", that 350lb crybaby crackhead thief would currently be in our jail.

An they wonder why my production and motivation are shot to hell.

[ 07-08-2002: Message edited by: JRT6 ]

[207]

We had one Sgt who was in charge of the 3-11 shift. His favorite thing to do was to "steal" cases. We'd do all the leg work, write the reports, etc, of course he reviewed these reports. Then he'd make the arrest on his own and take all the credit!!
I had an illegal alien cocaine dealer that me and another officer put a lot of hours into only to have this Sgt make the pinch, he gets all the attaboys, and we got nothing! :mad:

[ 07-08-2002: Message edited by: 207 ]

[SpecOpsWarrior]

I have always said that when I eventually attain the power I desire, I will use the Darth Vader style of management.

[SB]

I can't speak for other forces in the UK, but in the Met we have a number of roles for our bosses. In charge of a relief or team is an Inspector (= US Lt) and a number of Sgt's. 1 Sgt will be in charge of the control room (dispatch) a couple work the custody area and one will be 'section Sgt' who will have immediate control of the troops. Section Sgts and any other unassigned Sgts do patrol over here and will get involved in calls.
Just as a bye, I don't call any of my bosses 'superiors' and here's a perfect reason why: I came into my office (which I share with our personnel staff) a few weeks ago. Sitting in there was a girl who looks about 20. I say "hi" thinking she's a new PC. From round the corner, one of the civies shouts to me " have you met our new Sgt" I say "No" "It's me" the girl pipes up. Turns out she has just over 2 years service and has come to us on accelerated promotion cos she has a degree. Would I want to go out on patrol with her???

[PeteBroccolo]

I can't complain about my boss not working - he DEFINITELY gets out on the road to write tickets, make arrests and generally be seen. However, he also puts in a lot of voluntary time to do paperwork and even goes in on days off to wash the cars. He is a Sargeant-hoping-to-become-an-Inspector, and I think he is killing himself. He has WAY more grey hair than I have (haven't checked his chest!) with less service than me.

Between me and my Sargeant there is also a Corporal, who also does not shirk his operational duties and writes a ton of tickets. However, he gets stuck with the majority of the initial public complaint investigations, as well as ensuring monthly statistical reports are submitted. And, due to the number of physically bigger Constables, especially those with bad backs, the Corporal and the Sargeant usually drive those "toy" Police cars (ie: Camaros).

Going from Constable to Corporal, then Corporal to Sargeant, then Sargeant to Staff-Sargeant, definitely gives you a pay boost, but there is not a lot of difference between my Constable pay cheque, with overtime, shift differential and seniority pay, and that of my Corporal.

Sometimes, getting promoted is more of a pain than it is worth (so sayeth the 27 year Constable-for-life!)

[SB]

With you there on that Pete. I'm only 3 points off my top pay scale as a constable and have enough specialist qualifications to earn the overtime. I worked last Sunday as O/T and was being paid more by the hour then the Inspector.
We had an Inspector a couple of years back who you could never find back at the nick when you needed him, but those of us in the know knew which coffee house in Soho he hid in for most of the shift!!!!!!

[Evnings]

I am a patrol lieutenant. July 4th I answered as many calls as my officers, supervised a pursuit that ended up in a major with 12 wounded, not including the kidnapping victim that jumped out midway through the chase, and tried to keep my boss happy who was in charge of the crowd at the fireworks display.

This is just not a one day type deal with me. I still work wrecks. I write tickets. I even arrest people and do the paperwork myself. I can write a ticket faster than almost anyone else in the department and I can still knock out an arrest report faster than most of my shift. Most of all, I know when to supervise and when just to be a back up officer. If I didn't have to wear my bars, I wouldn't. Too many civilians expect me to make the decision about what to do at a call when the officer, who is responsibile for the call, is doing just fine.

Becoming a supervisor doesn't necessarily mean you get a full frontal lobotomy and loose your personality. A lot of times it does, but not all the time.

A lot of a supervisors job is not readily seen by patrol officers. I spend a lot of time talking to civilians trying to help them with their problems with the department or the city. I spend a lot of time in the AC's office justifying my actions, actions I allowed, or actions officers that I work with did. I spend a lot of time with the AC trying to get things that my shifts needs. I also spend a lot of time with records clerks trying to keep my officers paperwork straightened out and up to date.

A lot of the time that officers think I'm screwing off, I am really doing PR work for the department or my shift. I'll schmuze anyone to gain a friend for the police department. You can never have too many friends.

Not all supervisors are Darth Vader or ROD.

[ 07-09-2002: Message edited by: Evnings ]

[retired]

Evnings,

Originally posted by Evnings:
<STRONG>I am a patrol lieutenant. July 4th I answered as many calls as my officers, supervised a pursuit that ended up in a major with 12 wounded, not including the kidnapping victim that jumped out midway through the chase, and tried to keep my boss happy who was in charge of the crowd at the fireworks display.

This is just not a one day type deal with me. I still work wrecks. I write tickets. I even arrest people and do the paperwork myself. I can write a ticket faster than almost anyone else in the department and I can still knock out an arrest report faster than most of my shift. Most of all, I know when to supervise and when just to be a back up officer. If I didn't have to wear my bars, I wouldn't. Too many civilians expect me to make the decision about what to do at a call when the officer, who is responsibile for the call, is doing just fine.

Becoming a supervisor doesn't necessarily mean you get a full frontal lobotomy and loose your personality. A lot of times it does, but not all the time.

A lot of a supervisors job is not readily seen by patrol officers. I spend a lot of time talking to civilians trying to help them with their problems with the department or the city. I spend a lot of time in the AC's office justifying my actions, actions I allowed, or actions officers that I work with did. I spend a lot of time with the AC trying to get things that my shifts needs. I also spend a lot of time with records clerks trying to keep my officers paperwork straightened out and up to date.

A lot of the time that officers think I'm screwing off, I am really doing PR work for the department or my shift. I'll schmuze anyone to gain a friend for the police department. You can never have too many friends.

Not all supervisors are Darth Vader or ROD.

[ 07-09-2002: Message edited by: Evnings ]</STRONG>

Sounds like you are an active field officer! But not all departemnts pay or expect their Lts. to do what you do. In fact when I was a Lt., if I did what you are doing, the command staff would have asked me if I wanted to give up my bars and go back to being a patrol officer.

I'm not suggesting you are wrong or right, that's a call for you and your department.

I'm just suggesting that not all department's function the same. What may be right for your department might not be right for another.

Regards,

Retired

[PeteBroccolo]

Evnings, you obviously remember some of my lobotomy comments! Sorry, bud, just a common comment from the peanut gallery about the bosses. We also have some real stand-up white shirts in my outfit that support us girls and boys on the street. I guess if you ever make it up my way I may have to buy you a drink at the 'Mess!

[Evnings]

Retired, on the 4th I was trying to help pick up the slack is why I picked up so many calls. I try to stay active. We are so short on the street that if supervisors don't try to help, espicially on 2 to 10, we would be so far behind that it would take 11p to 6 three to four hours to catch up.

I don't write near as many tickets as I used to. I probably write about 10 to 15 a month. The only wrecks I work now are fatals or when everyone else is busy.

I know that my primary duty is to lead my shift and not to be a worker bee. However, there are alot of times when the department needs officers answering calls more then a supervisor just driving around or playing on the department computer. I think that there are a lot of supervisors that think the rank enscribed on their badge makes them above answering calls. On the bottom of my badge it says Police Officer. The citizens don't care what rank shows up to help them. I believe that that the officers really appreciate the help, as long as I am not making work for them. I always try to stay available to the officers to help them with their supervisorery needs.

I appreciate your comments and I understand your point of view.