Regular 2.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 06/13/2011
- TITLE
- Resolution Approving Police Drug & Alcohol Policy
- PRESENTED BY:
- Tina Volek
- Department:
- City Hall Administration
Presentation:
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
In cooperation with the Montana Public Employees Association -- Billings Police Unit (MPEA), a Police Department Drug & Alcohol Policy has been prepared. This is one of four policies that have been considered by the City Council, with the others approved for employees in Teamsters, Non-Represented and International Association of Firefighters work groups. This policy is the strictest of the four because, due to the sensitive nature of Police Department work, all sworn officers including the Chief are subject to random testing for alcohol and/or controlled substances.
The Police Department Policy, as well as the other work groups' policy prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession or use of an illegal drug; illegal use of a legally obtainable drug or substance; impairment by over-the-counter prescription drugs or alcohol; and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.
As with the City's other drug and alcohol policies, employees who voluntarily identify themselves to Human Resources as seeking treatment for misuse of alcohol and/or illegal drugs or the misuse of prescription drugs, before they are identified by testing or other means will be covered by a "safe harbor" that allows them to be treated and returned to work.
The Police Department Policy, as well as the other work groups' policy prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession or use of an illegal drug; illegal use of a legally obtainable drug or substance; impairment by over-the-counter prescription drugs or alcohol; and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.
As with the City's other drug and alcohol policies, employees who voluntarily identify themselves to Human Resources as seeking treatment for misuse of alcohol and/or illegal drugs or the misuse of prescription drugs, before they are identified by testing or other means will be covered by a "safe harbor" that allows them to be treated and returned to work.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
The City Council may:
- Approve the resolution adopting the Police Department Drug and Alcohol Policy;
- Amend the proposed policy to make it conform to the others adopted that requires conditions such as reasonable suspicion for testing; or
- Reject the resolution, making the Police Department the only employee group without a policy.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The policy provides for up to 10% of employees to be subject to random alcohol testing and up to 25% of the average number of employees to be subject to random drug testing. The estimated cost of these tests annually is $1,500.00.
Employees who select the "safe harbor" portion of the policy in advance of being discovered any other way are eligible for treatment under the City's health insurance program on the same basis as other employees who are being treated for an illness. Employees who are found through random testing or other means are required to cover the costs of their own treatment.
Employees who select the "safe harbor" portion of the policy in advance of being discovered any other way are eligible for treatment under the City's health insurance program on the same basis as other employees who are being treated for an illness. Employees who are found through random testing or other means are required to cover the costs of their own treatment.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the policy.