Written Reprimand (cops only please)?

Question

A Sergeant, on his very first day as Sergeant, got mad at me during briefing and later in the day called me in to the office and told me that I disrespected him as a Sergeant. He then told me that my attitude was unacceptable and said "I will make things as uncomfortable as possible here for you if thats what I need to do" and then said he wanted to make sure we were going to get along. At the end of shift he gave me a written reprimand and suspended my FTO status. I refused to sign it and he said "Get out, I'm starting an I.A." Then the Sheriff called me in and asked me to explain what happened. Two weeks later I got a write up from the Sheriff for the same thing and still refused to sign. It is now in the appeal process and I said the violated POBR by not allowing me to have representation while being questioned about something that would lead to disciplinary action. Goverment Code 3303 (i). What can I expect next? Do I have a chance at winning the appeal?

Answer 1

You don't have a chance. If they want  you out, they'll get you out one way or another.

Answer 2

The hostile work environment may be a hard one to win, but you definetely have a case if you asked for and were denied union representation for ANY action that may lead to discipline.

When you were brought in for your written, did you ask if this could lead to disciplinary procedures and if so, did you ask for representation? If so, and you were denied, take this right up the chain of command. They will lose. Period.

My only thought (having been through this in the past) is that you will be under a microscope (what we called "catching the colonel's eye") and I can guarantee that they wont make that same mistake again in the future.

Best of luck and I hope this works out for you.

Answer 3

First let me ask you, What did you do, if anything during briefing that upset your Sgt?  If you were clearly being insubordinate, then this is a somewhat normal procedure; if it was just a personal issue, you need to contact IA and explain your side of the story.  Unfortunately, as you well know working in this field, sometimes not everything is fair; Prosecutions, Arrests, Convictions, while we would love to think the world is a great place, it's not, and there are some agents that make it personal, and yes, sometimes the department backs them.