(A) The safety and security of town employees and customers is very important. It is the intent of the town to provide a workplace that, for all employees, is free of violence.
(1) Threats, threatening behavior, acts of violence or any related conduct that disrupts another's work performance or the organization's ability to execute its mission will not be tolerated.
(2) Workplace violence includes, but is not limited to, intimidation, threat, physical attack or property damage.
(B) These terms are defined as follows:
(1) INTIMIDATION includes, but is not limited to, stalking or engaging in actions intended to frighten, coerce or induce duress.
(2) THREAT is the expression of intent to cause physical or mental harm. An expression constitutes a THREAT, without regard to whether the person communicating the threat has presented the ability to carry it out, and without regard to whether the expression is contingent, conditional or future.
(3) PHYSICAL ATTACK is unwanted or hostile physical contact, such as hitting, fighting, pushing, shoving, throwing objects, firing a weapon, causing an explosion of hazardous materials, or discharge of hazardous substances.
(4) PROPERTY DAMAGE is intentional damage to property, including property owned or leased by the town, employees, visitors, or vendors.
(C) Any person who makes threats, exhibits threatening behavior, or engages in violent acts on town-owned or leased property may be removed from the premises.
(D) (1) Threats, threatening behavior, or acts of violence executed off town-owned or leased property, but directed at town employees or members of the public while conducting official town business, is a violation os this policy.
(2) Off-site threats include, but are not limited to, threats made via the telephone, fax, electronic or conventional mail, or any other communication medium.
(E) Violations of this policy will lead to disciplinary action that may include termination of employment, and may also result in arrest and prosecution.
(1) In addition, if the source of such inappropriate behavior is a member of the public, the response may also include barring the person(s) from town-owned or leased premises, termination of business relationships with the individual(s), arrest and prosecution of the person(s) involved.
(2) Employees are responsible for notifying their supervisor of any threats they have witnessed, received, or have been told that another person has witnessed or received. The supervisor should in turn notify the Town Manager.
(3) Employees should also report any behavior they have witnessed that they regard as threatening or violent when the behavior is job-related or might be carried out on town-owned or leased property or in connection with town employment.
(4) Any employee who receives a protective or restraining order that lists town-owned or leased premises as a protected area is required to provide their supervisor with a copy of such order.
(5) If an emergency exists, the employee should contact the Police Department at 911, and notify his or her supervisor, who should in turn notify the Town Manager.
(6) Even if the situation is not an emergency, the employee should report the matter to his or her supervisor, who should in turn notify the Town Manager.
(7) If the nature of the complaint is such that the employee does not believe that he/she can discuss it with the supervisor or the Town Manager, the employee may bring the concerns to the Town Council.
(8) Employees who act in good faith by reporting real or implied violent behavior or violations of this policy need not fear retaliation.
(Ord. 2012-01, passed 1-9-2012; Am. Ord. 2014-11, passed 8-25-2014)