Looking for input from all, but especially those with LE experience.

I had an interaction with a local deputy the other night. He was polite and professional, and I was surprised/impressed by the exchange. Is it possible, and would it be appropriate, to submit some kind of review to the Sheriff's Office?

I have received a couple unsolicited positive feedback write-ups from customers/clients and superiors in the past. It was very appreciated, and motivated me to "keep up the good work". I thought this might have the same effect on a young deputy.

What say y'all?

Go for it. Hearing positive comments about their guys and then giving attaboys is appreciated by supervisors, as well as by the troops.

I can't help you with where/how to review but it is refreshing to hear this in light of all the bad-popo videos posted on YT.
I hope the young man gets the accolade.
Good Luck.

To echo the above comments, yes please send the email/comms on the positive interaction. It will be added to their file and be a morale boost for them given the current climate.

The Sheriff will be glad to get some positive feedback regarding a Deputy. Does the SO have a Facebook page that you could post to?

Depending on agency size, you may be able to call and ask to speak to the Chief Deputy or Sheriff directly.

With Sheriffs being elected, most will take the time to speak to you and would be happy to hear it.

One other thing I would recommend is also to inquire if they offer a Citizens Academy. A lot of larger agencies offer it and it is made for residents to learn how the agency works. Ours has an evening of court house operations, an evening of patrol operations, an evening of investigations, and special operations have an evening. I put on a power point that talks about the training and operational side, then they go next door and they get to interact with the boys and get guided tours of the equipment.

We run them once or twice a year and the feedback is always great.

I would go the county website, find the sheriff dept. and see if there is an email address.
Send an email addressed to the sheriff with the pertinent info.

If no email, call the contact number, and describe what you want to do. Tell them you want to acknowledge the deputy's performance and want his/her supervisor to be made aware. They should be very pleased to tell you the best way to document/show your appreciation.

jljones advice is also very good.

My agency occasionally receives actual handwritten letters (if we can believe it in this day and age ), and they are appreciated and get passed around.

I intend to hand-deliver a typed note. I am wary of email, as I want to have more control.

Thank for the feedback, everyone.

I have sent a paper letters to the Chief. Those letters end up in the officer's personnel file.

^^^^^ Thats the way to do it.

I can tell you from experience, that a small gesture like this really puts the hope for humanity back in a street cop's mind. You are constantly being criticized by the public and agency admin. Your effort will most likely put the wind back in the sails. Thank you for doing that.

quote:

Originally posted by KSGM:
I intend to hand-deliver a typed note. I am wary of email, as I want to have more control.

Thank for the feedback, everyone.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:


One other thing I would recommend is also to inquire if they offer a Citizens Academy. A lot of larger agencies offer it and it is made for residents to learn how the agency works. Ours has an evening of court house operations, an evening of patrol operations, an evening of investigations, and special operations have an evening. I put on a power point that talks about the training and operational side, then they go next door and they get to interact with the boys and get guided tours of the equipment.

We run them once or twice a year and the feedback is always great.

Yes, I did this. The experience was wonderful. A few things...

Not sure if they still do it, but we got to do ride-alongs. I did the graveyard shift in a rural area where one lone deputy covered an area about half the size of Rhode Island. Ok, ok, it's mostly forest, and Rhode Island is small, but still. Lots of driving 100+ MPH to get from one end of the county to the other.

Another memorable moment was the jail visit. 2 people in the group chose to do the "spend the night in jail" option to see what it's like to be an inmate for a night. Nope, not for me, but the guys who did it said they were glad they did and learned a lot. I can't imagine they would still be doing that for liability reasons, but maybe they do.

Oh, during 'weapons' night, I asked if they had considered things like the crimson trace, or other sighting systems on their handguns other than iron. I was given a very stern answer that they had hundreds of weapons to maintain and they wouldn't even consider it for several reasons. I've quoted this guy several times, maybe even on this forum.

K-9 night was interesting. 2 of the dogs kept growling at one another. Handlers said they were just "showing off"

Anyway, I'm rambling, but yes, everyone should consider the citizen's academy. Wonderful experience.

If you call the deputy's supervisor/sergeant and make your feeling known, the good interaction may find it's way into his/her evaluation. If you take the time and effort to WRITE DOWN the commendation, it will certainly make it's way into the deputy's annual evaluation and possibly into he/her package. These things add up and it's good to see them documenting the performance over an extended period of time.

A written note or letter is best. Address to Chief or Sheriff. It will end up in his/her package with a copy to him/her. Years later it will be nice to look back and see those letters especially for those days or weeks when you might be questioning you're decision to stay on the job.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Go for it. Hearing positive comments about their guys and then giving attaboys is appreciated by supervisors, as well as by the troops.

^^^ SOOO MUCH THIS!

As a cop, and a Sgt, I LOVE, absolutely LOVE hearing comments about positive interactions.
(Especially since what my guys mostly do is arrest people, and they bitch about that)

When a handwritten note to the chief about my interaction was sent to him, he called me out at roll call and told the entire team, the note was placed in my personell file.

I'm sure they would be very happy to hear a positive comment from a citizen.

Do it. It will be appreciated.

Do it. I did that once for a consummate professional.

They get enough bad shit slung their way, they certainly deserve and appreciate it when a member of the community recognizes them positively.