HATHIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT
TOPIC: PROMOTIONS, CORRUPTION AND YOU
DATE: 2/25/2015
PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEMO IS TO ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN TO ALL SWORN HPD OFFICERS HOW PROMOTIONS WORK AND “ACCEPTABLE” LEVELS OF CORRUPTION. THIS MEMO IS IN CHARACTER UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED BY OOC BRACKETS.
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PROMOTIONS:
PROMOTIONS ARE AWARDED TO ONLY THOSE WHO MEET MINIMUM ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS* AND WHO DO NOT HAVE ANY RECENT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS PENDING AGAINST THEM OR IN THE PAST WHICH PRECLUDES THEM FROM RECEIVING A PROMOTION. IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU DESERVE A PROMOTION BUT HAVE NOT BEEN APPROACHED BY A SUPERVISOR STATING AS SUCH, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR ((IN CHARACTER PLEASE!)) TO SEE IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE.

((We do occasionally waive the activity requirements, but only in the event that there is a need, or you show exemplary behaviour at your current rank.This is entirely at the discretion of the commanding officer(s) of the department. Additionally, we ask that all requests for promotions be handled in character unless there are extenuating circumstances. All promotions with the exception of Sergeant on up are in character only and are to be treated as such when requesting them.))
*((As for the activity requirements, please DO NOT file duplicate or fabricated reports in an attempt to bolster your numbers. We take a very dim view of those who do, and it is incredibly easy for us to spot. Whenever someone comes up for promotion, the very first thing we do is check their reports. If you’re writing a butt load of citations or booking a lot of people without proper documentation in a short amount of time, it raises a few eyebrows.))
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CORRUPTION:
CORRUPTION ALSO PLAYS VERY HEAVILY INTO WHETHER OR NOT AN OFFICER IS PROMOTED. OFFICERS SHOULD FIND A “MIDDLE GROUND” APPROACH TO CORRUPTION. TOO MUCH CORRUPTION AT A LOW RANK MEANS HIGHER UPS TAKE NOTICE AND HAVE TO COVER UP FOR YOUR INDISCRETIONS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A GOOD WAY TO CATCH OUR ATTENTION. AT THE SAME TIME, GOODY TWO SHOES OFFICERS WHO ARE CONSTANTLY REPORTING CORRUPT ACTIVITY OR ARE “INCORRUPTIBLE” DO NOT FIT PROPERLY INTO THE MISSION OF THE HPD.

THERE ARE TWO BASIC FORMS OF CORRUPTION: COVERT AND OVERT.
OVERT CORRUPTION WOULD BE PUBLIC FORMS OF CORRUPTION SUCH AS INAPPROPRIATE USE OF FORCE, CORRUPT ACTIVITIES IN FRONT OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR PRESS, BASICALLY ANY CORRUPT ACTIVITY THAT IS NOT DONE IN PRIVATE AND CAN EASILY BECOME PUBLICISED.
COVERT CORRUPTION IS MORE SUBTLE AND TYPICALLY INVOLVES UNDER THE TABLE DEALS AND BRIBES, TURNING A BLIND EYE TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, CHARGING OFFENDERS WITH A LESSER CRIME, AND ANY “HIDDEN” CORRUPTION. OFFICERS JUST STARTING OUT ARE ENCOURAGED TO STICK WITH MORE COVERT CORRUPTION AND ONLY RESORT TO OVERT CORRUPTION WHEN THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH WITH THE BRASS THAT THEY FEEL THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT. OVERT CORRUPTION BECOMES MORE COMMONPLACE THE HIGHER UP THE FOODCHAIN YOU GET.

A FINAL NOTE ON TURNING A BLIND EYE, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OFFICERS ARE ARRESTING EVERYONE THEY SEE COMMITTING ANY SORT OF CRIME. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY ENCOURAGED. INSTEAD, OFFICERS ARE EXPECTED TO USE DISCRETION WHEN ARRESTING SUSPECTS. FOR EXAMPLE, RATHER THAN ARRESTING A DRUG DEALER, YOU CAN INSTEAD TAKE A BRIBE AND WALK AWAY RATHER THAN MAKING AN ARREST, OR YOU CAN SIMPLY ISSUE A CITATION FOR A MINOR MISDEMEANOR.
((Keep in mind that when you arrest someone, you are essentially depriving them of a bulk of their role playing capabilities for up to 72 hours. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t arrest anyone, but instead should exercise a bit of discretion when doing so. Be creative in your punishments. A good beat-down behind the wood shed is a good alternative to an arrest in many cases.))