Reference no: EM133681529

Question

You are a five-year veteran of the State Police Department and take pride in remaining physically fit for duty. Your agency requires that you pass an annual physical fitness test to continue to work out on patrol. You work hard every year to meet these standards and exceed them. When you first start in the forest, you are partnered with Officer Bailey. Officer Bailey and you graduated from the academy together and have worked the streets together ever since. Initially, Officer Bailey was in good physical shape and passed all of the standards that are required by your agency. However, in the last few years, you have noticed that Officer Bailey has continued to gain a significant amount of weight and developed poor eating habits while you have worked together. You have made a point to bring this up on several occasions, only to be told to mind your own business. You are concerned not only with Officer Bailey's welfare but also with your own safety as well as the public's safety when performing your duties. You rely heavily on Officer Bailey as your partner in day-to-day operations. The gradual weight gain has cost you to pick up Officer Bailey's slack and your normal duties. In the most recent annual fitness test, you observed Officer Bailey intentionally miss a few of the obstacles when not observed by the Proctor and claim that he passed them. You know for a fact that he did not.

Recently, you have responded to a domestic violence incident where a husband was actively assaulting his wife upon your arrival. When the husband saw both of you, he ran from the scene. As you began to chase after him along with Officer Bailey, Officer Bailey stopped after a few feet, bent over, could not catch his breath, and yelled for you to help him. You stopped to make sure your partner was OK, which resulted in the assailant getting away. After a few minutes, Officer Bailey was fine, and he stated that he was just out of shape. The following day you were both called to your sergeant's office to explain what happened and why the suspect was not arrested. You are aware that the victim has also generated a complaint.

1. Would your response be to your supervisor?

A. Protect your partner; He has been with you since day one and there is a "Code of Silence".

You will just have to continue picking up his slack until you can convince him to change his ways.

B. Tell your supervisor that the suspect was just too fast and that neither of you could catch him, even though you both tried.

C. Tell your supervisor that you believe Officer Bailey has some health issues that may have contributed to the escape and that are affecting his work performance as well. However, do not go into further detail; Leave it for Officer Bailey to explain.

D. Tell your supervisor of the ongoing health issues you have observed with Officer Bailey, express your concerns for safety, and also advise him that you know Officer Bailey did not successfully pass the recent annual physical fitness test and made his way through anyway by cheating.

2. How would you address the issue with Officer Bailey after the incident?

A. Especially concerns over his safety, your own safety, and the safety of others given his recent inability to perform some of the duties.

B. Tell him that you would notify your supervisors of his cheating on the annual fitness test.

C. Since he has been with you since day one, get together with Officer Bailey to come up with a plan on what to say to the supervisor. Then work out a deal about how you will be responding to calls together in the future because he is no longer physically able to do some things.

D. Do not address it with him. Leave it alone, pick up his slack, and hope that he realizes it and eventually does something about it on his own.