...several weeks ago two female police officers came to Chief Elliot to request overtime ...in the presence five witnesses, Chief Elliot referred to the officers as "Overtime Whores" ...after an investigation by Public Safety Director Hays, the Mayor decided to suspend Chief Elliot without pay and require him to attend sensitivity training
So the question is this: does the punishment dolled out to Chief Elliot match the crime? Here are my two cents:
In the absence of any history of similar behavior, I think what was done was reasonable. However, if there have been incidents in the past OR if there is an incident in the future, then it's my opinion that Chief Elliot should be immediately fired. I don't necessarily believe that Chief Elliot should meant that the individuals were "whores" in the strict sense of the word, BUT it does point to a pretty severe lack of common sense on his part.
Effective leaders just don't follow the rules...the exemplify the highest standards of behavior. If Chief Elliot can't do that, then he should pursue an alternate career.
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"Hope at least gives you the option of living" - Harry Nilsson
I agree with you on this post Ag ... not that you need me to agree ... however his intent was not to call them whores so much as it was to make a point that they are always looking for overtime ... and if they get all of the overtime then how much is left for the rest of the SPD.
Often times those who like to work all of the overtime are called "overtime whores" male or female ... but they are not usually called that by their supervisor (or in this case the Chief of Police) ... it's usally their co workers that are calling them overtime whores.
In effect the Chief gave these women a gun and they used it...while context is everything in these matters, the simple fact is that none of this would have happened...tempest, teapot and all...had Chief Elliot payed attention to Leadership 101 stuff (Chapter 1 - Don't refer to your female employees as "whores" in any derivation).
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"Hope at least gives you the option of living" - Harry Nilsson
No, he shouldn't have used that particular word. There I said it.
But, Elliott's faux pas aside, this could have been handled in a much more professional manner. Why did these women wait so long to make a formal complaint? Why was the situation made known on an anonymous message board for people to chew on, before anyone in authority knew about it and had a chance to act upon it?
In my humble opinion, it sounds to me as if these two women were just waiting for the chance to make a fuss over (thank you, Glenn) a tempest in a teapot.
