Can the police department dictate who an officer can and cannot date?

Question

I would like to know if the police department has a say in who its officers can and cannot date. If say a person had a known criminal background or even a shady past, would the department be able to tell an officer not to date the person?

Answer 1

Police departments can ABSOLUTELY govern their officers personal lives to some extent. Every law enforcement agency that I know of maintains policies that dictate that an officers behavior reflects on the agency even when that officer is off duty. The expected standard of conduct of law enforcement officers is held at a higher level than that of an ordinary citizen and the employing agency has an obligation to ensure that those standards are met.

Generally the policies prevent officers from engaging in conduct that would discredit the view of the department in the public eye such as dating parolees, people with criminal records, etc.

Answer 2

Yes and no. Departments don't usually wanna look stupid or have a chance at a scandal allegation coming to surface. If one of the officers are dating someone that has a checkered past, and that person breaks the law again and a lot of the community knows that that person is dating a police officer, it would embarass the department. It could make the community think that if she was involved in something bad, then the officer would have to be involved or know about it, and then people start to think the whole department is corrupt. Or people could start saying that because that person the cop was dating got off the hook because of her dating a cop.

Sometimes they will put into a contract with the newly hired officer that they do not associate with people with a criminal past or who are involved in criminal activities in the present. If the officer is found to break that contract, then yes the officer will more than likely have to make a choice to stop dating the person or go work somewhere else.

This is mostly the case in smaller areas as opposed to larger municipalities. Also, the departments don't really go and check out who all the offiers are dating, and won't really care about the past that the person has until they are caught breaking the law while dating the officer.

Answer 3

Legally no, but keep in mind if the cops partner has a shady past, a criminal past, or anything that could be preceived as morally or criminily wrong, then it can play a part in the cops job and future with the department and the way his co workers and peers see him. Quick example, lets say a cops becomes too friendly with a local hooker and they fall in love (it can happen), and she wants to change and be with just him and he truly loves her, well this could create a problem, due to the hookers past and history. Not saying that a cop has to have a relationship with only angels, but what every they do, will always be judged, is it right, no, but its all about preception. Also it can be seen as a liability to the department, and the officers credibility.??????

Answer 4

There is na actual rules that I am aware of that woould prclude it , however there are certain understandings and unwritten standards that most police would be aware of and adhere to.

generally Policing is a very tight team environment with a lot of trust between officers and a great relience on each other.

If one of them was to break ranks and date an individual that had been known to some of those persons collegues that is likely to be frowned upon and not well regarded.

there have been cases cited in the press where an officer has dated a know felon and in amny cases it doesnt work out well for any party involved.

Answer 5

I am a former Integrity Controll Officer, trained by Internal Affairs. According to the Patrol Guide a Police Officer cannot date a Convicted Felon or even visit one in jail. It becomes complicated when, after marriage the spouse commits a felony crime. I never did run into that situation.

Answer 6

Each department has its own policies. Police Officers usually don't become involve with people with a criminal past. Being involved with a known criminal doesn't display good judgement, a big factor for advancement.

Answer 7

They can recommend that an officer stay clear of people like this because it will avoid problems later on. Example: if someone has a burglary conviction and they are dating a police officer. That person will be questioned every time a burglary happens. And it she is guilty, the officer is also going to be suspected. Its best to stay clear of people with criminal records.

Answer 8

That depends on the state, city or county in which they reside and which department they are with.

If a police officer is dating a known felon, they will of course have an objection. Many superiors only question this relationship, but then they have that right, especially with the situation the US is in right now. Each department is different, though. You will be warned first, however.

Answer 9

No they cannot. The only thing that that can regulate is someone dating a superior officer or a subordinate. When it comes to background they would not be able to have any say.

In refrence to that - how would the administration know that they have a backgound record unless they know the "felon" personally? They can not run a criminal history on a person just to see if they are good for one of the officers. There has to be legitamite reason for them to check on someone's criminal history or it would be in violation of the FBI's NCIC system and run a risk of loosing their NCIC capabilities (i.e. no more traffic stops, warrant checks, etc).

Answer 10

Generally speaking, a police department does NOT have the right to dictate who their officers date, but in reality, they get their two cents in anyway, and sometime they sanction these officers if they don't toe the line.