The classifications included within this bargaining unit, and their eligibility for representation and benefits shall be as follows:
(a) Police Officer Trainee: All newly hired trainees shall complete the Ohio State Peace Officers Training Council Minimum Standard Training Program prior to being assigned to any regular police duties. At the conclusion of the training period, the Trainee who has successfully completed the training course shall then be classified as a Police Officer Probationary and will be assigned regular police duties. When O.P.O.T.A. (Ohio Police Officer Training Academy) certified employees are hired, they as well shall be considered Trainee Police Officer until their assignment as a Police Officer Probationary commences. Upon completion of the Police Officer Trainee Program the employee will receive the first step wage increase. No Trainee shall be assigned to any regular police duties nor receive any fringe benefits other than Hospitalization and Death Benefit during the Academy training period.
Upon the employee having successfully completed the training period in the Police Academy, he/she shall then be entitled to full fringe benefits. The Association shall represent a new employee upon satisfactory completion of the Academy. However, the Association shall not represent the employee in an issue pertaining to the acceptance or rejection of the employee during the Probationary Period.
All O.P.O.T.A. Certified employees, laterally hired, shall be released from the Academy for an orientation with the Association. This shall occur two (2) days or more prior to the completion of the Academy, and shall be accomplished at the Association's facility at a time agreed upon by the Police Administration and the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association.
(b) Police Officer - Probationary: All appointed employees shall serve a probationary period of one (1) year of duty in actual police service after successful completion of the Police Academy, or such longer period as agreed upon by the Director of Police Operations and the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association to allow for an extended full evaluation of Probationary Employee. They shall have no seniority during this probationary period, but upon completion of this year, their seniority date shall be established as the original date of employment.
Absence from work for any reason, except schooling required by law, shall not be included in calculating an employee's one (1) year probationary period, but in no event shall a probationary employee become permanent until he has completed one hundred eighty (180) work days of actual police service.
The City may discharge an employee at any time during the employee's training or probationary periods and a statement of the reason(s) for such discharge shall be submitted to the employee. The provisions of this section shall apply only to employees in their initial probationary period or any mutually agreed upon extension.
(c) Police Officer: Employees upon the completion of the probationary period shall be classified as police officers and will be known as permanent employees. Their training and probationary periods shall then be counted for purposes of determining their entitlement to all fringe benefits, as well as their continuous service date in the event of layoff.
The Association shall be the exclusive bargaining agent to address a new police class. This is to occur at some time between the 130th and 150th days of their employment while they are in attendance at the police academy, for the purpose of informing new employees of the existence of the Association and their functions as representatives of employees.
(d) Sergeant-At-Arms: The position of Sergeant-At-Arms will be selected from the rank of Police Officers. The Sergeant-At-Arms shall be selected by the City Council and his/her duties shall be exclusive to the business of the Mayor and City Council. In the event of holidays not covered within this agreement, said duties shall be defined by the Chief of Police.