Sad story here.

[my80malibu]

This news article was put out today.http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2014/08/28/phoenix-officer-arrested-for-stealing-police-say-abrk/14741745/

[slusher]

Everyone is human and makes mistakes.

[blunc]

I hope Arizona police personnel aren't paid so little that they need to steal hobby supplies.

[Danno]

I hope Arizona police personnel aren't paid so little that they need to steal hobby supplies.

No police officer is ever paid so little that they "need" to steal.

That's just moral bankruptcy or mental illness. A morally bankrupt person should not have the job. A mentally ill person should have gotten himself help; there are plenty of avenues.

For a supervisory officer with as many years on the job, as in this instance, to throw away his integrity, 29 years of career, pension, benefits, and self-respect suggests to me that his problem was mental illness. {A morally bankrupt person would have been going for more than hobby supplies.}

It's sad . . . but I have no sympathy. He should have gotten help.

[booboo60]

This hobby thing can be a bear now! Push a man too the edge for the perfect glue bomb, lol poor rat bastard.

[Jaguar man 21]

I have the most respect for police men and woman but it hurts to hear this

[Agent G]

No police officer is ever paid so little that they "need" to steal.

That's just moral bankruptcy or mental illness. A morally bankrupt person should not have the job. A mentally ill person should have gotten himself help; there are plenty of avenues.

For a supervisory officer with as many years on the job, as in this instance, to throw away his integrity, 29 years of career, pension, benefits, and self-respect suggests to me that his problem was mental illness. {A morally bankrupt person would have been going for more than hobby supplies.}

It's sad . . . but I have no sympathy. He should have gotten help.

What he said.

25 years ago, a captain from my department was caught stealing a package of steaks from a grocery store. The guy was on the fast track to chief for goodness sakes.

G

[southpier]

he should have stolen from Hobby Lobby; could have gotten away with 40% more and they would have prayed for his sorry butt, too.

[johnbuzzed]

he should have stolen from Hobby Lobby; could have gotten away with 40% more and they would have prayed for his sorry butt, too.

[2000-cvpi]

he should have stolen from Hobby Lobby; could have gotten away with 40% more and they would have prayed for his sorry butt, too.

Another article said it was at a Hobby Lobby. So maybe the crosses were too much to bare. He can plead insanity based on all of the religious music playing at Hobby Lobby.

FYI, that was sarcasm.

[slusher]

No police officer is ever paid so little that they "need" to steal.

That's just moral bankruptcy or mental illness. A morally bankrupt person should not have the job. A mentally ill person should have gotten himself help; there are plenty of avenues.

For a supervisory officer with as many years on the job, as in this instance, to throw away his integrity, 29 years of career, pension, benefits, and self-respect suggests to me that his problem was mental illness. {A morally bankrupt person would have been going for more than hobby supplies.}

It's sad . . . but I have no sympathy. He should have gotten help.

was his pension lost due to this???

[Daddyfink]

[Danno]

was his pension lost due to this???

Of course!

But not so much 'lost' as 'p!ssed away.' He resigned in lieu of firing. You don't get a pension when you quit.

That's the way it works. There's only four ways to end a law enforcement career of that many years. If you have enough years of service (he did), you can ask for retirement and if you qualify, they will retire you with whatever pension you've earned. Or, you can quit in which case you cannot get a pension. Or, you can be fired, in which case you are not eligible for pension. Or, you can die in place.

Had this guy not resigned, he would have been suspended, prosecuted and upon conviction, fired. Then he would not be eligible for pension.

Any way you look at it, he paid A LOT for his decision to not pay for a few hobby supplies. But, like I said, I have no sympathy. He made his own choice and he had to know better, unless he was mentally ill with a disorder that caused him to take irrational chances of being caught . . . like kleptomania or some other 'crying out' disorder.

[Danno]

Allow me to correct myself. I just learned the police union has forced some changes on the process. By allowing the sergeant to resign rather than firing him, he is eligible to apply for pension benefits.

[Ju Ju]

I just learned the police union has forced some changes on the process. By allowing the sergeant to resign rather than firing him, he is eligible to apply for pension benefits.

....With Liberty and Justice for some.

When a police man brakes the law-there is NO law.

[Harry P.]

....With Liberty and Justice for some.

When a police man brakes the law-there is NO law.

Or when he breaks a law...

[Harry P.]

Allow me to correct myself. I just learned the police union has forced some changes on the process. By allowing the sergeant to resign rather than firing him, he is eligible to apply for pension benefits.

I'm sure the taxpayers are all jumping for joy now, knowing that by the union playing a cheap trick, they are now required to pay this guy for the rest of his life.

[Agent G]

Not necessarily so Harry.

Where I come from the police pension system is a stand alone entity. The city was required to contribute a certain amount if it was deemed they could. The city hasn't contributed in nearly 20 years as they continually cite "financial hardship". All my retirement bennies come from mine and other members contributions. The St Louis Police Retirement System is one of the main reasons a person joins the department. 20 and out baby. Not sure how Phoenix is organized but you see my point here.

Dismassal from the department is a complicated process. As in any case, deals are offered to alleviate the drain in manpower or finances. I'm sure his POST certification is revoked, as it should be, preventing any other employment in the field.

Big picture here, how much will it cost to:

a. Prosecute in the court system.

b. Conduct a full blown IAD investigation.

c. Conduct depositions, hearings, and meetings.

d. Terminate the sergreant without a pension.

It is truly cheaper for the city to let this guy go with his pension than drag it out for years in a criminal, and later civil, action.

I have no sympathy for the guy, but lets be honest. Should his family suffer due to his inexcusable actions?

G

[southpier]

yes; husband / father is a loser.

just because he got caught this once doesn't mean it's the first time

maybe he's been on the take for his whole career? ever happened before?

predators get caught for one incident, but I think the average is 87 victims over a lifetime. "Off with their heads!"

[Agent G]

Oh I have no doubt it was not the first and only time.

G

[Danno]

But it was shoplifting. Not bribe-taking or other forms of corruption. There is a big difference. Generally, shoplifting by someone with adequate income is an illness borne of the internal thrill of doing something wrong in such a conspicuous place without getting caught. It has nothing to do with economics and shoplifters are not 'on the take.'

The kind of 'on the take' graft and corruption southpier refers to is an entirely different breed. That's where willing criminals offer and pay bribes to criminals willing to accept and take the bribes, generally in exchange for professional accommodations or favors. That's different than stealing hobby supplies from an unwilling victim.

[charlie8575]

I have no problem giving this guy his pension. Thirty years doing that job is going to get to anyone, and while I can't excuse what happened, I can understand some of the potential underlying reasons.

I would, however, make his receipt of pension conditional upon a reasonable probationary period (say 6-12 months) and some kind of psychotherapy, which I think he needs pretty badly.

Charlie Larkin

Edited August 29, 2014 by charlie8575

[southpier]

Danno,

Mom always said "if someone steals, they'll usually lie, too".

you gonna believe a cop, or my Mom?

[Custom Hearse]

My ex boss, Ron Snodgrass has been indicted for theft...

http://www.ky3.com/news/local/st-clair-co-exsheriff-faces-federal-theft-charges/21048998_27097284

[Ju Ju]

I have no sympathy for the guy, but lets be honest. Should his family suffer due to his inexcusable actions?

G

Sure, Lets be honest: Should his family suffer due to his inexcusable actions ?

YES- why should his family be treated any different than any other common criminals family ?

Do they make special exceptions for thieves or drug dealers when they have family or children ?

I guess you could make an argument that this 'cop' has some type of mental disorder -but a lot of people commit crimes for no other reason than they need to eat and feed their family's-No special exceptions made there ?

Sounds like that guy had a pretty good job that he could support his family before he made his inexcusable action.