61740274.pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER TITLE ACCREDITATION Restricted Duty Assignments None PRIOR REVISIONS PROPONENT UNIT 12/01/98. 12/09/99, 12/18/2019 Personnel Division ATTACHMENT: None NUMBER ISSUE DATE REVISION DATE TOTAL PAGES 22.10 09/30/1998 10/22/2024 7 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this order is to establish guidelines to limit the impact when Department members are on restricted duty status rehabilitating from either an occupational (job-related) or a non-occupational (non job-related) injury or illness and who are unable to perform the full range of duties (essential functions) within their job classifications. II. POLICY: It shall be the policy of this agency to target Department priorities by utilizing the skills and abilities of employees who are temporarily unable, due to medical reasons, to perform the full range of duties within their job classifications. III. DEFINITIONS: A. Restricted Duty Status: When, due to an illness or injury, an employee has incurred certain restrictions which prevent him/her from performing, for a specific period of time, the full duties and responsibilities of his / her job classification. B. Restricted Duty Assignment: A work assignment which allows an employee to report to work while in a restricted duty status and which accommodates his / her rehabilitation by allowing him/her to perform duties which do not interfere with his/her medical restrictions. C. Marked Vehicle: For the purpose of this order, a marked vehicle is one which has decals, and/or any other external markings which identify it as a police or police service technician vehicle. IV. PROCEDURE: A. Restricted Duty Status: 1. Certification: All members shall utilize the Gainesville Police Department's Fitness for Return to Duty Certification Forms. There are specific forms available for sworn personnel, police service technicians, and non-sworn employees.\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT i. The forms are available on the intranet under the forms page. ii. In addition, for convenience of access, the forms are also available on the internet (gainesvillepd.org) under "Employee Services" and "Fitness for Return to Duty Forms". This will assist in situations wherein an attending physician can download and complete the form. iii. Department-provided medical forms and the employee’s job description will be provided to the examining / reviewing physician with the necessary information for proper evaluation of the employee’s ability to perform the essential functions of his/her job class. iv. If a physician treats a Department member, the attending Physician's signature is required. Merely bringing in discharged paperwork is no longer acceptable. v. Once the treating physician signs it, Department members shall take it to Employee Health Services (EHS) for the City Occupational Health Nurse's signature and subsequent processing by the Personnel Medical Officer. vi. Department members shall ensure Employee Health Services makes a copy of the completed form for EHS' records. Department members shall bring the original form to GPD Personnel Medical Officer. 2. Time Limits: The maximum time limit for an employee being in a restricted duty status is twelve (12) consecutive months, or twelve (12) months within an eighteen (18) consecutive month period. i. This period of time applies to employees in restricted duty status, regardless of whether they report to work or take leave. ii. Any leave the employee takes during this period of time shall be considered as part of the time period rather than an extension of it. B. Restricted Duty Work Assignments: 1. General Guidelines: Restricted duty assignments shall, to the best extent possible, be consistent with: i. The type of medical restrictions the employee has incurred. a No employee will be required to perform duties which the City medical staff has restricted him/her from performing. b The employee’s base rate of pay shall not be reduced on the sole basis of being assigned partial duties of the employee’s job class. 2\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ii. The availability of work duties appropriate to the employee’s rank and classification. a The greater emphasis will be placed upon making restricted duty assignments for employees with line-of-duty injuries. b The second element of evaluation will be seniority with the department. iii. Department priorities. The Department will seek to assign employees in a restricted-duty status to regularly-budgeted positions within the bureau of their current assignment when work is available which matches their medical restrictions. iv. The employee’s skills. 2. Uniformed Operations Bureau Personnel: i. Patrol Officers, Corporals and PSTs: Will be assigned at the discretion of the Chief of Police. ii. Patrol Shift Sergeants and Lieutenants: If most required functions can be performed, members of these ranks will work modified duties on their assigned patrol shifts. For example, a restricted duty sergeant would perform administrative duties inside, while a full duty sergeant would work the road. iii. Non-Uniform Operations Bureau Personnel and All Other Department Personnel: If an employee can temporarily perform his/her primary duties within the limits of his/her restrictions, the employee will remain in his/her current assignment during this portion of the rehabilitative period. Members who are unable to remain in their current assignments will be reassigned at the discretion of the Chief of Police. iv. Limitations on Reassignments Within the Agency: If the medical restrictions prevent the employee from being reassigned within the agency, or there is not an appropriate available assignment, the employee will be placed on the most appropriate type leave. Members who are issued a “Safety Sensitive” restriction from Employee Health Services are prohibited from driving department vehicles and cannot work in a uniformed capacity. C. Vehicle Operation: Members, regardless of assignment, whose restrictions prohibit driving shall not operate City vehicles. 3\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT 1. Marked Vehicles: Members on restricted duty, whether or not they are prohibited from driving, shall not operate marked vehicles. Disposition of Assigned Marked Vehicles During Members’ Restrictions: i. Bureau Commander’s Responsibility and Authority: a Responsibility: The member’s bureau commander shall make arrangements to have the members marked take-home vehicle brought to the station during the period of time the member is on restricted duty. b Authority: The Bureau Commander of the bureau to which the vehicle is permanently assigned shall decide, on a case-by-case basis, how the vehicle will be used during the period of the assigned member’s restriction. c Disposition: Depending upon the projected length of the member’s restriction, the vehicle may be parked, shared, or temporarily or permanently reassigned. d Vehicle Not Replaced: Members who are restricted from using their assigned marked vehicles, if available and coordinated with the Fleet Manager, may be provided with an unmarked take-home vehicle during the rehabilitation period. This is not a guarantee that a member will be provided with an unmarked vehicle. 2. Unmarked Vehicles: Members on restricted duty who are not prohibited from driving may operate unmarked vehicles. i. Take-Home Vehicles: If the member has an assigned unmarked vehicle, the member may retain it. ii. Unmarked Pool Vehicles: Members may, with their supervisor’s permission, use an unmarked pool vehicle during duty hours for conducting City business. D. Employee Attire: 1. Approved Dress: Department members in restricted duty assignments will dress in civilian attire in accordance with Department policies and procedures and the members’ specific duty assignments. i. Members assigned an area which routinely includes contact with the public shall wear professional attire. ii. Attire