Municipal Civil Service

1
Municipal Civil Service

• Local Govt. Code Chapter 143

2
History

• Civil Service origin in Texas
• Veterans returned from WWII into police work or
  just starting police work with a different
  perspective of organizational structure
• Experienced cronyism and political influences in
  law enforcement
• 1947 Texas Legislature passed civil service for
  police and fire

3
What is Civil Service?

• Management model of standards for
• Job Classification
• Hiring
• Promotions
• Leave
• Discipline
• Termination
• Appeals

4
Who is it For?

• City Council and Managers
• Police officers and Firefighters
• Citizens

5
Implementation

• Create a Civil Service Commission
• City Manager appoints members
• Create Civil Service Rules
• Citizen input
• City input
• Officer and firefighter input

6
Hiring

• Recruits age 18-45
• Commission sets additional standards
• Objective, transparent test is used
• Rank is based on score
• Test is pass/fail
• Chief can select from to 3 candidates and can
  bypass for any valid reason
• All test appeals go to Commission

7
Promotion

• 2 years experience in position
• Test is administered
• Rank order based on scores
• Top 3 candidates are presented to Chief
• Alternative promotion process can be adopted with
  public and officer input
• Appeals on promotions are heard by the Commission

8
Discipline

• Letter of reprimand
• Suspension
• Termination
• Felony or moral turpitude convictions
• Violation of charter provisions
• Acts of incompetence
• Neglect of duty
• Discourtesy to the public or fellow officers
• Showing lack of good moral character

9

• (cause for termination continued)
• Drinking on duty or intoxication off duty
• Conduct prejudicial to good order
• Refusal or neglect to pay debts
• Absence without leave
• Shirking duty or cowardice
• Violation of an applicable department rule or
  special order

10
Appeals

• Civil Service Commission
• Arbitrator
• Waive right to sue for wrongful termination

11
Cost Elements

• Arbitrators- shared between City and Officer-
  about 3000 split between City and
  officer/firefighter
• Sick Leave payout- Plano and Irving paid
  150-330K in last two years
• Commission administration
• 4 officers left last year- based on 4 officers
  making 40K/year, the sick leave payout would have
  been 55K.
• Vacation and sick leave are long-term liabilities
  and not yearly cash expenses

12
Cost Comparison

• Plano paid 1/10- 3/10 of 1 of total Payroll
• Irving paid 2/10-3/10 of 1 of total Payroll
• If assumption is applied to Rowlett
• 1/10-3/10 of 1 of total Payroll 23K-70K
• Police and fire want to work with citizens and
  City Management to establish mutually agreed cost
  factors and estimates.

13
Pros and Cons

• Professional standards vs. political
• Cost/benefit vs. liability
• Recruiting/retention
• Morale
• Citizen support

14

• Questions