Post by bistro on Oct 21, 2013 17:59:46 GMT -5
One of the Reasons Police Officers Don’t Speak Up & the Blue Wall of Silence
August 6, 2013
In 2008, the Phoenix Police Department claimed that it had 358 kidnappings, making it the kidnapping capital of the United States. It asked for help from the federal government, in the form of grants. The problem was is that the PD was classifying everything as a kidnapping in its database to arrive at that number. All in an effort to obtain millions of dollars in federal funds.
Sergeant Phil Roberts knew that the information was incorrect. He was a supervisor in the department’s kidnapping unit. So in 2009, he began to write memos stating that the information was incorrect. And in August of 2011, the Chief of Police, Jack Harris, had enough. He ordered an internal affairs investigation into Roberts activities. This resulted in the termination of Roberts.
Roberts claimed that he was being retaliated against for being a whistleblower. The city said that he was not, and had violated numerous policies. They fired Roberts. So in 2011, Roberts filed suit in U.S. District Court alleging wrongful termination and retaliation. On July 25, 2013, in court ordered mediation, the city offered Roberts his job back. It is unclear if he will receive back pay.
(more)
excoplawstudent.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/one-of-the-reasons-police-officers-dont-speak-up-the-blue-wall-of-silence/
August 6, 2013
In 2008, the Phoenix Police Department claimed that it had 358 kidnappings, making it the kidnapping capital of the United States. It asked for help from the federal government, in the form of grants. The problem was is that the PD was classifying everything as a kidnapping in its database to arrive at that number. All in an effort to obtain millions of dollars in federal funds.
Sergeant Phil Roberts knew that the information was incorrect. He was a supervisor in the department’s kidnapping unit. So in 2009, he began to write memos stating that the information was incorrect. And in August of 2011, the Chief of Police, Jack Harris, had enough. He ordered an internal affairs investigation into Roberts activities. This resulted in the termination of Roberts.
Roberts claimed that he was being retaliated against for being a whistleblower. The city said that he was not, and had violated numerous policies. They fired Roberts. So in 2011, Roberts filed suit in U.S. District Court alleging wrongful termination and retaliation. On July 25, 2013, in court ordered mediation, the city offered Roberts his job back. It is unclear if he will receive back pay.
(more)
excoplawstudent.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/one-of-the-reasons-police-officers-dont-speak-up-the-blue-wall-of-silence/