I was a young police officer when a new Sergeant who had been in the department for 16 years had just gotten promoted and transferred to where I was working. He thought that he had to know everything that was going on in our area. When a call would come in and if .he was close he would respond talk to whoever made the call then leave. I and others would get there and try to talk to whoever made the call and would be told that someone else had already been there. We would assume that someone else had handled the call. It finally became known what the Sgt. was doing, so we would handle that call. On one call of a sexual assault I got the call and went to the the address. The woman was extremely upset, which was understandable, and very emotional. I began to ask her the primary information and all she would say is “ I told the other officer”, after several attempt to interview her I returned to the station and talked to the Lieutenant about the problem. He took me to the Captain, who had the Sergeant called into the station. The Sergeant got an ass chewing that was a classic, including the promise that if he ever pulled something like this again he would be charged with interfering with an investigation, charged within the department and reduced in rank. Then told to make the report and to bring it to the Captain for approval.

Shortly after that I was promoted and transferred I didn’t see that Sergeant again until I was at a retirement luncheon about 20 years later . Here comes the Sergeant looking for a seat at a crowded event and asks if the seat next to me is taken. I told him that no one was sitting there and he couldn’t take the spot. I told him my name and refreshed him about the incident. I told everyone at the table, six guys, about what happened and what an idiot this guy was. He left in search of a open spot, they had to bring out a small table just for him..

Revenge is sweet….