What is insubordination?

• A. A serious violation resulting from failing to follow orders, determined on an agency basis.
• B. A casual disagreement with a supervisor's opinion.
• C. An error in reporting that is corrected later.
• D. A failure to submit a daily log.

Answer: (A)

Insubordination is willful disobedience of a supervisor’s lawful order. In law enforcement, it’s treated as a serious violation because it undermines the chain of command and can jeopardize safety and mission effectiveness. Whether something counts as insubordination depends on agency policy—orders must be lawful and within the supervisor’s authority. A casual disagreement with a supervisor or a reporting mistake does not meet this standard. A disagreement is a difference of opinion, not a refusal to obey; an error in reporting is an honest mistake subject to correction; and simply missing a daily log is an administrative lapse, not outright disobedience to a direct order.