I was terminated from probation at a Sheriffs Department. Can I be rehired elsewhere?

Question

I was terminated from probationary employment because I had my personal cell phone and a folding pocket knife on my person while on duty. The cell phone was turned on silent mode and I did not use it while on duty. I had the cell phone as another form of communication in case my radio was incapacitated. The pocket knife was legal in every respect as per California P.C 12020. The duty Sgt. gave me a formal write up and, when passed to the BRAND new Lt., the Lt. decided to terminate me. I loved my job and would love to get back into law enforcement. Long story short... What are my chances?

The formal reason I was given was "not meeting the requirements of a probationary Deputy Sheriff." The Lt. gave me the wrong paperwork first which was a Memorandum of Counseling which outlined the sections of the Policy and Procedures which I violated. The sections I violated were "Prohibiting the use or possession of a personal cellular phone" and "Possession of a non-Department approved weapon." I know I messed up by not thouroughly adhering to the Policy and Procedures, however there were other Deputies on duty at that time violating the same sections. The only difference between me and them was I was the only one on probation.

TO WATCHMAN:
Ok how do you figure I did not take responsibility for my actions. I said in the details that I knew I violated policy and procedures. I was only trying to imply that the department made an example out of me by releasing me from probation for sections of the policy that MANY other deputies were violating without reprecussions. As far as not being police material...

YOU are not police material because:

a)You do not take notice of all the details even when they are right in front of your face.

b) You are an egotistical, hypocritical, I am holier-than-thou, cynical, badge wearing, wannabe super-cop.

It is cops like you who endanger they're partner's and civilian's lives. So I hope you look in the mirror and really think about what you are trying to say to me. I was looking for help with a problem and all you gave was your cynical and negative response. I hope you aren't ever dispatched to a problem in my neighborhood.

Answer 1

First off... I want to know what agency you were terminated from so I dont EVER EVER EVER EVER in my life apply there... Second off... the LT. does not have the last say in who gets fired! so... u need to meet with the Sheriff and talk to the guy. Third... yes you can get hired in another agency... You just need to be honest about everything and not lie about NOTHING! otherwise the next question you'll be asking on here is..... "I lied on my background application... Are there any chanced I can be rehired elsewhere?" because the answer is going to be... NO! so be honest if you re-apply somewhere else

Answer 2

A personal cell phone and a legal pocket knife are grounds for termination!?? Either there are other factors you are not telling us or your LT has raised Chicken Sh*t to an art form.

Request a meeting with your Sheriff about this and try to get your old job back.

If you have the Academy done your chances of getting on another department are not that bad. You are going to have to explain why you were terminated from the other department. The one thing you are going to have to know is the formal reason you were discharged. That is going to be something like, Failure to Meet Uniform Standards or Carrying an Unauthorized Weapon. Formal statements like that sound a whole lot worse than a personal cell phone and a pocket knife. So be sure you know the formal reason so you can adequately explain.
Good luck.

Answer 3

Seems like there is a lot more going on here. I personally don't carry a cell phone on my person becuase it's an officer safety issue, nor do I allow my trainees. However, in the two agencies I've worked for no one would ever be fired for carrying a cell phone on them. As for the knife, every officer I know of carries a folding knife and also not grounds for termination unless your department does not allow it.

I seriously think there is more to this story. Is there a chance you were not doing so good on FTO and this was the reason to save you the heartache. Perhaps not a real good one, but a reason none the less.

To answer your short story. You've got a chance, but for the immediate future it's very slim. It sucks because nobody has to tell you a thing about why you were fired and POBR does not apply.

Answer 4

If you were a sworn, full time Deputy, I would say that you would have recourse. But since you were on probationary status, I would venture to say that you have little chance. The departments I worked for put you on probation anywhere from 6 months to one year. During that time, if they decided to let you go, they could, and really didn't need a reason or explaination. They could simply state, "Did not meet departmental standards".

The only thing I can tell you to do is write your Sheriff and ask for a meeting with him, and request an appeal. If he agrees to meet you, then when you leave, you will surely have your answer, one way or another.

Answer 5

First thing first...did the sheriff or the patrol capt. fire you? I don't believe the Lt. has that power even if he is a white shirt. Second you shoudn't have had the knife on you unless issued to you by the dept. As far as the cell phone goes everyone has one so they should fire everyone at the dept. Since you were on probation they can let you go anytime but i believe you can fight this. Go to the sheriff and the patrol capt. and talk to them about what happened and see if you can get your job back. If you can't then go to a local police dept. and get a job there. All sheriff dept. are political so you can't do anything about that without getting fired. Try at a local/city police...less BS.

Answer 6

With the shortage of police officers, why does the system institute such crazy rules and regs., not only for the police depts., but also in other areas to make things rough for people? For example, kids getting expelled for carrying a finger nail clipper, or a nail file, and getting charged with carrying weapons to school. What about sharpened pencils? Aren't they excellent stabbing tools? It seem to me in the name of this so called "national security and safety" malarkey, American policy makers have given way of common sense to absurdity.

Answer 7

They wanted to get rid of you and saw a chance, that's how it works in departments, if someone doesn't fit in they wait for an opportunity to catch them doing something minor and they're out.

You can apply to other departments, why not? They won't "not" hire you because of it, but they will look at you harder than other candidates.

Answer 8

I hope Not! When I was on probation I would go out of my way to adhere to all directives given to me and follow all the rules and regulations. I wanted to pass probation and I did. What makes you non- police material is1) you knew what you were doing was in violation of policy and did it anyway, and on top of that you try to justify your disregard for the regs. 2) you refer to the Lt as new, blaming him. No where in you statement do you take any responsibility for your action, just excuses. Police work depends on the officer doing what they are told to do, your life and civilians lives might depend on it as well as fellow officers. Probation is to weed out the misfits. I'm glad your departments system works. There enough jerks with badges and gun out there. Getting rid of people like you make the street safer for everybody.

Answer 9

Appeal it to his supervisor and follow the chain of command up to the Sheriff if needed.