So I stopped working for the largest city in Maine a few weeks ago over a moral conflict I had. I left willingly.

Today I received a call from that City's Police department saying the city was attempting to have me charged for theft of city property *pretty big charge*. and have me criminally trespassed from the building.

What did I steal you may ask? A key........a spare key to a maintenance closet inside the building which Was in the very bottom of my glove box, that i didn't even remember I had because it had been given to me MONTHS ago. Which btw the employer never contacted me about in any way shape or form.

So what I'm wondering from our L.E. community and lawyers.......is that even possible to do? Do they have any case at all......most importantly. I have zero criminal record, never have, never plan to. I feel this is defamation and slander in the 3rd degree.......should I sue them? Or just let them play with my reputation *which by the way is a pretty good one*.

Thanks :-D haha

If you had a moral conflict and your management knew about it, this is their way of gagging you. No talking about their fraud waste and abuse means they don't drag you through the courts for a stupid key. Remember, it's all about control.

Heck I'll let them drag me. Then Ill take it from their pockets. I've been in armed security for 10 years........what happened that day. I wont stand for. I wont stand for a lot of things that happened. This "incident" was enough for me to place my badge and raido on the desk and walk out instantaniously I'm just wondering will I have to fight this charge tooth and nail, or is at as the PD said "really silly". And easy haha

Well, not knowing all the specifics of the situation, you could just return the city's key and be done with it.....

Larry

I did give it back lol

A man who represents himself has a fool for a client.

Get legal advice from your lawyer, not a website

Im not looking for sound legal advice.........other than maybe "nah your good" or "call your lawyer" :-D haha

Quit before you were fired? What was the real reason they wanted to fire you. Did you steal something else?

PS: What's the difference between second degree and third degree slander?

In Pa a charge of Theft requires an affidavit of Probable Cause to get a Warrant. The affidavit requires several elements, including Intent. If the only thing missing was a key, then the grading would be based on the value of a key. Meaning, like about a dollar or two. No cop would waste their time on that. No judge would sign that warrant. Even if that did happen, no DA would accept a prosecution. Return the key. Forget about it. Don't make any threats about suing. I don't get the animosity here. If there is nothing else involved, return the key and forget about it.

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Dennis
He's got a gun!

Is it in fact the key that they are claiming is the stolen property? Or did something go missing from the closet that key opens? Perhaps something of value was misappropriated by someone else and when asked about the missing item - they conveniently remembered that a recently departed coworker (you) had a key to that closet and didn't turn in said key when you left.

I wasnt fired.

They let a pedophile WALK after masturbating in front of a child. I walked out of my job that day. As I said "a moral issue" I cannot work for an employer who allows that to happen in their establishment with no action taken against it. I wasnt under investigation for anything. I stole nothing.

We all have take home keys, that allow access into the building and every area. I had a spare for a broom closet. This is what the "charge" is over. Me forgetting to turn in a key to a closet that houses a mop, a wet floor sign and some CFL lightbulbs. lol

there is no difference. What i meant by 3rd degree is this is so trumped up and silly that its an extreme case of it.

Its like me letting someone borrow a bic lighter, then 3 weeks later calling the police and saying they stole it because they forgot they had it lol

no noting went missing according to the PD. Who themselves said it was ridiculous. But they have to do their job etc. I've returned the key to them. But the PD says I could face charges of theft of said key if the employer pushes them. I'm just wondering should I let it play out...and just file a complaint against the employer. or should I take them to the cleaners for waste of my time and scarring my reputation over a $1.35 Schlague key lol

Sounds like a no win situation without the help or advice of a good lawyer. Something like this makes you want to grab them and twist their head off.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

Think I'd be talking to my local news station and see how the city likes the negative press! Especially about the pedophile.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

What I haven't read so far, was that KEY issued to you, or just how did you come into possession of it?
If issued, who issued a broom closet key to you, for what purpose?

If not issued, then how did you come into possession of it?

You have stated it was in your glove box and forgot about it, obviously someone else knew you had it.

As stated above, IF your former employer is going to pursue any legal actions against you, then perhaps that would be the correct time to seek the advise of a attorney in your area.

Me, I'm just a dumb ole has been flat foot, what do I know?

WuzzFuzz


P.S. for what it's worth, ANYTHING that is not yours, no matter what value you place upon it as seemingly valueless can be construed as theft.
(On a Sgt exam question)

Yeah I know. My supervisor is threatening to withhold my last pay. Even though he owes me $132 for a streamlight i sold him that he never paid for. Also even though I've returned said key.

Supervisor was a great friend of mine for a long time. I not only walked out of my job over the moral conflict, but I lost my best friend too..only to have him turn around and attempt to have me arrested over a key.......this whole fiasco is so .......crazy that I have no idea what to think of it. I mean a text, phone call or email from them saying "hey you forgot to turn in said key" would have solved it with no issues. I cannot grasp why the went to the lengths they did, and why as I just found out from a co worker are now saying some pretty outlandish things about me to the peoples who work there. I truly feel like I am in 5th grade again and I accidentally put someone else's crayon in my box lol

This is a really off topic of anything thread. Just wanted some peoples opinions to help calm my own brain haha

It was issued by my supervisor 2 weeks after I started 7 months ago . Everyone and I mean EVERYONE kept losing theirs. So the supervisor made spares. Gave one to everyone in security to put somewhere other than on our ring full of building keys, as a spare. I put mine in my glove box and forgot it was there haha. Which is why i find it so rediculous, if so many employees lost theirs without incident. Why are they trying to add something on my criminal record because I forgot I even had mine in the first place. I turned in everything the day I left, Badge, Employee ID, ring of keys, motorola radio.....just forgot a key in the car haha its so silly that I dont know whether to laugh, or be highly insulted. or angry......its just nuts lol

Did you sign for the key and agree to return it? If not, they will find it difficult to withhold your pay. They can say all they want. But state laws are there to protect you from stuff like this.

If it were me I would call their bluff and tell them that I have talked to an attorney.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Nope. Never had to sign for anything. Also in the state of maine I believe with employer law its illegal to withhold pay for ANY reason.

I think Ill do that. Im going to file a complaint with the city tomorrow on principal alone. Also contact an attorney for good measure. Then make them aware of that in the Complaint. Maybe that will make them back off.

Its just so dumb......I cant get my head around it haha

Write down names, dates , and times. Do it just because. CYA!!

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Will do, thanks. Im sure this will eventually turn out to be nothing. But having a PD call you and say "well ya know"......is never a nice feeling. lol

Not giving legal advice....

You are obligated to return everything that belonged to your former employer. If I was dispatched to this call, I'd tell you to give them the key and walk away before the situation got worse. Kicking the lion especially while you are still angry will not solve the problem. No good will come from it.

Consider this, how many other things are going to be "missing" from that locker while you still have a key to it? Seek an employment attorney's counsel about any wages that you are owed. The city will not want the negative publicity.

good point. Thats basically how the detective I met with handled it with a few explicit choice words towards my former employer for wasting his time lol... There were a few people there who disliked me because I preformed my job correctly......

Ill let it float for now...see what happens. Thanks for the advice.

I've heard it said "play stupid games, win stupid prizes"

I'd find a more productive use of my time.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

I was acting as maintence foreman at the time and had taken delivery of about $800 dollars worth of precison measuring instruments. Well one day they turned up missing when another person was doing the maintence foreman job and I was sent back standing watches.They called in the locksmith who made they keys for the lock. Since three people had held that slot I explained that I had given one spare key to the first guy and two keys to the second. Now I have no more keys.Operations and maintence supervisors all shared the same office. For weeks we had locker inspections, our private vehicles searched and constant queries about where the stuff went. Room had no survalience cameras so it was one guys word against anothers. after some considerable time had passed they finally checked it off to vandalism. We'd still get visits from company investigator's for moths afterward. My pet theory was that one mechanc has a way to make keys and did the deed. Locks put on windows and all keyed locks were changed. And when I went to work for another department I made sure that the keys of heaven were returned before I left company property. Frank

My guess is the police complaint is their way of sending a message. I cannot see how they could pursue it since they now have the key.

If you don't get your pay I would be inclined to file a complaint. In some states if you don't get your terminal pay they are liable to continue paying you until you do.

However, if it is a small amount of money a lawyer would likely cost you more than any funds you'd recover.

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Luke 22:36

See a lawyer. Today.

Sir, that person was never a friend!!

If it were me, not attorney by far..but if it were me. I would get a spiral bound notebook and write down every freaking incident date/time explanation etc....of the incident regarding the perv to the key and any other issues. who did what, who gave what, who was there, why you were given the key etc. because as time goes on you will forget some minor details that could make a huge difference...but i would contact an attorney ASAP.