2129.23 Suspension or Disciplinary Action
   When departmental charges are to be filed against an employee, the Chief of Police or his designee shall have the charges against the employee reduced to writing with two (2) copies of the charges to be served on the employee. The employee may request a hearing with the Chief of Police to be conducted by the Chief or his designee not sooner than seven (7) work days and not more than fourteen (14) work days after the written charges have been served upon the employee.
   Requests for hearings shall be made in writing within five (5) work days after the charges have been served on the employee. If a hearing is not requested, the Chief/designee shall render his decision without a hearing within said fourteen (14) work day period.
   If the Chief or his designee recommends the suspension of an employee, then he shall forthwith, in writing, certify to the Director of Public Safety the fact of such suspension. Within five (5) days from the receipt of such certification the Director of Public Safety shall proceed to inquire into the cause of the suspension as provided in Section 143 of the Charter of the City of Toledo. The Director of Public Safety at his discretion may conduct a hearing on the suspension as provided in the Charter and the employee shall have the right to be represented at such hearing.
   The Director of Public Safety shall render judgment in the matter and take action as he deems suitable and as is provided for in the Charter.
   The decision of the Safety Director with regard to the suspension or dismissal of an employee may, at the request of the employee, be appealed to the Civil Service Commission as provided in Section 144 of the Charter or, at the discretion of the Association, be submitted to final and binding arbitration.