(a) No employee shall be suspended without pay from the service of the City without first having been afforded a hearing by the City's designated hearing officer, except as provided below.
(b) An employee may be suspended without pay pending a hearing only for major infractions of theft, embezzlement of public funds, being under the influence of alcoholic beverages or abusive drugs during working hours, the use of alcoholic beverages or abusive drugs during working hours, physical violence, offenses involving gross misconduct, or gross insubordination.
(c) However, where an employee is suspended under this provision, the President of the Union or a designee shall be notified of the suspension immediately, and a hearing before the City's designated hearing officer shall be held prior to the end of the work day thereafter at a time mutually agreed upon. The sole purpose of the hearing will be to establish whether sufficient cause exists to continue the suspension until a full hearing as provided in Section 2117.27, "Procedure," is held and a determination thereunder rendered. Said full hearing need not be scheduled within the time parameters provided under Section 2117.27, “Procedure”; rather, it shall be at the call of the hearing officer.