Supervision of Police Personnel Flashcards
(212 cards)
Tests involving speed and precision have revealed that the performance of people who have a drinking problem is considerably reduced in the ___________ of alcoholism
early stages
Three reasons why problem drinking was not addressed earlier
First, the supervisors may not recognize the symptoms of deviant drinking in the early stages because they have not been trained to do so.
Second, if they do recognize them, they may not care to make an issue of the problem and thereby tacitly allow it to develop into a major one. They often justify this failure because they choose to classify the employee as a “person who drinks socially” rather than a person who has a drinking problem bordering on alcoholism.
Last, supervisors may often resist the idea of being forced to take disciplinary action because of fear of repercussions from the social group.
The most prominent problems associated with problem drinking
employees’ preoccupation with alcohol
the self-deception “games” they play in denying a problem or justifying drinking
Guilt feelings (reflected in many ways)
memory lapses,
and the anxiety and depression they often experience.
Many of the individual’s early stage symptoms of problem drinking go unnoticed by even closest associates. It is believed by some that the best clue to what is developing is
recurring memory blackout.
three defense mechanisms: for problem drinking
Denial, wherein they deny using alcohol or claims that they can take it or leave it alone;
Rationalization, wherein they deny the existence of any problem;
Projection, wherein they project the blame for their problem (if they admit they have one) onto other people or things, such as work pressures, difficulties with a significant other or partner, or financial difficulties.14 Individuals rationalize “taking a belt” to settle themselves down after a particularly stressful day, they may make excuses for their recurrent hangovers, or they often claim that some other chronic health problem is the cause, often misquoting their doctor.
(Problem Drinking) In fact, the most significant hurdle to overcome in the whole corrective cycle is
bringing them to a realization that they have a problem and need someone to help them resolve it.
three basic ingredients in effective counseling. (drinking Problem Chapter 8)
Being attentive to what is said,
looking at the problem from the employee’s point of view,
and establishing a comfortable relationship during the session
The important objective of professional counseling is not only to get people with a drinking problem to give up drinking, but also to lead them to the realization that they can never be
a moderate drinker, and that they can never again use alcohol.
As previously described, there are two occasions when the supervisors are obligated to become involved in subordinates’ personal affairs
when employees ask for help
when the problem has affected the subordinates’ performance.
Excessive job stress, or that resulting from personal frustration and inadequate coping skills, is referred to as
“Burnout” This psychological condition is also referred to as BOSS (burnout stress syndrome).
Suicide warning signs of which all supervisors should be aware include the following:
Depression
Previous suicide attempt Increase in use of alcoholic beverages Overly aggressive or violent behavior Any changes in mood or behavior that are out of the ordinary Changes in work habits Behavioral clues of suicidal thoughts Anger or irritability
Concern expressed by family/friends/colleagues
Posttraumatic stress disorder is often reflected by feelings of
isolation, flashbacks, sleeplessness, anxiety, and a loss of work interest, causing deterioration in performance.
The Psychological Services Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police defines a Psychological Fitness For Duty Evaluation (FFDE) as a formal, specialized examination of an employee by a qualified medical professional that results from:
(1) objective evidence that the employee may be unable to safely or effectively perform a defined job and
(2) a reasonable basis for believing that the cause may be attributable to a psychological condition or impairment.”
Such studies have consistently shown that employee dissatisfaction and grievances arise from factors that can be broadly categorized into four areas:
the work environment;
harsh, abusive, tyrannical, or inept supervision;
misunderstandings about policies and procedures of the organization;
and management failures of various types
Crank and Caldero have identified __________ as the primary source of stress for police officers.
organizational practices
Poor supervisory practices account for a large share of dissatisfaction and negative feelings of employees, some of which include: 8 FUHDEUEE
Failure to give recognition to employees when they believe they have earned it
Use of inappropriate language by the supervisor
Harsh arbitrary methods in dealing with subordinates
Display of favoritism
Existence of dual standards of conduct
Unfairness of supervisors in the application of rules to subordinates
Excessive supervision
Existence of cliques—and all of the bad connotations usually associated with these issues, whether or not the supervisor is part of the problem—are commonly cited as causes of employee dissatisfaction with their leaders
Management Failures
Rules of Conduct
Rule Enforcement
Due Process Violations
Rules of conduct, greatest concern was that such rules and regulations placed undue restrictions on their personal rights
they were opposed to controls governing their off-duty employment,
their hairstyles or mustaches or beards,
their criticism of the organization,
and their places of residence
Rules of conduct, Personnel who had strongest feelings about department rules and regulations relating to
operation of vehicles, courtesy to the public,
use of physical force, use of firearms,
and other general departmental restrictions on conduct and performance perceived these as interferences with their ability to do good police work
Rules of conduct, strongest opinions about organizational controls of
of their moral conduct, personal debts,
off-duty use of alcohol,
and the like, believed these matters to be an invasion of their right to privacy and none of the department’s business.
A property interest
tenured employees have legitimate claims to their jobs as conferred by statute, contract, or existing rules or understandings.
Employees’ liberty interests are
involved if the employer’s action in dismissing them significantly damages their reputation or standing in the community or stigmatizes them to such a degree that they are unable to take advantage of future employment opportunities.
Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill
tenured public employees are entitled, under due process, to oral or written notice of the charges against them and an opportunity to tell their side of the story before they are terminated.
Generally, courts have ruled that employees cannot be penalized for their acts unless it can be proved that their conduct was related to their performance of duty and
that it impaired their efficiency, seriously interfered with the operational efficiency of the organization,
or interfered with the maintenance of good order within the organization,
or it was common knowledge that the particular conduct was prohibited.