Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Disciplinary Guidelines PDF

TO: ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL FROM: PATRICK J. KENNEDY FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATOR PREPARED BY: FIRE RESCUE PPM COMMITTEE SUBJECT: DISCIPLINARY GUIDELINES PPM #:...

TO: ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL FROM: PATRICK J. KENNEDY FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATOR PREPARED BY: FIRE RESCUE PPM COMMITTEE SUBJECT: DISCIPLINARY GUIDELINES PPM #: FR-A-101 ISSUE DATE EFFECTIVE DATE February 13, 2022 February 13, 2022 PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to provide the Fire Rescue personnel a catalog of chargeable offenses and their associated disincentives. UPDATES: Future updates to this PPM are the responsibility of the Deputy Chief of Administration, in conjunction with the PPM Committee, under the authority of the Fire Rescue Administrator. AUTHORITY:  Fire Rescue Administrator, as may be amended. SCOPE: This policy applies to all Palm Beach County Fire Rescue personnel and reservists. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A: Notification of Arrest Attachment B: Notification and Acknowledgement of Violation of Rules and Regulations POLICY: Fire Rescue personnel is responsible for their actions and are held accountable for the infractions they violate. It is the duty of supervisors to ensure the Fire Rescue’s Rules, Regulations and Policies are followed as dictated herein. Each supervisor is responsible for ensuring objectivity, fairness, and equity while managing the personnel they command. PROCEDURE: 1. Documentation a. Fire Rescue personnel is expected to adhere to the Fire Rescue Rules and Regulations which include, but are not limited to; policies, SOG’s, protocols, and memorandums. Fire Rescue personnel who violate the Rules and Regulations may be subject to disciplinary action. All disciplinary action shall be documented on the Notification and Acknowledgment of Violation of Rules and Regulations form (FR-A-101 Attachment B). FR-A-101/Page 1 of 14 2. Cumulative Discipline a. The following range of disciplinary actions shall be applied if any Fire Rescue personnel has already received one disciplinary action of an offense within the same alphabetical grouping or if the employee has received two previous disciplinary actions in different alphabetical groupings. If the latest offense would require a heavier discipline than described below, the discipline normally administered would apply: If an employee has already received a written reprimand 1-3 shifts off If an employee has already received 1-3 shifts off 5 shifts off to Dismissal If an employee has already received 5 shifts off Dismissal b. At the end of a 12-month period from the date of a Warning or Written Reprimand, the action shall no longer be used as the basis for cumulative disciplinary action. Suspensions shall stand for 24 months. 3. Demotion a. A supervisor may be demoted in lieu of receiving a suspension for any offense which would normally receive a suspension. 4. Conversion Rate a. The conversion rate from 24-hour shift personnel to 8-hour shift personnel is: one shift off is equal to two 8-hour days 5. Disciplinary Action a. The following supervisory staff may initiate disciplinary action to Fire Rescue personnel when an infraction of the Fire Rescue’s Rules and Regulations has occurred: Warning Lieutenant, Operational Captain, ARFF Captain, Special Operations Captain, EMS Captains, Supervisor and/or Higher Rank Written Reprimand Lieutenant, Operational Captain, ARFF Captain, Special Operations Captain, EMS Captains, Supervisor and/or Higher Rank Recommend Suspension or Battalion Chief (one day suspension; more than Suspend one day requires approval of District Chief) and/or Higher Rank Recommend Demotion or District Chief, Civilian Manager and/or Higher Recommend Dismissal Rank Dismissal or Demotion Fire Rescue Administrator (or Acting Fire Rescue Administrator ) FR-A-101/Page 2 of 14