The Way That It Is Not

It used to be when there was a vacancy in detectives that a memo went out, asking those interested to apply. They were asked for things like their qualifications and their sergeant was asked for input. Why, because detectives was a short term assignment (from two to four years) after which time the detective went back to street patrol with more experiences under his belt. This made him a more experienced investigator in dealing with incidents that were initially reported on the street level.

Now, when a detective recently left the department (without a departure interview, but it would not be the first one in the last few years), one deputy was anointed quickly without any open applications from patrol for anyone who was interested. Whether this deputy is qualified and will do a good job or not is not the point of this post.

What is the point of this post is that now, along with sergeants and lieutenants being anointed, the rank of detective has joined that list. Now the only thing that matters is just that longshanks puts you there. This is a slap in the face to all working deputies that had an interest in working in detectives. Just like the bitch slap that they took on the last sergeant anointment, right CB?

Professional law enforcement agencies have written procedures for selecting officers for promotion or transfer to specialized assignments. This allows officers to prepare themselves through training and work performance to better themselves for consideration when promotion and special assignment opportunities come up. Agencies that follow policies requiring written testing, supervisory evaluation review, and oral interviews for qualified applicants for promotion or special assignments, have fact based reasons for why a particular officer was selected. Secondly, and almost as importantly, they can then talk to each applicant and intelligently inform them of what they need to do to improve themselves to perform better for the next testing.

Unfortunately, longshanks' agency is no longer a "professional" law enforcement agency. There doesn't appear to be a policy in effect that determines how an officer can be considered for advancement. If there is, then they are not using it. It appears that if you want to be promoted or be considered for a special detail, it boils down to who you "know." Too bad. This used to be one of the best law enforcement agencies in this state.

Well, longshanks has less than four years to continue foul things up at the sheriff's department. Unfortunately the next real sheriff will have quite a mess to clean up.