Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O. 255.09
1 OF 2
255.09
MODIFIED DUTY
05-01-02
PURPOSE
To establish procedures for assigning employees to modified/light duty.
POLICY
To assign employees returning to duty from an ill ness, injury, or pregnancy, to assignments, when
available, which are within the scope of their medical restrictions, until they are fit to return to regular
duty.
PROCEDURE
A. DEFINITION
MODIFIED DUTY - An assignment not requiri ng performance of the full range of duties
associated with the regul ar job classification.
B. MODIFIED DUTY ASSIGNMENT
1. Employees who are pregnant, returning to duty from an illness, injury, or who have failed
the annual physical performance te st, may return to work on modified duty if they have
received clearance from the appropriate ph ysician, and the Depart ment chooses to
accommodate a modified duty position as recommended by the physician.
2. Unless approved by the Chief of Police (C OP) or a designee, the Department shall not
have permanent or long-term (over one (1) y ear) modified duty assignments. Temporary
modified duty assignments may be available to employees who are returning to duty from
an illness, injury, or who are pregnant, and are unable to perform their regularly assigned
duties.
3. Modified duty assignments shall not:
a. be created solely to put employees back to work.b. last longer than t he recovery period.
4. Employees may return to work on modified dut y, even with crutches or other forms of
walking aids, if the treati ng physician agrees and the empl oyee signs a Modified Duty
Waiver (SPD 402).
5. Prior to beginning a modified dut y assignment employees shall:
a. contact the Personnel Serv ices Division (PSD), Office of Technical Services
(OTS), as soon as possible and not late r than the first duty day (Monday through
Friday, 0800-1700) following clearance from their physician.
b. present a Duty Status Report (SPD 165), signed by the employee's treating
physician, specifying the nature of the limitation(s) for the employee, and the
physical restrictions.
6. Office Chiefs shall keep the Captain, Pers onnel Services Division, informed of the need
for employees on modified duty. Division co mmanders and section administrators shall
inform their office chief of tasks or proj ects suitable for employees on modified duty
status.
7. Officers assigned to the Office of Operati ons (OOO) who are eligible for a modified duty
assignment shall be assigned to a Call Expeditor position, unless otherwise notified by
the Deputy Chief of Police, OOO.
8. Modified duty assignments for other than OOO officers shall be made by the Captain,
Personnel Services Division.
9. The Captain, Personnel Services Division, shall:
a. consider the needs of the Department.b. determine if the employee assigned to m odified duty is permitt ed to drive a City
vehicle or if other restrictions apply, i.e., attending training.
c. place the employee in an appropriate modified duty assignment, if available.
d. notify the employee, the employee's office chief, and the section of permanent
assignment where the employee is temporarily assigned.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O. 255.09
2 OF 2e. maintain and provide to c aptains/division managers and above:
(1) the names, classifications, and as signments of employees on modified
duty and/or injured on duty status.
(2) the physical restrictions plac ed on the employee by the attending
physician.
(3) the expected duration of modified duty.
f. monitor the medical progress of employees on modified duty status.
C. ACCOUNTABILITY
1. A Duty Status Report shall be required at least every 30 days while the employee is on
modified duty. Employees who vi sit the physician more often s hall submit a Duty Status
Report after each visit.
2. Duty hours shall be at the discretion of the Di vision Commander where the employee is
temporarily assigned.
3. Employees shall obtain their payche cks from their permanent assignment.
4. The supervisor of the m odified duty assi gnment shall:
a. have modified duty employ ees obtain their time s heets from their permanent
assignment and submit the time sheets to the supervisor of their modified duty
assignment.
b. submit the employee's ti me sheet during the modifi ed duty period utilizing job
number REGTP 2424X (X corresponds to the last digit of the current fiscal year, i.e. July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002 = 24242).
c. record the work hours of the employee on their roll call sheet as modified duty
status, as applicable.
e. immediately report any absence of the em ployee of more than two (2) days to the
PSD.
5. All probationary employees, including thos e with a pregnancy-re lated condition,
assigned to a modified duty as signment, shall be subject to an extension of their
probationary period per the Civil Service Board Rules.
6. Employees on Modified Duty shall not w ear uniforms. Refer to RM 430.01 Uniform and
Grooming Standards for civilian attire requirements.
7. Refer to G.O. 240.01 for court appearance procedures.8. A copy of the Duty Status Report shal l be filed in the employee's payroll file.
D. RETURNING TO FULL DUT