Ratting on a sheriff

[budbeerlady]

In our area it is normal for the officer to take the car home. Maybe he is working 2nd or 3rd shift and he takes the car home? I would MYOB, if he is really sitting at home instead of working it wouldnt take them long to figure it out.
Now if you lived across the street from a township hall (or the like) and the same officer was parked there all the time "working on the computer" during his shift, that is something to complain about. That has happened a few times to an officer or two who werent doing thier jobs.

 

[JadenLayne]

Yep I have to agree MYOB, if he is doing something wrong he will get caught by his own department.

 

[DVC-Don]

We've had officers fired around here for sitting at home while on duty. I'd call.

 

[mickeyboat]

See, I do not get the MYOB point of views. If she tells someone and the person is doing nothing wrong, no harm, no foul.

Thanks to that person who reported it, they learned there was a problem and could correct it.

See, I can see where there could be harm. What if they put him on some sort of suspension while they investigated the report?

While I think it should definitely be reported if it is a clear violation, this case is not clear. It is the police force's job to keep tabs on their own staff.

Denae

 

[poohandwendy]

This is definitely a situation to MYOB. You don't know what the situation is.

I agree, you really do not know how the shifts work or what he is allowed to do. Unless you know specifically that he is doing something wrong, I would mind my own business.

 

[4formickey]

Yep I have to agree MYOB, if he is doing something wrong he will get caught by his own department.

This is her business if she is paying taxes, then she is watching her money sitting in the drive way. If he has noting to hide, then any complaint will be dimissed. If he should be on working and your grandma gets rape and robbed, you would be having a fit. , OP do what you feel is in your and your area best interest.

 

[poohandwendy]

This is her business if she is paying taxes, then she is watching her money sitting in the drive way. If he has noting to hide, then any complaint will be dimissed. If he should be on working and your grandma gets rape and robbed, you would be having a fit. , OP do what you feel is in your and your area best interest.

She does not know that he is wasting taxpayers money. All that she knows is that he brings the car home and comes and goes in his uniform. Well, plenty of people do that legitimately.

What she is seeing is not reasonably suspicious IMO, it's a matter of her not knowing what she is seeing.

Many sheriffs are not on 'patrol', they do things like serving summons and trasnsporting prisoners. If that is the case, he may be doing work in the computer at home and then going out to serve a summons throughout the day.

I just think it is rude to jump the gun and rat on someone when you don't even know if they are doing anything wrong.

 

[momof2inPA]

MYOB.

Plus, I love having a state policeman in the neighborhood. A couple of years ago there was a family who had domestic violence issues, and the kids were young and often outside alone for hours. Anyway, the policeman in our neighborhood would take the long way home, with an extra drive down our street, whenever he could. Finally, the troubled family moved away. It's a good thing to have a policeman as a neighbor.

 

[kdibattista]

This is her business if she is paying taxes, then she is watching her money sitting in the drive way. If he has noting to hide, then any complaint will be dimissed. If he should be on working and your grandma gets rape and robbed, you would be having a fit. , OP do what you feel is in your and your area best interest.

There is a difference between a police officer and a sheriff... at least around here. My sister was deputy sheriff, not a policewoman. She would work at the courthouse, serve warrants and transport prisoners. Chances are, if he's a sheriff, he's not patrolling areas. Again, that's around here... may be different in other areas.

 

[lulugirl]

See, I do not get the MYOB point of views.

What don't you get? All we know is that the neighbor, who is a sheriff, parks his car in his driveway during the day.
Frankly I think reporting it is a very "busy body" thing to do, based on the limited information the Op has about the neighbor.

 

[poohandwendy]

There is a difference between a police office and a sheriff... at least around here. My sister was deputy sheriff, not a policewoman. She would work at the courthouse, serve warrants and transport prisoners. Chances are, if he's a sheriff, he's not patrolling areas. Again, that's around here... may be different in other areas.

Exactly, and he may even be SAVING the taxpayers money by working out of his home instead of an office. We don't know and neither does the OP. That is the point.

 

[magicmato]

What don't you get? All we know is that the neighbor, who is a sheriff, parks his car in his driveway during the day.
Frankly I think reporting it is a very "busy body" thing to do, based on the limited information the Op has about the neighbor.

Right. And if she lets someone know, they will tell her there is no issue or they will discover there is one.

As for the person who worries the person would be suspended, most police departments have unions and most of them have very strict guidelines for how to deal with issues. Even if he was suspended, it would be WITH PAY.

Cops around here who shoot someone and go to trial are still paid as they sit home under investigation because that is how their contract is written.

 

[kdibattista]

As for the person who worries the person would be suspended, most police departments have unions and most of them have very strict guidelines for how to deal with issues. Even if he was suspended, it would be WITH PAY.

And, if my memory is correct, if he's suspended pending an investigation it will still go into his record... even if he is cleared.

ETA: Also wanted to add... why put him and his family through any possible investigation when she doesn't have the facts?

 

[poohandwendy]

Right. And if she lets someone know, they will tell her there is no issue or they will discover there is one.

As for the person who worries the person would be suspended, most police departments have unions and most of them have very strict guidelines for how to deal with issues. Even if he was suspended, it would be WITH PAY.

Cops around here who shoot someone and go to trial are still paid as they sit home under investigation because that is how their contract is written.

I always feel like ratting on someone requires a wee bit more substantial evidence than "it bugs me that I see him come and go in his uniform" and that is ALL the OP is going on.

Why can't she just ask him, "Hey, I never knew a Sheriff worked such strange hours...but I guess it would be kinda nice to come home during your shift, right?" Maybe she would learn a thing or two. And possibly even make a friend.

Why automatically call and make a complaint? That just doesn't seem at all neighborly. It seems meanspirited and busybody-like.

Then again, I have a nasty neighbor, so I know some people are that way.

 

[magicmato]

And, if my memory is correct, if he's suspended pending an investigation it will still go into his record... even if he is cleared.

I doubt it, but what do I know? I know our police department gets complaints daily about officers. They are public servants and I know my own police chief *expects* public complains about possible wrong doings. Why? Because it comes with the job.

If he is doing nothing wrong, then there is nothing to worry about. Just like the police officer that speeds or runs a red light without his lights on and gets reported... it will just be considered and put in the circular file, unless there are a LOT of similar complaints.

 

[Apothecary]

Let it go.

 

[poohandwendy]

I doubt it, but what do I know? I know our police department gets complaints daily about officers. They are public servants and I know my own police chief *expects* public complains about possible wrong doings. Why? Because it comes with the job.

If he is doing nothing wrong, then there is nothing to worry about. Just like the police officer that speeds or runs a red light without his lights on and gets reported... it will just be considered and put in the circular file, unless there are a LOT of similar complaints.

O...M...G...the OP has not seen the sheriff do anything that she KNOWS is wrong. (like your examples of traffic violations) Why on earth would anyone go out of their way to make a complaint when they do not even know if it is valid?

God, this thread makes me understand why people want to move into the middle of nowhere.

 

[mickeyboat]

Maybe he is home all day in surveillance of you! See, he is working!

And, if I were suspended from my job pending an investigation, even with pay, it would still be a trying ordeal for me.

Denae

 

[DVC-Don]

There is a difference between a police officer and a sheriff... at least around here. My sister was deputy sheriff, not a policewoman. She would work at the courthouse, serve warrants and transport prisoners. Chances are, if he's a sheriff, he's not patrolling areas. Again, that's around here... may be different in other areas.

Round here we have sheriff deputies and state troopers on patrol. Most of the time if we call for the police it's a deputy that comes. Turn him in.

(and the first 30 days of a suspension is with FULL pay)

 

[Cindy B]

My Dh does a split shift, with a four hour break in the middle of the day. I'm sure my neighbors wonder about him as well!