Cheating death and fighting communism: that is how a fellow officer once described our job. It was meant to be funny, but as time went on it seemed all too true.
I spent more than ten years in law enforcement, all of it on the street in uniform patrol. I've been a patrol officer, instructor, sergeant and lieutenant.
Do not report crimes here. Nothing here should be considered legal advice. All opinions are my own.
Every department has their own protocol. First duty is to protect life: citizens, officers, criminals (and in that order.) Until the scene is made safe, no investigation can begin. Once everything is safe, medical aid is rendered for anybody that is injured. By this time, a sergeant or lieutenant is on scene and takes command. Depending on the agency, either they or an outside department will handle the investigation of the use of force. A CSI unit would probably be involved, but they are only a support unit to document and collect evidence. They don't do any investigation.
The involved officers give a brief statement to the responding supervisor about what happened and are separated from the other officers who are investigating the incident. How/when the officers are interviewed varies from department to department. Officers are entitled to legal counsel as is anyone being investigated for potential criminal acts.
On duty generally means he/she is currently being paid by the agency as part of regularly assigned duties. So, it would sound like the officer was off duty.
You should probably contact a criminal defense lawyer. Most attorneys will talk to you free, and only charge you if you have them perform some action (such as contacting the victim) for you. If you (through your lawyer) act before the company realizes they have been defrauded, there is a possibility you can square things with them before they call law enforcement. A lawyer can help with this.
If no evidence exists, and no witnesses have presented themselves, then what additional actions would you suggest the officers take (within the confines of the law)? Maybe your neighbor did it, maybe she did not. People should never be arrested for "maybe."
IF you neighbor damaged your tires, and IF she admitted to tampering with your mail, it sounds like your best bet is to file a report with the postal police and see if they develop probable cause to arrest her. IF they do, then her probation can be revoked also.
It won't likely keep her in jail for very long, regardless.
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I was a sgt at one department and a lieutenant at another. The duties of the ranks were different at each of the two agencies. For example, one of my duties at both jobs was being the commander of the field training and evaluation program. Yet one department assigned that to a sergeant and the other agency to a lieutenant. There are no hard and fast rules.
Dealing with a violent person is a fluid and dynamic sitation. There is no easy, one-size-fits-all answer. Generally speaking, a police officer is authorized to use any force, up to and including deadly force, when he or she believes it is reasonably necessary to stop an armed person who poses an imminent threat to the lives of others. That may include shooting the violent criminal.
I don't know Virginia law, but in many (most?) states, you can pass all of the tests and still not be hired. If you think about it, say 100 people pass all of the tests but there are only 10 positions open. 90 people passed but won't be hired.
I have no idea what your department's background investigation requirements are. If he/she was convicted of domestic assault or domestic battery, he/she is not allowed to be in possession of firearms by federal (and probably Virginia) law. A department might not want their firearms to be around a prohibited person. You should probably talk to your recruiter about your situation for more information.
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