NCJ Number
123865
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 38 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1990) Pages: 39-41
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Small police departments can profit from having a formal grievance procedure.
Abstract
Such a procedure assures all officers they will receive fair treatment and provides them a way to express problems. Working conditions and officer/supervisor relations are improved. Management staff can be made immediately aware of racial and sexual harassment and take action. Finally, a formal grievance procedure increases the professionalism of a small department. A common feature of most grievance procedures is several levels of appeal. Each level must have a time limit for action by the supervisor. The supervisor's role in a grievance procedure is to take time to hear the grievance, allow full expression of the grievance, ascertain relevant facts, communicate with other supervisors who have experienced similar problems, and explain to the complaining officer the logic behind a grievance decision. Departments should beware of setting expensive or cumbersome precedents during grievances, avoid unnecessary delays in resolving grievances, keep written records of all grievance investigations, publicize grievance procedures, and train supervisors to handle grievances.