[YoursEvermore]

Brief back story: I work for my local sheriff's department. I'm a Deputy and I've been there 1.5 years.

What do you do when your Lieutenant and the 1st Sergeant don't like you, but all the other Sergeants (and Sergeants/Lieutenants from other divisions) think that the Lieutenant and 1st Sergeant are pieces of crap who just need to shrivel up and retire?

Not to sound conceited or anything, but I think I am fairly likable. I get along with most everyone I work with. Even if I don't particularly like someone, I still deal with them in a civilized manner. But early on in my training, I rubbed the 1st Sgt. wrong because I didn't get along with one of her "pets" (aka: suck up subordinates). The Lt. is naturally a pushover for whatever the 1st Sgt. says and he, therefore, doesn't like me either and is now keeping a file on me, detailing every little mistake I make.

I don't know what to do. My direct Sgt has already gone to bat for me and been yelled at for it. I don't want to make waves by running to the Sheriff (who I'm not sure would even listen anyway, considering the Lt has 30 years in with the department), but I don't think it's fair that the Lt is singling me out like that. (And I know he is, because he told my direct Sgt about the file.) I mean, even working on a different shift from the Lt and 1st Sgt doesn't work because the Lt can always pull the phone conversations and radio traffic and my e-mail! Not to mention our division is full of two-faced backbiters. Gossip abounds in that place.

I'm so miserable right now. I even asked my Sgt what I can do to make the Lt happy and he said he didn't know, because he didn't even know what the Lt was looking for to pin on me.

What do you guys suggest, other than keeping my nose squeaky clean and tip-toeing on eggshells?

[magneticheart]

If I were you I would go to the sheriff! The sheriff needs to know this stuff because your Lieutenant is being completley un-professional!
First of all keeping a 'file' on you listing all your mistakes sounds very dodgy to me seeing as you haven't done anything wrong and secondly she shouldn't have favourites.
If your direct Sgt and other Lt's and Sgt's can see what you see and aren't on her side then when you raise the issue with the Sheriff they should back you up.
Until you can speak to someone about it I'd make an extra effort not to give her any real reason to dislike you and then when someone raises the subject with her she has no specific incident to refer to and that shows that she's treating you unfairly.
Best of Luck!

[Dragonfly]

Why don't you apply for a position in another division or department?

[AngelaGM]

Originally Posted by Carolyn

Why don't you apply for a position in another division or department?

I agree with Carolyn!

[Karren]

Damn!!! That really sucks!! I have a friend who was also an officer..... went around to the top and ended up getting blamed for what he was trying to report and got fired.. And labeled a bad apple so no one will hire him..

I've been stuck under ass hole supervisors before and all I could was grin and bear it... Unless you have another job lined up or other options its a gamble going to the top..

Sounds like you Sergent is pulling for you at least so if you could use him to shield some of the crap it might help... I've done that.... Someone has a copmplaint or wants you to do something tell them to see your boss...

Corporate politicts suck... I try to stay out of them and have been luck that my boss's needed me way more than I needed them..

[YoursEvermore]

Originally Posted by Carolyn

Why don't you apply for a position in another division or department?

I wish I could, but our other divisions aren't testing right now and neither are any of the other local departments.

I'm going to talk to my Sgt about going to the Sheriff, but for now I'll have to just grin and bear it I suppose.. It just really sucks because I feel like I haven't done anything to warrant this much criticism. I don't call in sick, I don't show up late, I help my co-workers and go above and beyond for other officers/deputies and yet I'm labeled with an "attitude."

Originally Posted by Karren_Hutton

Damn!!! That really sucks!! I have a friend who was also an officer..... went around to the top and ended up getting blamed for what he was trying to report and got fired.. And labeled a bad apple so no one will hire him..

I've been stuck under ass hole supervisors before and all I could was grin and bear it... Unless you have another job lined up or other options its a gamble going to the top..

Sounds like you Sergent is pulling for you at least so if you could use him to shield some of the crap it might help... I've done that.... Someone has a copmplaint or wants you to do something tell them to see your boss...

Corporate politicts suck... I try to stay out of them and have been luck that my boss's needed me way more than I needed them..

I am very lucky to have my Sgt sticking up for me, but I feel bad because he's being dragged into something this petty. I'm just afraid that this "file" will end up biting me in the butt in the long run and I'll wind up like your friend. I'm from a military/law enforcement family. I know stuff like this happens all too frequently and it's just because of a personality conflict.

The one good thing I have going for me is that I'm in a union, so I'm not that easy to get rid of. But depending on what sort of twisted information he's gathering, it could get ugly..

[Karren]

I know about the "attitude" label.. I have this big problem of telling CEO's and senior vice presidents why they are wrong and why they can't do what they want to.. While everyone else is setting on their hands... More so recently after I vested in the retirement health plan!! Lol. And I get my Boss's boss coming to me after big meeting saying "you can't say that in meetings".. Hey the truth is the truth...

Lucky for me I'm right most of the time.. And as you can tell from my "hobby" I don't really care what others think!!

Hope you can get past this and move on... Getting stuck or torpedoed has got to be disheartnening...

[S. Lisa Smith]

Wow, you are in a bad position. I agree, don't go to the sheriff. You are doing the right thing by keeping straight and watching your back. Things will change, just keep a low profile.

[x33cupcake]

Originally Posted by Carolyn

Why don't you apply for a position in another division or department?

i agree!!