Question

Problem-Solving Case: Suspensions of Lexington, Kentucky, Police Officers

A police officer in Lexington, Kentucky, was troubled by content some other officers had posted on the MySpace.com networking Web site. These officers discussed their work, includ- ing arrests they had made. Their postings included put-downs such as slurs about gays and mentally disabled people and comments that they worked for Lexington’s “snobby peo- ple” and the “Lexington Fayette Urban Commu- nist [instead of County] Government.” Photos on these officers’ MySpace pages showed them in uniform. The officer who was disturbed by the content reported the sites to a supervisor. The supervi- sor pursued the complaints, and the police department sought guidance from Urban County’s law department, so that the officers’ First Amendment rights to free speech would be respected. A board of police and law officials met privately to review the officers’ conduct and recommend appropriate discipline. The board recommended to Lexington’s police chief, Anthony Beatty, that five officers be charged with conduct unbecoming an officer, be suspended for 80 hours without pay, and receive additional sensitivity training beyond the training routinely given to all Lexington’s police officers. Police Chief Beatty accepted the recommendations and presented the plan for discipline to each of the officers. The officers accepted their discipline. After completing their suspension, they were to return to full-duty status. Beatty told a reporter, “In my discussions [with the officers] we certainly have talked about getting this behind us, moving on and making us an even better agency and enhancing our relationship with the community that we serve. And all of the officers are commit- ted to doing just that and are very remorseful for what happened.”

Questions –

1. Was it appropriate for the police department to discipline the officers for behavior that took place outside their jobs? Why or why not?



2. If you had been the supervisor who received the complaint about the officers’ MySpace postings, how would you have reacted? Whom would you talk to, and what would you ask?



3. Overall, as described here, does this case provide an example of effective discipline? Can you suggest a few ways a police department supervisor could add to the effectiveness of the discipline in this situation? (Keep in mind that government agencies, such as this police department, often have to follow strict procedures for documentation and decision making.)

Answer 1

1. The job of police offcers is a public duty. They are supposed to be disciplined and show empathy towards the communities they work with. They are expected to be saviours for the law abiding citizens, They are expected to show high degree of maturity and need to be composed to command a respect from the people they work for, irrespective of being on or off the duty. The officers' conduct was not appropriate in the given case, and showed the police force in wrong light in the view of community. As a result, the action taken by the department is justified.

2. I would have contacted the offending officers and asked them what made them posting such offensive content. I should have examined the circumstances under which they posted their comments. I should also have informed to the human Resources wing to conduct a social media conduct protocol training for police officers besides mandatory special sensitivity training for the officers. I would also have called for appropriate disciplinary action based on their responses.

3. Deduction of pay and participation in mandatory sensitivity training will not be an impactful discipline. To awaken their sensitivity in real terms, the officers should do community service with the deprived sections of the society during their suspension, particularly those who were shown disrespect by them. This will make them more sympathetical and tolerant towards these sections. There should be a written declaration from the officers regretting the incident and swearing that they will not indulge in such activities in future. The member of the police force should also be trained in leveraging the social media to improve the effectiveness of their work and increasing the visibility to the public for better connect and building rapport with them.