Based on the circumstances as presented, there are three possible options available to me. First, I can proceed as if I never spoke with the Mayor’s assistant. Under this option, I would choose the candidate for promotion based on my evaluation of the two individuals I felt stood out from the rest. If I choose this option, it its very likely that the mayor will be unhappy which may potentially result in the department’s budget being cut However, the officer corps should feel good in the sense that the choice was made transparently and according to their understanding of how the process works (Kaci, 1998). Second, I can choose the candidate that the Mayor would “consider a huge favor.” While this would likely result in an increase of the department’s budget, it the candidate I chose turns out be ineffective or worse, corrupt; that could adversely affect not only my image but the image of the department as a whole. In addition, the officer corps would probably feel confused and resentful if the choice proves to be inadequate. The third and last option is to bring the Mayor’s favor issue to my superior, the head of the department. Selecting this option would most likely upset my superior, since he does not like to get involved in such aspects of the job, it would not only add another perspective to sort out the options but would also insulate myself from any negative reactions that might arise if I made the decision on my own, and then the decision turned out to be a problem. Again the office corps, would mostly likely respect the decision to at least resolve the situation above-board although the reality might be that the best option is to comply with the mayor’s request.
I would most likely choose the second option, if the gap between the Mayor’s suggestion and the two candidates I initially wanted was small. Accordingly, it is most likely that the officer corps will not be too upset by the Mayor’s “influence” and the department would get funding (Bayley & Perito, 2011). If the gap was too large, then I would choose the first option. Although it might result in lost budget it would be good for the department in others ways such as getting the best lieutenant for the job.
References
Bayley, D., & Perito, R. (2011, Nov.). Police corruption: What past scandals teach about current challenges. Retrieved from http://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/SR_294.pdf
Kaci, J.H. (1998). Criminal Procedure. Incline Village, NV: Copperhouse Publishing Company.
