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Continual harassment of CEO

rktect 1

rktect 1

SILVER MEMBER
Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
1,158
Location
Illinois
What are our paths we can take legally when we have a homeowner who continually harasses and verbally abuses the Code Enforcement Officer?
 
Have the code enforcement officer accompanied by a police officer. Sometimes, the simple presence of handcuffs tempers the aggressive nature. That said, hostilities are part of the job. Make sure that your officers have proper training in de-escalation techniques, are provided radios or other communication equipment, and know that they can back out at anytime they feel unsafe.
 
I found them when I was searching for on-line classes to renew my ICC certifications

The Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation is proud to offer an international Safety Specialist training program designed specifically for Code, Building, Fire, and Housing professionals. As the international leader on Code Official officer safety and recognized by the International Code Council (ICC) as a Supporting Organization and Preferred Education Provider (#2696), the Foundation is excited to launch this international training program.

I would rather spend my CEU training budget helping fund an organization/foundation that helps over see the personal growth and safety of those who are charged with enforcing codes
 
My brother's late father-in-law was a POW in Japan during WW2 and again in Korea during that conflict. He lived in northern Idaho, and this POW experience hardened him into a "live free or die" kind of guy. One day (I think this was back in the late 1980s) a building inspector drove by his house and observed him doing some framing inside his garage. The inspector asked to see his permit, and he replied, "sure, c'mon in, it's right here in my living room".
He pointed up to the shotgun over the fireplace mantle and said "this is America, son, and that's all the permit I need". I don't think the inspector ever returned after that.

So glad I don't enforce building code in a rural area. I think the only tougher code enforcement job would be game warden.
 
I have run into this numerous times. I do not get into an argument, I take pictures and go to the office and send violations and or summons'.

I also have requested PD to accompany me a few times and that usually always keeps it somewhat non-confrontational.
Except one time when a constant violator and constant verbal abuser homeowner threatened the cop I finally asked to accompany me....... HAHA , he went for a ride with a new pair of bracelets.
 
Yikes said:
My brother's late father-in-law was a POW in Japan during WW2 and again in Korea during that conflict. He lived in northern Idaho, and this POW experience hardened him into a "live free or die" kind of guy. One day (I think this was back in the late 1980s) a building inspector drove by his house and observed him doing some framing inside his garage. The inspector asked to see his permit, and he replied, "sure, c'mon in, it's right here in my living room".
He pointed up to the shotgun over the fireplace mantle and said "this is America, son, and that's all the permit I need". I don't think the inspector ever returned after that.

So glad I don't enforce building code in a rural area. I think the only tougher code enforcement job would be game warden.
Click to expand...
Similar thing happened in the SFV of Los Angeles, inspector killed by owner.
 
I can’t imagine being out in the wilderness as a solo warden and writing up a bunch of drunk guys with guns and no other witnesses around. That takes b*lls of steel.
I will point out that in 2013 when LAPD cop Christopher Dorner went rogue and started his killing spree of other cops, it was a game warden who took him down in the San Bernardino mountains.
 
Yikes said:
I can’t imagine being out in the wilderness as a solo warden and writing up a bunch of drunk guys with guns and no other witnesses around. That takes b*lls of steel.
I will point out that in 2013 when LAPD cop Christopher Dorner went rogue and started his killing spree of other cops, it was a game warden who took him down in the San Bernardino mountains.
Click to expand...

I agree!! Probably one of the most dangerous jobs in law enforcement. You know dang well everyone your in contact with is packing some kind of weapon if not multiple.
 
rktect 1 said:
What are our paths we can take legally when we have a homeowner who continually harasses and verbally abuses the Code Enforcement Officer?
Click to expand...
I agree with ClassicT. We've needed to have officers go with Building Inspectors & Code Enforcement. We've also had them accompany us if there is an active police case (violence etc) that might put us in danger. It rarely happens, however.
 
A number of years ago, I had to issue a notice to an owner. The owner was known to be somewhat aggressive, so I called in for police to meet me. Officer met me at the end of the road and once he confirmed who we were serving the notice on, he called in for backup to be waiting nearby. Turns out the guy had gotten out of prison about a month prior for stabbing someone.

He was actually decent to deal with. He was on probation and did not want to go back to prison.
 
I had the Sheriff deputies for backup. They would show up almost immediately. If the property had a history with the Sheriff several would arrive. Usually they were of the extra large variety. They would each carry a ten cell flashlight just in case illumination was needed.

I had maybe a dozen times in twenty-five years that law enforcement was involved. There was the day that I arrived for work and the Sheriff was in my office. An individual had left a threat on the city public works director's voice mail. The Sheriff kept asking me if I felt that I was in danger. When I heard the message the guy said that he was going to beat me up and if he couldn't do it he knew people that could. Turned out to be the owner, whom I had not met. The job was a swimming pool; the contractor was a dolt.

Well the truth was that I kinda felt like a good fight would cheer me up. The Sheriff was adamant that these threats must be taken seriously. The guy went to jail for at least a weekend. I never heard any more about is so I guess he was either, not charged or he took a plea. Poor guy was a teacher at the high school. Well the truth was that he kinda felt like a good fight would cheer him up. I felt sorry for him and loathing for the contractor.
 
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