Investigations/Complaints 1.2.5

Question 1

Deviations in the investigation process can be authorized by whom?

Answer 1

Fire Chief or his designee

Question 2

What is the set standard on the progression of discipline?

Answer 2

There is none.

Question 3

What are the four factors to be considered for the progression of the disciplinary process?

Answer 3

How many offenses involved?
Seriousness of offenses?
Time interval and employee response to previous discipline.
Previous work history.

Question 4

When performance issues are noted in an employee, what are COs encouraged to do?

Answer 4

Document necessary conversations.

Question 5

When counsel is necessary, or an infraction is of a minor nature, what should be generated?

Answer 5

Letter of guidance

Question 6

To whom should letters of guidance be forwarded?

Answer 6

HR director

Question 7

To whom should a copy of a letter of guidance be forwarded?

Answer 7

Assistant Chief

Question 8

If an infraction has the potential to necessitate anything more formal than an LOG, who should the infraction be forwarded to ?

Answer 8

Assistant Chief

Question 9

For infractions more serious than those requiring an LOG, who will determine the need for investigation and make appropriate assignments?

Answer 9

Assistant Chief

Question 10

_________are an opportunity for the District to improve our operations and/or public perception of the services we provide.

Answer 10

Complaints

Question 11

What shall be done with all complaints?

Answer 11

Accept and document them.

Question 12

Is the complaint process incumbent on the cooperation of the complainant?

Answer 12

No

Question 13

If the complainant is not cooperative in the complaint process, who shall the complainant be listed as?

Answer 13

The District

Question 14

From what seven sources can a complaint originate?

Answer 14

An individual
Third party observer or otherwise aware of problem
Anonymous source
District employee
District chain of command
Non district source
Civil claim or suit

Question 15

What information, at a minimum, should be collected from a citizen making a complaint?

Answer 15

name
phone number
nature of complaint

Question 16

What is the timeframe for an employee to make an officer aware of a complaint that has been received?

Answer 16

within the employees duty shift

Question 17

If the employee has concerns that members in the chain of command may be involved in the misconduct who should they notify?

Answer 17

HR Director or Assistant Chief

Question 18

When misconduct is occurring in the presence of the officer, what shall the officer do?

Answer 18

Intervene as appropriate to stop the action.

Question 19

Who may initiate an immediate preliminary investigation?

Answer 19

The officer who observed the incident.

Question 20

What two things shall the officer or HR director do upon becoming aware of a complaint?

Answer 20

Refer to the AC

Forward complaint to HR or AC

Question 21

What three types of complaints are there?

Answer 21

Misconduct
Negligence
Dissatisfaction

Question 22

What three levels of misconduct and negligence complaints are there?

Answer 22

Serious-possible termination
Minor-termination unlikely
Undetermined

Question 23

A deliberate violation of a rule, policy, regulation, or directive.

Answer 23

Misconduct

Question 24

The omission to do something which a reasonable person, guided by those considerations which ordinarily regulate human affairs, would do, or the doing of something which a reasonable and prudent person would not do.

Answer 24

Negligence

Question 25

Which two people have the responsibility to ensure that each complaint is processed and when necessary, followed up by an investigation?

Answer 25

AC

HR Director

Question 26

To which entities (6) may the AC assign an investigation?

Answer 26

Line officer
DC
BC
HR
outside agency
outside investigator

Question 27

As a general rule, investigations conducted by whom (2) shall be limited to those that can be conducted in a relatively informal manner, and shall not include the issuance of formal admonishments, the taking of formal recorded statements, or the collection of evidence?

Answer 27

line officers

BC’s

Question 28

Who may reclassify an informal investigation as a formal investigation and reassign it as deemed appropriate?

Answer 28

AC

Question 29

The initial questioning of persons to determine if a violation occurred.

Answer 29

informal inquiry

Question 30

Questioning of an employe identified as an alleged offender, or the accused, either through formal inquiry or direct knowledge of the investigating officer, shall be considered what?

Answer 30

An interrogation

Question 31

What is the proper order of interview subjects?

Answer 31

1. complainant
2. non employee witnesses
3. employee uninvolved witnesses
4. employee involved witnesses
5. accused employee(s)

Question 32

How much, and what type of notice is required prior to an interrogation?

Answer 32

48 hours

written

Question 33

When must an interrogation be conducted?

Answer 33

on duty

7am-4pm

Question 34

What shall be the location of an employee interrogation?

Answer 34

District facility

Question 35

Who may accompany an employee to an interrogation?

Answer 35

A representative

Question 36

When may a representative of an employee at an interrogation speak?

Answer 36

To present circumstances that the employee may be unaware of.

Question 37

Employees may request a copy of the interrogation recording, as well as a transcript, at what cost?

Answer 37

no cost

Question 38

If an employee desires to appeal a decision, to whom and within what time frame shall they appeal?

Answer 38

AC

48hours

Question 39

Who acts as the hearing officer for an appeal?

Answer 39

AC or designee

Question 40

When shall the decision on the outcome of an appeal be announced?

Answer 40

At the close of the hearing.