(A) The safety and security of all employees is important to the city. Threats, abusive behavior or acts of violence against employees, citizens or other individuals by anyone while performing job duties related to the city will not be tolerated. These types of actions will lead to referral to appropriate law enforcement agencies. City employees who exhibit this type of behavior will be disciplined or discharged. The city may take any necessary legal action to protect its employees and will make every effort to assist any employee experiencing threats of violence.
(B) Any person who makes threats, exhibits threatening behavior or engages in violent acts on city premises will be removed from the premises as quickly as safety permits and will remain off city premises pending the outcome of an investigation. Any employee who makes threats, exhibits threatening behavior or engages in violent acts while in performance of his or her employment duties will be immediately suspended pending the outcome of an investigation of the incident. Following an investigation, the city will initiate an immediate and appropriate response. This response may include, but is not limited to, suspension and/or termination of any business relationship, reassignment of job duties, suspension or termination of employment and/or criminal prosecution of the person or persons involved.
(C) All employees are responsible for notifying city management personnel of any threats that they witness, receive or that they are told another person witnessed or received. Even without a specific threat, all employees should report any behavior witnessed that they regard as potentially threatening, violent or which could endanger the health or safety of an employee when the behavior has been carried out on a city-controlled site, is connected to city employment or city business. Employees are responsible for making this report regardless of the relationship between the individual who initiated the threatening behavior and the person or persons being threatened.
(D) Employees are encouraged to notify either their supervisor or the City Clerk if an emergency protection order (EPO) or domestic violence order (DVO) has been issued for their protection.
(E) (1) The city will make every effort to assist an employee experiencing threats of violence.
(2) Assistance may include:
(a) Confidential means for coming forward for help;
(b) Resource and referral information, e.g., employee assistance program (EAP);
(c) Leave of absence consideration; and
(d) Special safety considerations at the workplace.
(F) The city understands the sensitivity of the information requested and will respect the privacy of the reporting employee to the extent allowable by law. The city will endeavor to maintain the anonymity of a reporting party to the extent feasible for cooperation with appropriate law enforcement officials.
(G) Any employee who acts in good faith by reporting real or implied violent behavior will not be
subjected to any form of retaliation or harassment.
(H) (1) Only sworn law enforcement officers are required to carry concealed deadly weapons in the course of their employment with the city.
(2) For all other employees, the following apply.
(a) Any other form of carrying a deadly weapon, as defined in division (I)(1) below, is not prohibited; however, any other form of carrying a deadly weapon, as defined in divisions (I)(2) through (I)(7) below, is prohibited.
(b) An employee carrying a deadly weapon in compliance with the city’s employee handbook while performing work for or while on duty for the city does so as a voluntary act and not at the direction or request of the city. Other than sworn law enforcement officers, no job descriptions or job duties in the city require an employee to possess a deadly weapon.
(c) An employee that chooses to carry a deadly weapon in compliance with the city’s employee handbook has the responsibility to know the law as to where he or she can or cannot legally carry his or her deadly weapon. Some locations including schools prohibit the carrying of deadly weapons by persons other than sworn law enforcement. Failure to abide by lawful restrictions in those locations, even while performing work for the city or while on duty for the city may result in personal liability criminally and/or civilly.
(d) An employee that uses a deadly weapon may incur personal liability and the city may or may not indemnify the employee for such use.
(I) DEADLY WEAPON will be defined as:
(1) Any weapon from which a shot readily capable of producing death or other serious physical injury may be discharged;
(2) Any knife except an ordinary pocketknife or other knife routinely used in the performance of city duties;
(3) Billy, nightstick or club;
(4) Blackjack or slapjack;
(5) Nunchaku karate sticks;
(6) Shuriken or death star; and
(7) Artificial knuckles made from metal, plastic or other hard material.