"Your badge and gun officer, you're suspened"

[kennyqb]

Bit of an odd question, and of course not a pleasant situation, but it's one of those things you never know unless you're a cop.

When an officer is suspended or quits does he ever do the movie thing and take his badge off and slam it down on the chief's desk, followed by his gun, or is it all less dramatic, filling out paperwork, signing forms, etc ? In short does it ever happen the way it does in the movies ?

[kennyqb]

Whoops, that should be "suspended"

[Compelled93]

Follow Up Question: If an officer is suspended, does he lose all law enforcement authority? For example, if i am suspended would i still have off duty carry, statutory powers of arrest, etc?

Yes, i am fully aware i am not an LEO and thus, under normal circumstances, cannot reply to posts in 'Ask A Cop,' however, i am posting a legitimate and related question and am posting in full compliance with the terms of use for this message board.

Yeah, i got banned for posting a follow up question once. Just covering my 6.

[Blizzination]

Bit of an odd question, and of course not a pleasant situation, but it's one of those things you never know unless you're a cop.

When an officer is suspended or quits does he ever do the movie thing and take his badge off and slam it down on the chief's desk, followed by his gun, or is it all less dramatic, filling out paperwork, signing forms, etc ? In short does it ever happen the way it does in the movies ?

I've only heard of this happening once...it's usually very anti-climactic. I don't think I've ever seen anyone "suspended" we call it administrative leave...but haven't seen it. Seen a few cops lose their jobs, one went a little berserk and threw his gun and some other gear down on a Sergeant's desk, or so I heard.

Other than that...it's usually just some a letter given to the officer, officer leave his stuff and goes bye bye for a little while..or forever.

[crass cop]

if "suspended", then no off duty carry/powers of arrest here

[mavriktu]

In my former dept.we had time cards and a time clock,when you came in there was a letter stapled to the card.Guess what,you got days offThink the chief at that time was afraid to tell you in person.
..With my current dept.luckily I have only received 1 day suspension,when I was a jail supervisor several years ago.The way I learned was I showed up at work,and another supervisor was thereI asked him which one of us had our days screwed up,and he said he was called in to work since I was suspendedCalled the warden and ,yuppers,since it was a Friday,I begged and pleaded but he wouldn't give me 2 more days,so in other words NO,nothing so dramatic,(though I have often threatened my prior boss with a 6 point suppository,think,badge up the ...)
...Also,you are a total civilian,no carry(yeah,right)no arrests,no details etc.

[DCPSDcop]

Here in DC we are presented with a PD77 form, which is REVOCATION OF POLICE POWERS AND NOTIFICATION OF DUTY STATUS. You would be issued this form if placed on any type of Administrative Leave, Suspension or Limited Duty Status (after 30 days for Limited). It basically advises you that you no longer have any police powers nor any duty to act outside of a normal citizen.

As far as turning in gun and credentials ... yeah except the process is a bit different then in the movies; wherein you remove your magazine first, then the weapon, and dechamber the last remaining round. Also, they always make sure to outnumber you in the room where this is going down.

The final way they do it here in DC is through the Police and Fire Clinic. Before every appointment they make you lock up your weapon and hand them the key. If they decide that you can't carry your weapon anymore (like due to psych issues) they simply do not give you your key back.

[cajunguy]

And sometimes it is VERY dramatic.

I knew an officer working in a nearby city who committed a MAJOR screwup (committed a burglary while on duty - caught on video), was called in by his chief and told to turn in his weapon and badge.

He did so, then drew another gun from an ankle holster and ate a bullet right in front of the chief.

Ummm, no he didn't make it.


.

[417Lt]

With us it doesn't happen like on the movies very often, if at all. We all work out of our homes so to slam our stuff down on the chief's desk would leave one with no way to get home. And our offices are very few and far between throughout the state.
Our system works like the repo man. Two supervisors from a different area show up, tell the officer what is happening, and take everything. It has to be the most depressing duty that one can be ordered to do.

[Dinosaur32]

Most of the time suspensions and surrendering of firearms and ID went smoothly at my command. Did have one incident of slamming. Done by a female Sergeant, pregnant and not happy with a work rule decision. Threw everything on my desk.

[Kieth M.]

Back at LAPD, if it's a major suspension or a relief from duty during the administrative investigation, it can be dramatic - so far, no one I know of, has blown their brains out.

If the suspnsion is five days or less, they don't even ask for the badge and gun, they just give you the same letter they would have, in the bigger case, telling you that you have no powers, etc.

[janego10]

we had a guy get busted by the FBI for pulling over cars and taking the loads off them then getting a tow truck to take their vehicle to a place that he wanted. One day he was asked to come into booking to help with a prisoner. Of course he had to lock up his gun and when he entered the booking room the FBI cuffed him up.

[DeputySC]

thankfully, I dont know how it happens. (knock on wood) I have known a few to get fired and since we get take home cars, I wondered how they got home. If someone from the department gave them a courtesy ride which could be awkward or just phone a friend for a ride home. Hopefully ill never be in that boat.

[JPSO Recruit]

thankfully, I dont know how it happens. (knock on wood) I have known a few to get fired and since we get take home cars, I wondered how they got home. If someone from the department gave them a courtesy ride which could be awkward or just phone a friend for a ride home. Hopefully ill never be in that boat.

I wondered the same thing since we all have take home cars. Finally when this real *****head got fired, they called him a cab to get home and the lieutenant gave him a $20.

[Nessmuk]

Two supervisors from a different area show up, tell the officer what is happening, and take everything. It has to be the most depressing duty that one can be ordered to do.

Yes, and just about give you a heart attack the first time it happens. Although I don't know if there's a "two supervisors" rule, it is the case with us.

I was only recently promoted when I got called on a day off. VERY early in the morning, the Chief called - I saw the caller i.d. and thought "this can't be good" - and asked if I could come in right away. Small talk about my day off, cut to the chase by, "Bring all your duty gear, and unfortunately, I can't tell you why." I was sweating bullets for a few! "Am I in trouble?!?" Long pause, and he blurts out, "No...why?" "Think about what you just said and how you said it, sir." Another pause..."Oh. OOOHHH. No, no, no, no, no. But there is a personnel matter I need you to assist with and I need you here right away, uniform & duty gear."

Second question: "Is one of my guys in trouble?" "No."

Being a personnel matter, he couldn't talk too many details. It was a civilian employee from another Division, and me and another Capt. had to do the dirty deed.

It does suck. Plain & simple, it sucks.