Common Sense Police Supervision Flashcards
The police supervisors code of ethics revolves around being
Loyal
Loyalty requires that the supervisor place enough faith in his own superiors to grant that in absence of _________ they are probably well intended in the course of action they have selected
Overwhelming evidence to the contrary
If a supervisor disagrees with a proposed course of action loyalty commands that he question the directive (2)
At the right time and in the right way
A Sgt. receiving directive to order his men to shoot on site an obviously unarmed offender should
Challenge the order. To do less would be to share in criminal comic
If a sergeant disagrees with a commander decision to use a police traffic car on the all night shift, these thoughtful Sgt. might:
Offer a logical list of reasons why the decision is not one he agrees with
When a supervisor relays information to their boss what should the primary concern be?
Accuracy
A less than honest attitude on the part of their supervisor may bring about long-term bad feelings and an immediate loss of ______
Respect
One of the supervisors most vital functions is
Evaluation and review
Inconsistency leads to
Chaos
A good supervisor will actively search for their own weaknesses and shortcomings by asking the opinions of
Peers, superiors and even officers they supervise
The socially responsible police supervisor is _______about his strengths, but he is willing to examine the possibility of problems in his performance too
Self-confident
The law-enforcement supervisor must adhere to his own
Code of ethics
The police supervisor demonstrates ______ to his agency and its leaders
Loyalty
The _______ an important task of the police leader
Suppression of rumors
The leader owes his loyalty to his subordinates and his responsible for their
Welfare
The law enforcement leader has obligations to himself and assures that he remains _______, _______ and ______healthy
Physically
Emotionally
Morally
The law-enforcement leader is aware of his obligation to serve his community in a _______ and _____ fashion
Moral and ethical
Bond viewed as a two-way street and contract by many
Trust
Bond viewed as a two-way street and contract by many
Trust
What are among the most important traits that a law-enforcement leader con demonstrate?
Integrity and personal courage
What two things are highly destructive to a leaders effectiveness
Frequent displays of temper and playing favorites
The subordinates of a strong and effective leader are more likely to display:
High morale
The word discipline is often used interchangeably with the word
Punish
To a great degree discipline involves an attitude and a feeling for (3)
The job, the agency, fellow employees
______ as it pertains to Police work might be defined as training and preparation that helped develop self-control sound character, and job efficiency
Discipline
A ______ police officer does a job properly because he knows that it’s the right thing to do not because he’s fearful or being punished for failure to perform
Disciplined
In an instance of intentional or negligent misbehavior, correction and/or punishment will be invoked for the good of the (2)
Employee and agency
A sleeping patrolman, drunk patrolman, and officer that pistol whips someone all share in common that they require
Each demand supervisory attention with a potential for corrective action
Once an employee is promoted to a supervisor rank and is part of the leadership structure, the supervisor must be concerned for the agencies ______, the public’s ______ and the employees ______
Agency’s interest
Public’s concerns
Employees welfare
If an officer excitedly tells the supervisor that he hit an arrestee in the head with his gun, the supervisor needs to take corrective action. Can the supervisor act alone or does he need to put up a chain?
He can act alone or with others
If an officer is found asleep on the job, a supervisor must calmly, quietly and carefully inquire into the potential problem. If it’s the officers first time dozing off, what is the appropriate action?
The sergeants attention in itself is probably enough
If an officer is found asleep on the job and then tells his supervisor that he is sick or there’s an illness at home, what is the appropriate action?
assigned to sickleave for the rest of the shift
If an officer is found asleep on the job and then tells his supervisor that he is quite sick, what is the appropriate action?
Officer should be taken home rather than allowed to drive himself
If an officer is found asleep on the job and the supervisor has reason to believe he is seriously ill, what is the appropriate action?
Emergency room
If an employee has a chronic habit of sleeping on the job, and disregards the supervisors previous suggestion to change sleep schedule, what is the next step?
Formal corrective action, such as a letter of reprimand or suspension without pay
If a line supervisor is to retain his authority and his reputation as one who can help, he must be able to recommend formal corrective actions to:
Higher authority
Corrective measures arbitrarily dictated from above can _______ of the first line supervisor
Destroy the effectiveness
Any corrective action in which the supervisors honest recommendations aren’t considered, the action will be less______
Effective
Any department policy that allows the first line supervisor to shrug and point upstairs as a source of any corrective measure, detracts from that supervisors faith in ______
Faith in his own ability and sense of personal responsibility
If a supervisor shrugs things off in points upstairs as a source of corrective measure, what do his subordinates him as?
Impotent or helpless leader when really important issues are to be decided
_____, _____ and _____ can take no part in decisions regarding correction of personnel
Personal friendships, grudges, or prejudices
What is the consequence for a corrective response that is too harsh
Makes the employee bitter and destroys the morale of his coworkers
Too lenient of a corrective response creates the impression among officers and supervisors alike that
Improper conduct will be overlooked and tolerated
If corrective action is extreme, whether too harsh or too lenient, the overall discipline and effectiveness of _______ will suffer
The employees peers
If a supervisor accidentally makes a false accusation of an employee drinking on the job. What is the result?
It could ruin a working relationship forever
Alcoholism can be described as
The need for liquor early in the day
Alcoholism can be described as
The need for liquor early in the day
Before confronting an officer about drinking on the job, the supervisor needs sufficient information from his own _____
Observations
A ______ and _______ confrontation with an officer suspected of having an alcohol problem is the fairest and most humane approach to
Direct and private
How may an officer respond when initially confronted that they have an alcohol problem
Anger, denial, even personal insults aimed at supervisor
If an officer has a poor response to a supervisors initial confrontation of an alcohol problem what should the supervisor do?
Persist until need for help is recognized
A supervisor demonstrating _______ and ______may be all that is needed to convince a police employee to seek help with alcohol
Personal concern and involvement
An employees alcohol problem requires that he be treated with (2)
Understanding and compassion
Alcoholics have symptoms and side effects, which can be harmful to
Those around him
An employee intoxicated at work should be promptly
Removed from the workplace
Drug and alcohol addiction are viewed as medical matters and covered under the provisions of the
Americans with disabilities act
A persons drug or alcohol addiction, diagnosis, treatment, and recordkeeping are granted _____ status under ADA
Confidential
A good supervisor will consult with his organizations ______ department for assistance with a situation that appears to involve alcoholism or drug addiction
Human resources or personnel department specialist
If a supervisor suspects an employee is intoxicated and wants to confirm with a breath or blood test he should do first
Notify chain of command
Whether or not a breath or blood test is as ministered to an employee, the supervisor has additional obligations to assure that:
The incident is thoroughly documented and provisions made to get the employee safely home
If an officer uses excessive force, the supervisor must look at what when deciding what sort of corrective action to take
Training
History of use of force complaints
If officer is informed of policies and laws regarding use of force
Any other circumstances that existed in this instance
THIO
What corrective action for an officer that unintentionally used excessive force
Additional training in personal defensive tactics
An employee that used excessive force and has a record of the same, mandates a more punitive corrective action such as
Suspension without pay
Mandatory counseling
Fired
Criminal charges
In order to be effective, reward/punishment must be immediate enough for
The officer to connect his actions with the results
Corrective action should be swift otherwise the supervisor might
Find it an unpleasant task and postpone it for as long as possible
Most of the time corrective action should be handled by
Primary supervisor and not sent up the chain of command
The _____ should know more about the employee than anyone in the chains higher reaches
Immediate supervisor
Removing _____ from the correction process is almost certain to lessen the likelihood that the corrective action chosen will be appropriate and fair
Immediate supervisor
The supervisors absence from direct invisible participation in the disciplinary process may diminish his _____ and ____ in the eyes of his subordinates
Stature and importance
Also will have less ability to direct and control the employee in the future
The wise leader will never act rashly on the basis of (3)
Rumor, gossip, hearsay
Once all the pertinent facts are available to supervisor, he should give his employee an opportunity to
Tell their side of the story
A good supervisor will develop and expand his ability to separate extenuating circumstances and justifiable deviations as things apart from (2)
Excuses and lies
Supervisor must avoid giving what impression before the employee has had a chance to tell their story
That the issue has already been decided
Can inquiry in correction be effective in a car or at coffee
Yes, if the two are alone
When discussing correction, the formality of the closed door office session can sometimes do
More harm than good
When should corrective action be taken if a prisoner is improperly searched
Immediately at the scene
If an officer tries to debate how a building search is to be conducted for a burglar, what should be done
The sergeants orders must be carried out without delay. Discussions and disagreements must wait until the volatile situation is secure. More thorough discussions later