Supervisor/Sgt Involvment in Every Call?

[pappabacon]

So I am here watching COPS (I know what the heck are you watching COPS for?) and it seems like on just about every call at the end of the contact where an arrest is made there is a supervisor involved. Is it like this on every call? Does a supervisor come out to "ok" what the arrest is for, etc? Is this sometimes something done through the radio prior the arrest?

[dashdriver]

What you see on COPS 100% of the time are calls that happen about 1% of the time in the real-world. For most COPS-type calls, yes, you're going to have at least a SGT there, if not higher up. However, in the real world, supervisors do not go on many calls. Some they are required to go on, others they may go on because of who the officers are dealing with, other times they may just want to shag a call or two to stay proficient. It will also vary by department, but that's probably pretty typical.

[LAChief]

The last Sheriff we had, issued explicit orders that an arrest could not be made without supervisor approval. I have yet to confirm it, but I believe that the supervisor would call the Sheriff to see if it was alright to arrest the individual. This was to insure that none of the Sheriff's "buddies" were arrested. Thankfully, he was only a one termer.

[mtxpro752]

In LA we must get watch commander approval for booking but that happens at the station. I would asume that a supervisor follows around the guys who have the COPS crew riding with them to make sure they don't eff up on TV

[Michigan]

If I arrest someone it's my choice. I've never had Sgt or any other supervisor "ok" an arrest.

Command normally shows up to anything "major".

[SRT936]

Let's see, a camera with national attention is running. Why wouldn't you expect brass to show up?

[FL Trooper]

I see my sarge maybe once a month, so no he doesn't show up much. However, I know the local S.O. has to have a supervisor show up to approve every arrest that's made. Sounds ridiculous but it's true.

[PhilipCal]

My agency never requires a Supervisor to approve an arrest. Heaven help the Trooper who asks permission to hook someone up.

[deputy x 2]

Only on TV....heh heh.

You make your own decision to arrest or not.

[pappabacon]

Thanks guys/maybe gals, I figured it was to make sure everything was on the up and up for the cameras.

[mdrdep]

If a sgt. gets to much into my business, I'll let him handle the call and go on my merry way. Sgt's do show up to major calls but usually to provide the handling deputy with any help he may need.

If I have PC for an arrest I make the call. After I get back to the station the las step in the booking process is to fill out a probale cause dec. that is signed by the W/C (for felonies) or watch sgt. (for misd.). So it's more like approval after the fact.

[ateamer]

If a sgt. gets to much into my business, I'll let him handle the call and go on my merry way. Sgt's do show up to major calls but usually to provide the handling deputy with any help he may need.

If I have PC for an arrest I make the call. After I get back to the station the las step in the booking process is to fill out a probale cause dec. that is signed by the W/C (for felonies) or watch sgt. (for misd.). So it's more like approval after the fact.

Pretty much the same here, except for sergeants don't read our arrest reports and PC forms until end of watch. 425 square miles, 160,000 people just in the unincorporated area (260,000 or so total), eight patrol units, one sergeant. No way could our sergeants show up at more than a handful of calls, so they are pretty much just staying available for if we need them. They'll stop by when they're close, but we are expected to make our own decisions and call the sergeant only if we and our beat partners can't figure it out. We have some serious issues going on with staffing, pay and benefits right now, but management continuing to trust us that much and encouraging us to operate that way is huuuuuge.

[phillyrube]

I've got guys that I show up on, when they are writing a parking ticket!!!

[DAL]

In LA we must get watch commander approval for booking but that happens at the station. I would assume that a supervisor follows around the guys who have the COPS crew riding with them to make sure they don't eff up on TV

Didn't LAPD at one time have a policy that a sergeant had to approve any felony arrest in the field? I was told that about 30 years ago when I made an off-duty arrest in downtown.

[pujolsfan146]

Our sergeants have some administrative work they are responsible for. The majority of the time they are on the road. At least on my shift. They also field calls. As noted they will show up on the major calls. We have really good sergeants. They have never busted my chops or tried to interfere when I am on a call. When they show up they are there pretty much for backup.