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I debated posting this for quite some time but at this point I really don't have much to lose so here goes.
I was working a 7p-3a shift with a partner when my SGT. calls me in and tells me to change into my bike uniform quickly. I do as told as report back to the SGT. He shows me a picture of a missing 20yr old autistic girl who functions at a 14yr old level. The only information we had is she told her mother she was going to the State Park. My SGT then gives me specific instructions to go to Geneva Meadows then take the bike trail to the State Park to look for her.
I do as told and come up with nothing. I radio my SGT. to inform him of my results and ask what his wishes were. He states "you checked the lake path?" I tell him no I went to Geneva Meadows to the bike trail and followed it to State Park. He tells me via radio this is not what he said and to check the Lake Path. So I go and do that. I finish my check and still come up with nothing.
I head in for lunch and my SGT. pulls in the garage behind me. He tells me that I made him look like an *** to the chief as he told him I was on the Lake Path when I clearly wasn't and I was in the complete opposite direction. I tell him sorry I was doing what I thought he had told me. He says well he never said that and further said it's done and over with.
It bothered me so I asked my partner in private what the SGT. had said, she confirms I did was what instructed. I then finished my night and let it be.
I was then off for a few days and receive a call from my Asst. Chief telling me he needs to meet with me today and to bring in my uniforms.
I report to work and am told I either resign or am being fired. I choose to resign for obvious reasons. I also received a write up for insubordination. This is the part that really bothers me. So I tell the SGT. and Asst. Chief at this meeting they need to speak my partner that night as I did what was instructed. To put it simply, they didn't care.
So now here I am unemployed and I don't think I have any chance of being hired with the insubordination write up on my record. The problem is I was a part time officer so I was not union protected and have no recourse.
I still want to be a cop as I feel I was pretty good at it and I thoroughly enjoyed the work. I have a feeling if I apply to other PD's I won't make it very far as they are going to take my previous PD's word over mine.
I thought of a couple ways to fight this, including having other PD's contact my partner that night, but she still is employed at my previous PD so I don't want to cause her grief. I then thought maybe I should have her type up a letter for me that I could provide to other PD's.
I am fine with having to resign that won't kill me; it's the write-up that kills me. Not only did I do what was told and was punished, it probably ruined my career. Furthermore I was not insubordinate; even if I had misheard him I didn't intentionally go against his orders.
I am really stuck and was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions or tips because I honestly don't know what to do.
Thanks in advance.
I was working a 7p-3a shift with a partner when my SGT. calls me in and tells me to change into my bike uniform quickly. I do as told as report back to the SGT. He shows me a picture of a missing 20yr old autistic girl who functions at a 14yr old level. The only information we had is she told her mother she was going to the State Park. My SGT then gives me specific instructions to go to Geneva Meadows then take the bike trail to the State Park to look for her.
I do as told and come up with nothing. I radio my SGT. to inform him of my results and ask what his wishes were. He states "you checked the lake path?" I tell him no I went to Geneva Meadows to the bike trail and followed it to State Park. He tells me via radio this is not what he said and to check the Lake Path. So I go and do that. I finish my check and still come up with nothing.
I head in for lunch and my SGT. pulls in the garage behind me. He tells me that I made him look like an *** to the chief as he told him I was on the Lake Path when I clearly wasn't and I was in the complete opposite direction. I tell him sorry I was doing what I thought he had told me. He says well he never said that and further said it's done and over with.
It bothered me so I asked my partner in private what the SGT. had said, she confirms I did was what instructed. I then finished my night and let it be.
I was then off for a few days and receive a call from my Asst. Chief telling me he needs to meet with me today and to bring in my uniforms.
I report to work and am told I either resign or am being fired. I choose to resign for obvious reasons. I also received a write up for insubordination. This is the part that really bothers me. So I tell the SGT. and Asst. Chief at this meeting they need to speak my partner that night as I did what was instructed. To put it simply, they didn't care.
So now here I am unemployed and I don't think I have any chance of being hired with the insubordination write up on my record. The problem is I was a part time officer so I was not union protected and have no recourse.
I still want to be a cop as I feel I was pretty good at it and I thoroughly enjoyed the work. I have a feeling if I apply to other PD's I won't make it very far as they are going to take my previous PD's word over mine.
I thought of a couple ways to fight this, including having other PD's contact my partner that night, but she still is employed at my previous PD so I don't want to cause her grief. I then thought maybe I should have her type up a letter for me that I could provide to other PD's.
I am fine with having to resign that won't kill me; it's the write-up that kills me. Not only did I do what was told and was punished, it probably ruined my career. Furthermore I was not insubordinate; even if I had misheard him I didn't intentionally go against his orders.
I am really stuck and was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions or tips because I honestly don't know what to do.
Thanks in advance.
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