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Question
Jack, I work for an agency where there is a Police Chief and two Officers. What are your thoughts on one of the Officers becoming a Sergeant. I feel that there should be a first line supervisor regardless of the number of employees. Any thoughts?
Thanks..
Gary,
I have never interacted with a department that small. In my career we had an eight man department with one chief, one sergeant, and six privates and that seemed to work out pretty well but there was a large turnover and most of the privates moved on to other departments where the pay was higher after just a few years.
With your scenario it would only leave one person as a private and that would be pretty awkward I think but as I said I would have to know the workings of the department, political situation, etc. And I am certainly no expert on police administration.
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Answers by Expert:
Jack Toomey
Expertise
Please do NOT ask questions about potential jail sentences that you or your friends may receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer or a parole officer so questions about those subjects will be rejected. I am a police officer with 26 years experience. Can answer questions about crime, police procedure, investigations, criminal law, search and seizure, traffic offenses. Prefer not to answer questions on the death penalty. Please do not ask homework questions. Remember this. The law in every state is different so questions about laws that are specific to your state could be difficult to answer. I also cannot give you legal advice on what to do or not to do in court. I have worked with authors in the past and will be happy to review scenarios or plots with authors to check for believability or accuracy.
Experience
Police officer with 26 years experience. Ten years in patrol and sixteen years in the detective bureau investigating every type of crime including murder, rape, robbery, theft, fraud, missing persons, etc, etc. Also taught at the police academy in areas such as constitutional law, search and seizure, and lineups.
Education/Credentials
B.S. in Criminology from the University of Maryland.
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