A non-probationary employee who is demoted, suspended, or terminated may file a grievance of the action, in writing, directly with the Sheriff within 10 days of being notified of the action. Appeal Forms must be filed within 10 working days of the action or inaction.

Steps to file a grievance with the Sheriff and process to file an appeal:

[STEP 1]  File a grievance with your supervisor

  • Write your grievance to your Immediate Supervisor within 10 working days of the action or inaction. Your supervisor will have 10 working days to respond to your grievance. Failure of the supervisor to respond in writing within 10 working days shall be deemed an affirmation of the grievance.

    Note: If your grievance is with your Immediate Supervisor you may choose to file your grievance with the next higher authority.

[STEP 2]  Intra-Office Grievance—to the Chief Deputy and/ or the Sheriff

  • If the grievance is not resolved at the captain’s level then the employee may choose to continue the grievance to the major of their assigned division. The major will have 10 working days to respond.
     
  • If not resolved at the major’s level the employee may choose to appeal to the chief deputy, this must be done within 10 working days. The chief deputy will have 15 working days to respond in writing.
     
  • If not resolved at the chief deputy’s level, the employee may choose to file with complaint with the sheriff. This complaint must be filed within 10 working days of the response from the chief deputy.
     
  • Regarding any grievance below that of a termination, the sheriff has 20 working days to respond in writing to the employee.
     
  • If you have exhausted the above steps, then you may choose to appeal to the commission in writing.

Procedures and scheduling polices for an appeal hearings:

  • A minimum notice of thirty (30) working days will be given for each hearing.
     
  • The Commission will consider each request for continuance: decide whether the reason for the request is valid and either grand the continuance, hold the hearing or remove the case from the docket.
     
  • Witness lists that require Civil Service issued subpoenas shall be submitted to the Commission office no less than ten (10) working days prior to the date of the hearing.
     
  • Both parties shall exchange exhibits/ evidence/ witness lists no less than ten (10) working days prior to the hearing date and agree to stipulations prior to the date of the hearing.
     
  • All Character testimony will be submitted in the form of letters; four (4) letters per appellant maximum.
     
  • Exhibits and stipulations shall be submitted to the Commission office no less than four (4) working days prior to the hearing.
    Please provide five (5) copies to the Commission.
     
  • At the hearing the Sheriff’s Department will go forward with its proof to uphold the disciplinary action. Opening statements and closing arguments will be allowed and limited to five (5) minutes for each.
     
  • The Commission in arriving at its decision will consider only evidence produced at the hearing.