Any request for an excused absence without pay for a period of five (5) work days or less may be granted by the Chief of Police and/or his designee without the necessity of preparing formal leave papers. Upon approval of the City, a leave of absence without pay may be granted for up to thirty (30) calendar days in any calendar year.
Requests for such leave of absence shall be made by the employee in writing on the form provided by the City. Such application shall be made as far in advance as possible.
Employees on such approved leaves of absence for thirty (30) calendar days or less shall have their hospitalization-surgical-drug prescription-life insurance benefits continued in force by the City during this period of time. Those officers on an approved FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) leave may hold three (3) weeks vacation and 15 days sick time in abeyance for later use in accordance with the vacation and sick time provisions of this agreement.
A leave of absence for more than thirty (30) calendar days in a calendar year may be granted by the City. An employee on an approved leave of absence for more than thirty (30) calendar days in any calendar year shall not receive hospitalization-surgical-drug prescription benefits during the period of such leave. However, the employee may arrange to prepay through the Division of Accounts the premiums necessary to continue the employee's hospitalization - surgical - drug prescription - life insurance benefits in force during the period of time exceeding thirty (30) days the employee is on leave.
It is the parties' express intent that this chapter of the code shall not be applied or interpreted in such a manner as to cause or constitute a violation of any law, specifically including the family and medical leave act of 1993. Any remedy for violation of this act shall be as set forth in the Act.