There are several consequences of breaching the public's trust by an officer. Which of the following is NOT necessarily considered one of the consequences?

• A. Loss of severance pay
• B. Criminal action/charges
• C. Loss of public support or funding
• D. Loss of personal and professional reputation

Answer: (A)

When someone in public service breaches trust, the strongest, more direct outcomes are legal or disciplinary action, loss of public support or funding, and damage to their personal and professional reputation. These results flow from the breach: it harms the public’s confidence, can trigger investigations or charges, and undermines trust in the officer and the agency.

Severance pay, on the other hand, is an employment-termination benefit tied to contract terms, union agreements, or agency policy. It isn’t an automatic consequence of breaching trust; in misconduct cases, it is often denied or forfeited depending on the rules and the specifics of the separation. Because its occurrence depends on contract and policy rather than the breach itself, severance pay is not necessarily a consequence of breaching public trust.