Unit Member Arrested..

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 18:33:59 -0400

What is everyone's thoughts about when a unit member is arrested by civilian authorities?

Does that view change when the member is higher in rank?

Over the course of my 16 years I have seen the following:

TSgt arrested for kiddie porn (Interpol)
TSgt arrested for kiddie porn and abusing kids on base
SrA arrested for sex with a minor
SrA arrested for kiddie porn
MSgt arrested for spousal abuse
A1C arrested for kiddie porn
SrA arrested for murder

On the Military side:
Lt Col apprehended for multiple charges of having unprofessional relationships with female subordinates
MSgt apprehended for unprofessional relationship with female subordinate
MSgt (1st Sgt) apprehended for unprofessional relationship with female subordinate

Do you talk about it as a leader when it event happens or do you hold off and try to prevent the gossip mill?

Does the fact that many Police/Sheriff Departments post real time booking photos change how you approach the subject?

Response by SSG John Erny made Sep 29 at 2014 6:42 PM

SSG John Erny — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 18:42:37 -0400

Well if is a felony and they do it off base then they answer to the civilian authorities, if it is a minor crime then feed them to the 1Sgt. If you commit a felony under the UCMJ, you will wish it was being handled by the civilians.

If Joe does something dumb on base, then again feed him to the 1Sgt
Commit a felony in another nation, better hope their prisons are not worse then ours, you may not get out alive.

Do something dumb off base in another country you may get the ass whooping of your life. It is well know that you do not mess with German police.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Sep 29 at 2014 6:48 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 18:48:25 -0400

Here is some more food for thought.

AFI 1-1 AIR FORCE STANDARDS

2.10. Self Reporting Criminal Conviction. If you are above the pay grade of E-6, on active
duty, or in an active status in a Reserve Component and are convicted of any violation of a
criminal law, you must report, in writing, the conviction to your first-line military supervisor
within 15 days of the date of conviction. Depending on the level of your security clearance,
there may be additional, more specific reporting requirements (e.g., reporting arrests, in addition to convictions) which must be met. (AFPD 36-29, Military Standards)

Response by SGT Steve Oakes made Oct 31 at 2014 4:13 PM

SGT Steve Oakes — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:13:13 -0400

I do not think that an active duty member of the military should be arrested by civilian police. Unless the situation demands it to keep others safe. I think the M.P.s should be utilized and the service member held by the military, and delivered to the civilian court as needed.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Nov 1 at 2014 5:29 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 05:29:20 -0400

You can't stop the rumor mill. The allegations are going to get out. You can't hide the ongoing investigation. You need to get what you can out in the open as soon as possible.

Once the charges are read, the command and staff are going to know. Command and staff can't keep a secret. It's the truth, they can't. You can request the accused be there to address everyone, or you can proceed with getting everyone together and going over what is known at the time with the Service Member's team. This prevents the spread of the gossip and disinformation. It can also cause witnesses to come forward and expedite the investigation so the accused can get through the process faster.

The choice to support or abandon an accused individual is a personal choice, but it should be done with all known facts. I remember being deployed to Iraq and having the BDE CDR address everyone at one time regarding allegations of impropriety of an unnamed Service Member. I remember being in Afghanistan when a different BDE CDR put the accused on blast, names and allegations without benefit of trial and in some cases, even an investigation.

I feel the first CDR had it right, it addressed potential criminal behavior and the CMD's stance while allowing the accused anonymity. The second CDR grossly mishandled the situation making association alone enough to end someone's career leaving potentially innocent individuals feeling abandoned and betrayed.

Response by MAJ William Guglielmi made Nov 1 at 2014 11:27 AM

MAJ William Guglielmi — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 11:27:02 -0400

First, assuming the individual is under your authority, you must ensure your higher chain of command is informed and accepted and execute any guidance thet they might want you to follow. In the absence of higher level guidance I would meet with the individual's leadership and develop a plan of action. My initial reaction would be to have the members of the individual organizational level informed of the specifics to stop rumors.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2014 11:51 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 11:51:01 -0400

Can be a touchy subject in units. The few times that it happened while I was a unit 1SG, I called in all my PSG and their PLT Ldrs and the commander and I would discuss the issue with them from their stand point as leaders in their platoons and encourage them to discuss it with their soldiers in a non-determination (guilt nor innocense). This was primarily to get the rumor mill shut down before it got started. NO, it didn't always work, however, it did help in the fact that most of the rumors were brought back to the unit leadership to be made aware of. Three incidents jump to mind quickly: 1. SSG accused of inappropriate relations with a teenager(same sex). 2. A fellow 1SG arrested for selling drugs and 3. Bn Chaplain abuse of position and inappropriate relation with 2 female officers he was counseling.

1 and 3 resulted in discharges; number 2 went to Leavenworth. The higher the rank the more the talk that went on among the lower ranks in the unit and battalion. Of course from the Bn leadership, the word went out that it was not to be discussed, but that was like putting more wood in the fireplace and pouring a bit of gas over it. Didn't work.

I always beleived that the sooner the unit leadership addresses the issue within the unit from a leadership perspective, it does take away a bit of the organizational sensationalism that can come with these events. Leadership needs to take the stance, "OK, this has happened, we know it, we know it's going to be talked about; Leave judgement to those who have the judgement decision powers, and OBTW....let's get back to work, it's a temporary blackeye....they heal and go away. Now move out

Response by SSG Terry Back (Martin-Back) made Nov 2 at 2014 3:22 PM

SSG Terry Back (Martin-Back) — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 15:22:11 -0500

I had a soldier in my platoon babysit for another member of the platoon and raped the 16 month old girl. It was a good thing he was arrested by the local police, he may have never been found... Enjoyed taking his mail to him after he was removed from the general inmates, I could barley recognize him from the beating he got before trial. His crime was off post so the locals had priority. I can only pray the guy got the same thing done to him, everyday, for his 15 years to life sentence, as the 16 month old girl.