Former DCPD Cop: James Ryan Bloom

[notyoubob]

He's a dead man. Either by his own hand or a hoosegow shank.

[K C Muffin]

I have a question....

How does a guy who's been in sexual offender treatment ever get hired onto one police force, let alone two?

[notyoubob]

Originally Posted by K C Muffin

I have a question....

How does a guy who's been in sexual offender treatment ever get hired onto one police force, let alone two?

Like bad teachers and preachers, bad cops are often allowed to resign and move away to become some other jurisdiction's problem. That has to stop.

[lurker]

One part of our current city gummit that I don't like is our (voters) inability to directly influence our law enforcement department like we can our Sheriff's Department. If someone has a problem with the DCPD and asks a commissioner for help, the commissioner will shrug and tell the voter to talk to the Chief or City Manager. Those employees realize they are beyond arm's length from the voting booth and respond differently than they would if they had to pass a voting test every few years. The City Judge is immune, too; but not the County or District Judges.

[TexKan]

They follow the laws........... the votoer don't make up the laws the goverment does. Lots of times cops have to follow and enforce laws they don't agree with........ it's not easy to live the thin blue line......... ask any of em. The frustration level is high but it's called public service. They are just doin thier job most the time. There is bad in any profession - why would law enforcement be any different?? It's a small percentage. I would never want any PD to be anserable to the voters - scary thought........... they get in plenty of trouble when folks complain - a good chief would never let the community see the repremands they get in private. They do get them but there are some bad cops that fly under the radar for years. Shuffling bad ones off is a practice that won't change. Not every cop is meant for everydepartment. You are talkin about ruining a persons career. One or two mistakes is not worth ruining a person's career. A bad cop at one place can be a good cop at another place. Hell we give our inmates more chances than that. A cop will ruin his own career in time if it's meant to be.

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by TexKan

I would never want any PD to be anserable to the voters - scary thought........... they get in plenty of trouble when folks complain - a good chief would never let the community see the repremands they get in private.

I may be wrong but I think they already do in some cities where they elect police chiefs and/or police commisioners. I believe in those cities with police commisioners, the chief has to do what the commisioners tell him/her to do. If crime and/or corruption is high in the voters minds they will elect new leaders.

[TexKan]

You said the key word..... Leaders............. the cop on the street is following polcy - most the time - cities have to operate within the law - so no matter how much you think something should be done - if it's not within the law it's not policy. You can elect who ya want but they can't operate outside the law. I know lots of folks think police have thier own law - but they don't. They have "law" within thier ranks but then hell we got that at our own work - it's called politics.

[K C Muffin]

I agree with everything youse guys just said, but at one time there was quite a psychological profile done before you could even be hired as a "substitute" officer. Has that changed? I do have to disagree with one thing....whether or not it ruins a PO's career, if there's a finding that the PO is guilty of a sexual crime, the career should be over. Over. Whether it's a misdemeanor or not. Passing him from one department to another is irresponsible and the city voters should be up in arms. There's no way to justify it. No freakin' way.

[lurker]

Originally Posted by K C Muffin

I agree with everything youse guys just said, but at one time there was quite a psychological profile done before you could even be hired as a "substitute" officer. Has that changed? I do have to disagree with one thing....whether or not it ruins a PO's career, if there's a finding that the PO is guilty of a sexual crime, the career should be over. Over. Whether it's a misdemeanor or not. Passing him from one department to another is irresponsible and the city voters should be up in arms. There's no way to justify it. No freakin' way.

My point exactly Miss Muffin. Yet the officers are beyond arm's reach from the voters as it now stands.

[TexKan]

I guess I don't understand why the voters need to have a reach to an officer other than thier elected officials. You don't vote officers in. If there are child molestation charges then an officer can hardly be passed from one place to another. If there are no charges then they don't deserve any more punishment than you or I would recieve under the same circumstances - which is none. Why would cops need to be punished if no proof was there. Rumors from dept to dept pretty much take care of things. Was this guy suspected of things when he was in Dodge? This is a very different case cause it was his own step daughter (I guess) or his own daughter (?) Things like that sometimes take years to come to light cause often no one is told cause the child doesn't know this is wierd behavior or fears her own kin cause they are a cop. No vote is gonna change those kinda dynamics.

As far as I know KC the testing you speak of is still done. They also sit and go thru scenerios on interview. Dallas has extensive testing but then they have one of the crookedest forces around - except maybe NO pre Katrina. I think NO has tried to straighten up thier image. PD's nationwide I think battle with image issues. Bottom line is - it's a job not every person could, would, or should do. Thiers is a whole different world - like so many professions.

I don't think molesters should be passed from dept to dept but first you have to be proven one. That in itself will wreck the career. It would be well deserved but careers shouldn't be wrecked based on rumor.