Police and Fire Department Rules and Regulations

Rule VIII - PROBATIONARY PERIOD

SEC. 1. GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION
(a) Duration of Probation. All original entrance appointments, including appointments made from the lateral entry list and academy graduate list, shall be tentative and subject to a probationary period of eighteen (18) months.
(Amended by Resolution CS04-092, 09/02/04)
(b) Police Officer Trainee/Police Officer Recruit/Fire Fighter Trainee. The probationary period for original entrance Police Officers or a Fire Fighter Trainee shall commence on the date the employee is hired as a Police Officer Trainee or a Police Officer Recruit or Fire Fighter Trainee and shall continue and be completed after the employee is certified as a sworn probationary Police Officer or Fire Fighter.
[(b) Amended by Resolution CS06-030, 02/09/06; Amended by Resolution CS05-155, 11/17/05]
(c) Purpose. The probationary period shall be regarded as an intrinsic part of the examination process and shall be utilized for closely observing the employee's work, for securing the most effective adjustment of a new employee to the position, and for eliminating any probationary employee whose performance does not meet the required standards of work.
(d) Acceptance of Probationer. The Chief of the department shall notify the City Manager two (2) weeks prior to the termination of any probationary period as to the satisfactory or unsatisfactory service of the original entrance probationary employees; then the appointing authority shall have discretion to file with the Commission a statement in writing to such effect and stating that the retention of such employee in the service is desired or is not desired.
(e) Rejection of Probationer. During the probationary period an employee may be rejected at any time by the appointing authority for any cause without the right of review of any kind; except that a probationary Miscellaneous employee appointed to any entry-level sworn position in the Police or Fire Department in accordance with these Rules, who has successfully completed at least six (6) months of probation in a Miscellaneous class, in lieu of being released from probation, may be reinstated to the Miscellaneous class previously held upon recommendation of the affected department heads and a written request to and approval by the Commission.
Employees reinstated pursuant to this provision shall be subject to a new probationary period designated for that class beginning on the first day of reinstatement.
This provision shall not be effective unless there is a vacancy in the Miscellaneous class and the Personnel Officer approves the filling of such vacancy.
[(e) Amended by Resolution CS05-065, 05/19/05]
(Amended by Resolution CS04-078, 07/15/04) (Amended by Resolution CS01-077 7/19/01) (Amended by Resolution No. 5795, 3/19/81; amended by Resolution No. CS87-26, 3/19/87)

SEC. 2. PROMOTIONAL PROBATIONARY PERIOD:
Promotional appointments in the Fire Department are permanent appointments not subject to a probationary period.
Promotional police appointments, except Police Chief and Deputy Chief of Police, are probationary for a period of twelve (12) months. The basis for and procedures of rejection of a promotional probationer police appointee shall be according to Article XXV, Section 2508 of the City Charter.
A promotional probationary period for the Police Department is regarded as an intrinsic part of the examination process and the same is utilized for closely observing the promotional appointee's work, for securing the most effective adjustment of a probationer's qualifications to the higher rank and for the purpose of eliminating any promotional probationer from attaining permanent status in said higher rank whose work performance does not meet the required standards of duties and responsibilities.
No formal test or tests, however devised and conducted, will prove infallible. The final test is actual performance. For this reason the new promotional appointee shall be carefully supervised and critical observation shall be made of his work during the working test period. For this evaluation of the promotional probationary period, the Civil Service Commission shall adopt a suitable rating sheet containing, but not limited to, the following traits: volume of work, quality of work, work habits, dependability in carrying out assignments, attitude toward public, relationship with fellow workers, learning ability, knowledge of work, attitude toward work, personal fitness, supervisory and administrative ability and such other traits the Commission shall from time to time deem advisable to include in the promotional probationary performance rating sheet.
Wherever practical and possible, the promotional probationary appointee shall be rated by his immediate supervisor, division supervisor, and the Chief of the Police Department.
Only items found below standard in work performance shall be brought to the attention of the promotional probationary appointee immediately upon completion of his promotional probationary performance rating sheet. Such promotional probationary performance rating sheets shall be completed at least once per month or as otherwise determined by the Civil Service Commission. A copy of the promotional probationary performance rating sheet will be filed in the personal folder of each promotional probationer.
(Amended by Resolution CS98-074, 10/1/98) (Amended by Resolution No. 5795, 3/19/81)

SEC. 3. PROBATIONER ADVANCED TO HIGHER RANK:
Any promotional probationary police appointee who is appointed to the rank of Chief of Police or Deputy Chief of Police shall receive credit toward the promotional probationary period for the lower rank while serving in the higher appointive rank.
(Resolution CS04-117, 10/21/04)