Policy Text
Page 1 of 2 1/18 (Rev 10/16)
Alcoholic Beverages, Drugs, and Narcotics
The purpose of this Order is to e nsure that job performance and the public confidence
crucial to effective law enforcem ent not be tainted or diminish ed by factual or suspected
perception that officers or ot her employees of the Sheriff’s De partment are under the
influence of alcoholic beverages o r drugs during the course of performing their duties.
This Order will specify the prohi bitions relative to the use or possession of alcoholic
beverages during working hours and/ or within the facilities of the Sacramento County
Sheriff’s Department, as well as the use of bot h legal and ille gal drugs.
I. Alcoholic Beverages
A. Employees of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department shal l not
report for work to perform thei r scheduled duties following the
consumption of any alcoholic beverage when the alcohol is not y et fully
oxidized from their system and/or i s evident upon the employee’ s breath.
B. Employees shall not consume any amount of alcoholic beverage during
any lunch break or other assigned eating period which occurs du ring the
course of their assigned shift.
C. Employees shall not possess , use, or attempt to bring alcoho lic beverages
to a work site.
II. Drugs and Narcotics
A. Employees of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department shal l not
report for work to perform thei r scheduled duties while under t he influence
of any drug, which may include prescription drugs. A person is under the
influence of a drug when, as a re sult of using a drug, his/her physical or
mental abilities are impaired to such a degree that he/she no l onger has
the ability to function with the caution and characteristics of a sober
person of ordinary prudence under t he same or similar circumsta nces.
B. Employees shall not possess or use any drug declared illegal under
Federal, State or Local Law, inc luding the use of Medicinal Can nabis in
any of its forms, purportedly aut horized by California Health a nd Safety
Code Section 11362.5. Ca lifornia employers, including this Dep artment,
are not required to accommodate th is use, and it is expressly f orbidden to
its employees.
Page 2 of 2 1/18 (Rev 10/16) III. Reasonable Suspicions
A. If reasonable suspicion exist s that an employee is using alc ohol at the
workplace or has reported for scheduled duties following the co nsumption
of alcohol not yet totally oxidi zed from their system, the unit commander or
higher may request a test of the employee.
B. If reasonable suspicion exist s that an employee is using or is under the
influence of a drug or narcoti c, as described in Section II abo ve, the unit
commander or higher may request a test of the employee.
C. If reasonable suspicion exist s that an employee is using ill egal drugs or
narcotics while off-duty, the uni t commander or higher may requ est a test
of the employee.
D. All such requests for testi ng must be approved by the unit c ommander or
higher. Once a test has been aut horized, the Internal Affairs Bureau shall
be contacted.
1. The employee shall be reliev ed of duty pending the result of the
investigation.
2. The employee shall be ordered to provide an appropriate samp le
for testing, which may include hair, blood, and/or urine sample (s).
3. If the employee refuses to p rovide a sample, said refusal sh all be
deemed insubordinati on and will subject the employee to
independent discipl inary action.
IV. Samples
A. Any and all samples shall be submitted directly to the contr act vendor for
analysis.
B. Submission procedures will c onform to the Department’s proce dures for
evidence submission. The samp le shall be accompanied by an
administrative investigation num ber if that number has been req uested.
V. Exceptions
A. The provisions of this Order shall not apply to those office rs or other
employees whose duties necessar ily require either the consumpti on
and/or possession of alcohol to a ccomplish the specific objecti ves of the
assignment.
B. Such exceptions shall only apply with the prior approval of the appropriate
Division Commander.