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Officer Resignation

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message 1: by Susan (new)

Susan Wisnewski (susanwis) | 7 comments Does a police officer give two weeks notice like in other professions? If so are they then given a desk job or do they continue on patrol? Thanks!!


message 2: by Susan (new)

Susan Wisnewski (susanwis) | 7 comments Thanks for your help John!


message 3: by Larry (last edited Jul 08, 2014 08:28PM) (new)

Larry Townley | 26 comments Hey Susan,

Just to add to what John said. Each department is slightly different in the way they handle voluntary resignations. For example, when I left my old police department, I had to participate in an exit interview with the folks from human resources and meet with the chief. At the exit interview I had to attend, they asked me why I was leaving, if I was satisfied with the job, would I have stayed if X,Y or Z had happened...etc. The 2 weeks notice is a general rule of thumb, and is greatly appreciated - plus, you don't want to piss anyone off by abruptly quitting as you will probably have to count on them writing you a recommendation for another job, and no need to burn a bridge as there have been times when an officer has to return to the department he resigned from for various reasons. As far as remaining in your current assignment once you've announced your plans to resign, John is correct in that you typically remain in your current assignment. The only caveat might be if you're a detective, you probably won't be assigned any new or major cases as they'd just have to reassign them in a couple of weeks when you leave. But, if you're on patrol, you'll keep doing what you're doing.

When I was applying for my federal law enforcement job, I kept it quiet until the last possibly minute because I was working undercover on an FBI-sponsored gang task force, and I was afraid that they may transfer me back to patrol just to screw with me. Therefore, they had no idea that I'd applied with the feds until they showed up to do my background check, and thankfully they left me where I was.

Hope this was helpful.


message 4: by Susan (new)

Susan Wisnewski (susanwis) | 7 comments Thanks for the info Larry! The exit interview is something I can incorporate into the book!


message 5: by Susan (new)

Susan Wisnewski (susanwis) | 7 comments One more thing, gentlemen - if an event occurs between two jurisdictions - what happens? Details - a woman is riding on a train from LI into NYC. She witnesses a shooting in Nassau County but the train stops at the next stop in Queens (New York City), when 911 is called would NYC bring her to Nassau County or would Nassau County come into NYC? Thanks again!


message 6: by Larry (new)

Larry Townley | 26 comments Yes, I did. I've been with them for 19 years next month. So next year I will have reached KMA status (Kiss My Ass) ;-) That typically means that after I'm KMA, 2 bad days in a row and I can tell them to kiss my ass and retire ;-)


message 7: by Larry (last edited Jul 08, 2014 08:26PM) (new)

Larry Townley | 26 comments Susan,

In a situation like that it can go either way. The Nassau County guys could travel into NYC and interview the witness, or they could call her and ask her to come back to Nassau County for the interview. If the Nassau County guys ended up going into NYC, they'd typically contact their NYC counterparts out of courtesy, and more than likely, an NYC detective would probably join them. I know with the Bureau if I'm in Detroit and I need a witness interviewed in Portland, for example, I would cut a lead for a Portland agent to go conduct the interview, and would provide him/her some background on the case and what needs to be asked during the interview. However, if it's a particularly complex or sensitive case, or the person to be interviewed is the subject in your case or was arrested in another jurisdiction, Bureau agents can travel to another field division's territory, with consent from both divisions SAC/ASAC, and conduct the interview themselves, and they'd typically be joined by an agent from that division. Years ago when I was working bank robberies in Detroit, one of my subjects was arrested in Los Angeles for another bank robbery, so I flew out to LA and did the interview with the help of an LA agent.


message 8: by Susan (new)

Susan Wisnewski (susanwis) | 7 comments Thanks again Larry.


message 9: by Larry (new)

Larry Townley | 26 comments Hey John...I remember you, bro. I was there from December 1995-June 2005. I believe you sent me my info packet when I processed into Detroit. I was on C-6, C-4 and C-8 while I was there. Did 8 years on the SWAT team as well.


message 10: by Larry (new)

Larry Townley | 26 comments You're welcome, Susan.


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