Police chief published in FBI magazine

Learning as a young patrol officer that there is a price to be paid for accepting gratuities, McMinnville Police Chief Charlie Sewell has published a story in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin warning of the hidden dangers an officer faces from accepting free items.

?The price of a cup of coffee may be only $1, but if an officer patronizes the same business during each tour of duty, the price of coffee could equate to $5 each week,? Sewell wrote in his five-page story published in the widely read April 2007 law enforcement magazine, pointing how such gratuities can quickly add up. ?Multiplied by the number of weeks an officer works over the year, the gratuity can easily surpass $100. Even with a small law enforcement agency, multiple officers could consume free coffee valued at over $1,000.?

In McMinnville, Chief Sewell said the gratuity policy for all city employees is cut and dried. They are not allowed to accept any gratuities. Sewell noted the policy was in writing before he became chief and is therefore being enforced.

?Some officers are perturbed about this policy to put it mildly,? Sewell said. ?But this policy already existed before I got here and it?s bad business to enforce one rule and not another.?

Sewell?s concern over gratuities comes from years of experience in law enforcement.

?I entered law enforcement in a time where most officers accepted gratuities,? Sewell said. ?But then I began to realize there was another side to the issue.?

Sewell said he has run into issues with people who were resentful over officers being given price breaks and free food at restaurants, even though the establishments wanted to give such gratuities to the lawmen.

?So many times it was awkward,? Sewell said of other customers questioning the law enforcement discount. ?There are ramifications for doing it.?

While saying businesses often offer gratuities because it will mean a higher law enforcement presence and perhaps better security, Sewell said there are cases where the owner expects more, sometimes in the area of special treatment should he get a ticket or have a legal issue.

?Some citizens have positive relationships with their local law enforcement officers and want to show their appreciation,? Sewell wrote in his story, noting there are a variety of reasons why gratuities are offered to lawmen.

Sewell said by limiting, or in the local case, by banning the acceptance of gratuities, police are taken out of being placed in such awkward positions and can simply tell those offering gratuities that policy does not allow city employees to accept free food or merchandise.

Sewell said he wrote the article published in the bulletin to focus attention on what can be a hot-button issue in some communities. Sewell is a 1994 graduate of the FBI Academy.