Scott is Innocent

[Hipcheck]

Hipcheck, did you know that Brocchini is no longer a detective and hasn't been for a few years. He's now a patrol sergeant in the 5th platoon. Can you explain the significance of this? Is it a demotion? Isn't it unusual for detectives to be reassigned to patrol?

After the Scott Peterson trial was over it was reported that Det. Al Brocchini received a promotion.

[jane]

Hipcheck, did you know that Brocchini is no longer a detective and hasn't been for a few years. He's now a patrol sergeant in the 5th platoon. Can you explain the significance of this? Is it a demotion? Isn't it unusual for detectives to be reassigned to patrol?

After the Scott Peterson trial was over it was reported that Det. Al Brocchini received a promotion.

Yes, I know that it was reported that he received a promotion. But was it really a promotion? As a former police officer, IIRC (if I remember correctly), what do you think this really means?

[Hipcheck]

Yes, I know that it was reported that he received a promotion. But was it really a promotion? As a former police officer, IIRC (if I remember correctly), what do you think this really means?

Where did you get this information that Al Brocchini is now a Sgt. in charge of patrols?

[jane]

Yes, I know that it was reported that he received a promotion. But was it really a promotion? As a former police officer, IIRC (if I remember correctly), what do you think this really means?

Where did you get this information that Al Brocchini is now a Sgt. in charge of patrols?

This is the link:

http://www.ci.modesto.ca.us/mpd/about/docs/orgchart.pdf

[jane]

Hipcheck, now that you've seen the link, what do you think? And did you notice that not only Brocchini but Buehler, Owen and Coyle are no longer detectives either. All of them are now Patrol Sergeants.

[marlene]

Hipcheck, now that you've seen the link, what do you think? And did you notice that not only Brocchini but Buehler, Owen and Coyle are no longer detectives either. All of them are now Patrol Sergeants.

If Cagney and Lacey was based on reality, then becoming a sgt is always a promotion. Cagney was studying to be a sgt, but Lacey wasn't. IIRC, Cagney did make sgt, but she contined as a detective.

I don't know what the signficance is of being moved to Patrol --

[Lsmith510]

I think you're right Marlene - I think the title of sergeant is what is significant - I think a patrol sergeant would be some type of management position:

Here's a link to the details of the promotions:

http://www.ci.modesto.ca.us/ccl/agenda/ar/2006/10/ar061003-01.pdf

[jane]

I think you're right Marlene - I think the title of sergeant is what is significant - I think a patrol sergeant would be some type of management position:

Here's a link to the details of the promotions:

http://www.ci.modesto.ca.us/ccl/agenda/ar/2006/10/ar061003-01.pdf

When Brocchini and the others were detectives they reported to a Detective Sergeant. Michael Zahr is listed as a Detective Sergeant in late 2002-early 2003. Then he becomes a Captain of the Investigations Division at some point. Al Carter is listed as a Sergeant in the Crimes Against Persons Unit and most if not all of the detectives testified that they were a part of that.

So I guess that Detective is a rank below Sergeant.

And in that respect becoming a Sergeant is a promotion. But is there any significance to their being moved from Investigations to Patrol, or is that the kind of transfer that usually occurs in police departments?

[marlene]

According to this article, a detective becoming sgt isn't necessarily a promotion, except that a sgt is a management position, but another way to be promoted is to become a detective's supervisor.

http://www.ehow.com/about_4609534_ranks-police-force.html

A detective is on call on a rotation basis, so maybe being sgt of a patrol is a less-demanding job, time-wise.

It does seem strange that the department would "promote" such outstanding detectives, when there's so much crime to be solved in Modesto.

[TxGirl461]

I think you're right Marlene - I think the title of sergeant is what is significant - I think a patrol sergeant would be some type of management position:

Here's a link to the details of the promotions:

http://www.ci.modesto.ca.us/ccl/agenda/ar/2006/10/ar061003-01.pdf

When Brocchini and the others were detectives they reported to a Detective Sergeant. Michael Zahr is listed as a Detective Sergeant in late 2002-early 2003. Then he becomes a Captain of the Investigations Division at some point. Al Carter is listed as a Sergeant in the Crimes Against Persons Unit and most if not all of the detectives testified that they were a part of that.

So I guess that Detective is a rank below Sergeant.

And in that respect becoming a Sergeant is a promotion. But is there any significance to their being moved from Investigations to Patrol, or is that the kind of transfer that usually occurs in police departments?

Detective is not a rank, it's a division of LE. If it works the same way as the Sheriff's Dept. does, they can't be promoted as a detective, they have to work in Patrol to move up to a higher rank. My son was a Sergeant, and had to move to Patrol before he could be promoted to Lieutenant, which he was last year. He is now the ranking officer on his shift, but hopes to go back to CID (Criminal Investigation) in another year.