Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 255.01
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255.01
SPECIAL TY UNIT TESTING AND SELECTION
06-27-17
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures for requesting and processing request s for transfer within
the Department.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to consider all employees' requests for transfer to
positions that become vacant, subject to current negotiated labor agreements.
PROCEDURE
A. GENERAL
1. This order does not apply to exempt employees or exempt positions .
2. When reviewing request s for personnel transfers, office chiefs shall take into consideration the needs of
the employee and the needs of the Department.
3. Although most transfers are approved , there are circumstances that will preclude the approval of a
transfer . Those circumstances include , but are not limited to
a. Unfulfilled commitment time in current position .
b. Need to fill c ritical positions.
c. Hiring freezes or no list available to fill a position.
4. All interview files for internal transfers shall be maintain ed confidentially for a period of two (2) years by
the command administering the test.
5. The command administering the test shall maintain
a. A copy of the posting.
b. The interview questions and the notes taken of the responses given by each applicant.
c. The name of each panel member.
B. JOB POSTING ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Job postings to fill p ermanent positions that are not in the Office of the Chief or made available during
annual watch signups shall be done in accordance with applicable labor agreement s and be approved
by the office chief or designee.
2. Department personnel preparing a new job posting announcement shall ensure that the posting
announcement is completed on a template that has been approve d by the P ersonnel Services Division
(PSD) .
3. The job posting announcement shall include
a. The position .
b. The d eadline for submitting a transfer request .
c. The term of the position.
d. The r equirements of the position .
e. Any written materials required to be submitted by the applicant , to include a resume similar to the
SPD 251.
f. The person to c ontact for further information.
4. The PSD shall
a. Submit the posting to the impacted bargaining group and post the notice via electronic mail.
b. Document that the job posting was posted for at least 14 days prior to the final filing date.
C. REQUEST FOR TRANSFER
1. Officer s with less than two (2) years of cumulative sworn service with the Sacramento Police
Department (SPD) shall not be eligible for a transfer.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 255.01
Page 2 of 3
2. Officers and sergeants who have not completed the minimum time commitment in their current
assignment in a specialty unit shall not be eligible for a transfer unless the ir current assignment is
indicated as exempt from this requirement in Diagram 255.01.01 .
3. The Specialty Unit Minimum Time Commitment s Chart, Diagram 255.01.01, lists the minimum time
commitments and minimum time commitment exemptions for specialty unit assignments within th e
SPD.
4. Civilians requesting a transfer shall have permanent civil service status in the classification to which
they wish to transfer.
5. Personnel requesting a transfer shall e lectronically complete an SPD 320 (Request for Transfer ) and
email it to the “Personnel ” email handle . Officers shall “cc” their entire chain of comm and, to include
their office chief and the captain (or designee) of the position being posted.
6. The office chief or designee may refuse the request based on the factors in Section A .3. The office
chief or designee shall forward the denial to PSD via email addressed to "Personnel" within two ( 2)
working days of the close of the posting deadline.
7. The PSD shall
a. Log the request upon receipt .
b. File a copy of the SPD 320 and notify the officer that he/she has a valid transfer request on file.
c. Keep the request for one (1) year.
D. INTERVIEW/SELECTION (SWORN)
1. The questions used in the interview process shall be limited to those that are relevant and pertain to
the position for which the employee is applying.
2. Applicants shall undergo an oral interview . The office chief or designee where the vacancy exists shall
determine the interview process.
3. If an interview panel is selected , the office administering the panel shall en sure that each member of
the interview pa nel has received any written materials that were submitted for the panel . NOTE: Each
member of the panel should familiarize himself/herself with the written materials submitted.
4. The interview panel shall
a. Review and assess each candidate’s resume and assign it a numeric score.
b. Rate the applicant by giving them a numeric score for each questi on. The scores shall be totaled
and combined with the resume score to determine a final score. The resume will be weig hted 20
percent of the total points.
c. Group the applicant s into “A”, “B”, or “C” groupings based on a percentage score .
5. The “A” group will move forward to the next phase of the selection process , which may include the
review of performance evaluations (SPD 257) , 360 reviews (SPD 321), and personnel