I would like you to get a supervisor here

[TeddyBallgame]

I've see many people in their forum post mention how they would ask a LEO to "get a supervisor here" if there is ever a seemingly difference of opinion during the course of a contact

It's made me wonder, as a LEO, what is your obligation/protocol when someone asks you to get a supervisor involved? Although many of you may feel it could be a reasonable request, some may not during certain stops

Is there a point when you would consider it? Are you more willing to get a supervisor involved during the course of an arrest, or, even a disagreement over a traffic infraction?

I get it, supervisors most likely aren't just sitting back somewhere, waiting to get involved in your daily stops/arrests, but, can a detainee/arrestee ask and get a supervisor by request? Even if it by phone, what determines involving a supervisor? Can you deny getting one involved?

I didn't put this in OT, because, well, first off, it most likely belongs here, and, I'd rather have 4 or 5 responses from people doing the job, versus 60 from speculators

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Yes you can ask for a supervisor.

Yes I will call them, and they will respond.

Despite the FUD you might read on Calguns, law enforcement is service oriented, and complaints are taken seriously. If you are wrong, don't expect the supervisor to throw the officer under the bus to placate you. He won't rip up a citation either. But if there is genuine misconduct, he will investigate it legitimately and thoroughly.

[Artema]

Yes you can ask for a supervisor.

Yes I will call them, and they will respond.

Despite the FUD you might read on Calguns, law enforcement is service oriented, and complaints are taken seriously. If you are wrong, don't expect the supervisor to throw the officer under the bus to placate you. He won't rip up a citation either. But if there is genuine misconduct, he will investigate it legitimately and thoroughly.

It's always reassuring to hear of good order like that. Thank you.

[Samuelx]

Make no mistake, it's not Burger King for the people we detain out there - just because someone requests or even demands something doesn't necessarily mean I have to provide or accommodate. If I don't call for a supervisor, I would likely tell him/her that he/she can go to the station and speak with a watch sergeant/watch commander to express his/her concerns.

Btw, if you cooperate with me, I'm going to be much more willing to listen to your concerns AFTER you've been safely detained. If you resist my efforts to safely detain you, it probably won't end well.

[Ron-Solo]

I agree with Bobby and SamuelX. As a supervisor, I responded to many incidents in the field, as well as handling counter traffic at the station.

[bigger hammer]

On most departments that I'm familiar with, if someone asks to speak to a supervisor, the officer should call them to the scene. Sometimes they're busy and the person is told this and that they can contact him by phone or by going to the station. There is no law that requires that he show up at the scene. Some departments have a policy that if someone requests that the officer call a supervisor to the scene and the officer refuses, he can be disciplined.

As a supervisor I always tried to respond to those scenes. Often it was just a matter of having a second, uninvolved person, explain to the person, the policy, the law, or the reasoning behind the officer's actions. But sometimes there was no satisfying them, and they wanted to make a complaint. My department had the officer's supervisor do the investigation on them and these field contacts were the preliminary part of the investigation. Sometimes when they came into the station to make the complaint, they'd not realize that I had been the responding supervisor and the facts they told me at that time varied considerably from what they'd originally told me.

[P5Ret]

If I or one of the other patrol supervisors weren't busy we would respond when asked. There was no set policy on if someone requested a supervisor, they had to be called, except for refusal to sign a cite, a supervisor or senior officer had to respond to those. I think as a general rule most of the troops (or at least the ones on my shift) did ask for a supervisor when someone asked for one to respond. At the very least they were told how to contact the shift or team supervisor by telephone or at the station.

[Falconis]

Policy dictated that we call our supervisor when "requested". I've always called, they always answered, nothing ever changed.

[IlDuche]

"Sgt's busy. You can go to the station to speak with him there." If the person is a real a hole, that's what they get. Otherwise I'll ask for a boss. Generally. Or just tell them they can file a complaint later, but this is what's going to happen now.

We have a separate complaint entity in The City. Figure I may as well send them some work right? They gotta eat too!

[hitman13]

tell them they can file a complaint later, but this is what's going to happen now


ETA: My supervisor is usually 30-45 mins away.

[IlDuche]

I like that ETA one!

[diverwcw]

They can request all they want but requests and work is prioritized. If the Sgt is working on some project the LT wants done, it takes priority over some person who wants to complain about an officer's conduct at the scene. The Sgt should be listening to the radio to determine which requests they will respond to in person vs. those requests that can be handled by phone call later on.

Besides that, it gives the complainant time to settle down a bit and stick to the facts.

[Che762x39]

It varies with departments. Adelanto when they had a PD had a Chief and nine officers. Realistically you not getting a supervisor. A few other departments are that small in Northern California.

Now a traffic violation, you need to see the Judge, a Sergeant is just a second opinion.

[fullrearview]

I get paid to make decisions. If I come across something I can't decide on, I will call a supervisor.

[Ron-Solo]

"Sgt's busy. You can go to the station to speak with him there." If the person is a real a hole, that's what they get. Otherwise I'll ask for a boss. Generally. Or just tell them they can file a complaint later, but this is what's going to happen now.

We have a separate complaint entity in The City. Figure I may as well send them some work right? They gotta eat too!

As a supervisor, I would rather respond to the location and deal with the complaining party. That way, I get to see first hand how they are behaving in the field.

Also, I get to talk to them and get a more accurate story of what happened before they talk to a bazillion other people who add their 2 cents worth, and I get an embellished story. I also get to try to handle it before they decide to make a formal complaint that goes in your personnel file, not mine.

If I can resolve the situation informally on the scene, it is better for you, and a lot less paperwork for me and others to write and read.

If you are right in what you are doing, if a supervisor is immediately available, if it to YOUR benefit.