The Chief of Police and Fire Chief shall have the exclusive right to suspend any of the officers or employees who are in the classified service and are under their respective management and control, for incompetence, gross neglect of duty, gross immorality, habitual drunkenness, failure to obey orders given by the proper authority, or for any other just and reasonable cause. Prior to suspending any officer or employee of the police force, the Chief of Police shall ascertain whether a complaint on file with the Police Review Board relates to the conduct of the officer or employee in question. If so, the Chief of Police shall not suspend the officer or employee unless the Police Review Board concurs with the Chief’s decision, in accordance with Section 115-4 of this Charter.
If the Chief of Police or the Chief of Fire suspends an officer or employee under his control for a period not to exceed ten (10) working days, the Chief’s decision shall be final.
If the Chief of Police or Chief of Fire suspends any officer or employee under his control for more than ten (10) working days, the Chief concerned shall forthwith in writing certify the fact, together with the cause for the suspension, to the director of the department to whom he may be responsible, or if there be no such director then to the Mayor, who within five days from the receipt of such certificate shall, either personally or through a hearing officer appointed by the Director or the Mayor, hold a hearing into the cause of the suspension in accordance with the requirements of due process of law and render judgment thereon, which judgment, if the charge be sustained, may be suspension, reduction in rank, or dismissal and such judgment shall be final, except as otherwise hereinafter provided. If a hearing officer is used, and the Mayor or the Director of the department to whom the Chief may be responsible shall promptly upon receipt of the hearing officer’s report and recommendations review the report and recommendations of the hearing officer and render a decision. The Director or the Mayor shall cause a copy of the written certification of suspension by the Chief and the cause giving rise to such suspension, the hearing officer’s report and recommendations, and the decision of the Mayor or the Director to be filed with the Civil Service Commission. The Director or a hearing officer in any such hearing shall have the same power to administer oaths and secure the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and papers, as is conferred upon the Mayor, or the Council or a committee thereof by this Charter.
(Effective August 8, 1988)