Course Description

Law enforcement leaders across the country feel frustrated or even helpless in the face of arbitrators and judges who have reinstated individuals that they feel pose a threat to the public safety, officer safety, agency reputation and officer morale. This frustration tends to come from the obvious desire on the part of agency leaders to have some substantial influence in determining the composition of the ranks that they lead.

Now, more than ever, it is crucial that toxic outliers within the department are removed.

So, what options do agency leaders have when they believe that they have an obligation to remove a “bad apple” from their ranks? They can tolerate the behavior and seek to minimize it by “hiding” the employee to the extent possible. They can terminate the employee with the knowledge that arbitrators or courts might well overturn their decision. But there is an often overlooked third option: they can negotiate with officers to separate from the agency in a way that sticks—a way that is contractual and legally binding.

The notion of paying a substantial amount of money to a terminated officer is often a difficult one to accept. But how expensive is it to pay the salary of a public safety professional who is likely to cost even more in lawsuits and loss of public trust?

In this webinar, Attorney Matt Dolan will discuss:

  • The "nuts and bolts" of termination agreements
  • Options and pitfalls for law enforcement leaders in pursuing termination agreements
  • Recent case studies in which these agreements have been successfully utilized to remove problem officers

Instructor

Director, Dolan Consulting Group

| Attorney Matt Dolan

Matt Dolan is a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois, who specializes in training and advising public safety agencies in matters of labor and employment law. His practice experience focuses on employment discrimination claims brought under federal law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII"), the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA"). He received his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from DePaul University and his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Matt serves as a public safety instructor with Dolan Consulting Group. He has trained and advised thousands of public safety professionals throughout the United States in matters of legal liability related to personnel management.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Before You Start

    • Consent Questions

  • 2

    Webinar

    • Termination Agreements in Law Enforcement | Hour 1

    • Termination Agreements in Law Enforcement | Hour 2