Can I lose my job because the Sheriff's Dept. launched an investigation?

[deangelo51]

A few days ago our county sheriff's dept. came to our house looking for my aunt's son. Her son is wanted in connection with assaulting his girlfriend. He was here at the house and I did not know that he was in trouble, only that he was visiting. Deputies came and knocked on our door at about 3AM. When I opened the door, a deputy walked in without asking me if he could come in and without giving me any details. He only asked if the "suspect" was here, and I said yes he was, but I do not know where he is now. I did not know because I had gotten home from work and my aunt's son had gone outside. I live in Tulare County, CA and I am also a volunteer for a local police agency. -Continuing, I opened the door and the deputy walked in. He started looking around for my aunt's son. We ended up stepping outside and I asked the deputies sergeant if he could show me sarch warrant because he went into the house without one. The sgt. changed the subject, so I said in a stern voice....Sir, I asked to see a warrant. He started to tell my aunt that I better keep my mouth shut if I did not want to get in trouble with my agency. That pissed me off because he was trying to intimidate me. Before this happend, my aunt had asked them "what are you guys doing? You guys went into my home with no warrant!" The Sgt. replied "I asked if I could come in". Since I was standing there, I told him "No you did not! I was the one that opened the door and your deputy was the one who came and walked in". I caught him in a lie. To make a long story short...they came in without a warrant, after I had asked for one numerous times. They did not provide one. In the end, a few days later, I got a call from a sgt. from my own agency. He advised me that I was suspended pending an investigation into what happend. I did raise my voice with the deputies when this incident occurred. They got me in trouble with my agency, which I volunteer for because they probably did not like the fact that I stood up to them because I knew that they were not following the law. They could have come into the house off of prbable cause, assuming that their suspect was inside but they did not explain anything to me while the incident occurred. My question is....I am now in trouble, so what can I do? I have been placed on suspension because the sheriff's dept. said I was being unprofessional and possibly harboring a criminal. Yes, I was possibly unprofessional, I admit that. They were also, on out property. Also, Right off the bat, they were making false statements. What do I do? I am now in trouble with my agency and I could possibly have a record because I stood up to the sheriff's dept.

[lazaro94]

Lets look at what is really happening here. You are choosing to go head to head with an established law enforcement agency on a "he said, she said" proposition while obstructing an ongoing investigation to apprehend a suspect known by all concerned to be in your home. If you wish to continue fighting them on this, one advises you to arm yourself with a battery of lawyers and load up a boatload of cash to pay them before continuing. If you sue, the case will be tried in a court and for what? Which would you rather be -- right or out of a job? Knowing when to quit fighting your city hall could be the only asset you have. You know you're not going to win it even if a court decided in your favor -- which, they won't. They have more lawyers, more money and more buddies to testify on their behalf than you do. In court, their word will be more likely accepted over yours. Your allegations will carry less weight than their proofs as to your uncooperative interference.

You cannot raise your aunt's son to your level in light of his crime by allowing his plight to drag you down to his. In the end, all you'll end up with is two people in trouble with the law instead of one. And for what? To proclaim your vanity? I fought the law and won just isn't going to happen with this incident as you've described it.

[victorio83]

If you are going to work as a volunteer or a paid employee one of the first things you need to do is learn the law, once you said there was a fugitive from justice on or in the premises the deputy did not need a warrant to enter. Your interference with them in the performance of their sworn duties was not only unconscionable it was illegal. You are lucky you have not been charged with a crime.