When cops sue their employer.

Last week I worked with a reporter from NPR’s ‘Marketplace’ on a story about New Jersey cops suing their employers.  The local report can be found at

http://www.wnyc.org/story/good-cop-bad-cop-how-infighting-coasting-nj-taxpayers/?utm_source=local&utm_media=treatment&utm_campaign=daMost&utm_content=damostviewed.  The comments following the article are very insightful, as well.

She was astounded by the fact that these cases cost the local jurisdictions in New Jersey more than lawsuits brought by citizens accusing police misconduct.  But, this is really an issue throughout the country.  The reporter hasn’t even considered the issue with firefighters or arbitration awards. 

If there is one common denominator in these cases, it’s that the agency’s IA/OPS process generally is flawed.  Sure some chiefs and sheriffs have vendettas against an employee usually because they challenge the boss, are lazy, or go behind the boss’ back to local politicians.  In their haste to do something, the chief or sheriff often cuts corners on the methodical process of the administrative investigation.

Other times the haste in the internal investigation is generated by a sudden outcry from a local politician or the media.  The chief or sheriff now wants to show that s/he is the boss and takes premature disciplinary action.  Someone has to tell the boss to slow down; take the reasonable approach to the investigation; and then administer fair, reasonable and defensible discipline.

The IA/OPS operation should be conducted in a responsible way to address all of the stakeholders in the process: the aggrieved person, the accused employee, the agency, and the community served by the agency.