POLICE OFFICER DISCIPLINE AND ARBITRATION: THE ISSUE OF CONDUCT UNBECOMING

GEORGE W. BOHLANDER

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DOI: 10.2190/KMA3-YRLR-U8GX-RMCL

Abstract

This study used a sample of seventy-nine public sector arbitration cases to categorize various work infractions committed by police officers. Of particular interest was the nature and frequency of conduct described as unbecoming behavior. Results show that conduct unbecoming incidents comprise a very large number of police force discipline cases. Because the term "conduct unbecoming" is somewhat ambiguous, these infractions encompass a wide variety of unprofessional behavior. While police departments and the public hold police officers to a high professional standard, a significant finding is that arbitrators apply conventional arbitral criteria when adjudicating either conduct unbecoming or the more traditional work behavior infractions.

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