Discipline Plan

For this assignment, you will develop a disciplinary plan for Deputy William Cantrell, who has been accused of excessive use of force. Your plan will be based on the details of the case and must be well-reasoned, justified, and structured according to disciplinary best practices.

Case Details

• Deputy: William Cantrell (Black male, 55 years old)
• Incident Date: January 1, 2025, at 1550 hours
• Location: 101 Cemetery Lane, Knoxville, TN 37101
• Victim/Suspect: Johnny Carino (White male, born 03/11/1975, homeless)
• Incident Summary:
• Deputy Cantrell observed Mr. Carino walking in the middle of the road, obstructing traffic. Using the PA system, Cantrell instructed Mr. Carino to move to the side of the road, but he refused. Upon exiting his patrol car and issuing verbal commands, Cantrell was met with verbal hostility and erratic hand movements from Mr. Carino. Cantrell responded by immediately drawing his service weapon (Glock 9mm) and shooting Mr. Carino in the leg before calling for medical assistance.
• Relevant Considerations:
• Mr. Carinos family has filed an excessive force complaint and a lawsuitagainst the department.
• Use of Force Concerns: Deputy Cantrell bypassed non-lethal force options (taser, baton, pepper spray). Consider whether he reasonably believed deadly force was justified.
• Past Conduct: His personnel file shows two prior excessive force complaints within the past 10 years, the most recent being one year ago.
• Training Status: All training is up to date.

Assignment Instructions

You will draft a disciplinary plan for Deputy Cantrell, determining the appropriate course of action while ensuring legal and ethical compliance. Your plan must include a clear justification for every decision made.

Key Requirements:

1. Research and Justification

• Research disciplinary matrices and standard disciplinary plans for law enforcement.
• Justify every component of your plando not leave the grader questioning your decisions.
• Consider the department’s liability in both the excessive force complaint and the potential for a wrongful termination lawsuit.

1. Plan Structure
2. Your disciplinary plan should follow a memo-style format incorporating bullet points for clarity. It should be addressed to the Sheriff from Internal Affairs and the Human Resources Department.
3. Required Sections:

• Administrative Leave (Start by placing Deputy Cantrell on leave while the investigation is pending.)
• Investigation & Review Process (How will Internal Affairs assess the case? What policies and precedents apply?)
• Findings & Justification (Outline whether Cantrells actions were justified based on department policy and legal standards.)
• Proposed Disciplinary Action
• If you retain Deputy Cantrell, what remedial measures (e.g., suspension, training, probation, reassignment) will be enforced?
• If you terminate him, what legal and procedural steps must be taken?
• Final Recommendations & Implementation Steps

1. Formatting & Presentation

• The plan should be professional, concise, and well-organized.
• Use clear section headers and bullet points for readability.
• Ensure sufficient detail so that the Sheriff understands and can act upon your recommendations.

Additional Resources

A sample disciplinary matrix is available in the Supplemental Resources Section to help guide your decision-making.

Reminder: Your disciplinary plan must be thorough and defendable. Be sure to explain your reasoning behind every action you propose.