NCJ Number
119456
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 37 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1989) Pages: 76-78
Date Published
1989
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) Office of Internal Affairs oversees complaints against personnel from the public or other sources, maintains statistics about such complaints, and conducts internal audits to insure that each department element complies with State fiscal requirements.
Abstract
The adverse action function of Internal Affairs seems to draw the most attention. Substantiated infractions may lead to an adverse action, with penalties based on the infraction's seriousness. Penalties include a written reprimand, suspension of varying duration, or termination of employment. Suspensions generally range from 1 to 10 working days without pay. Instead of suspension, however, the individual being disciplined may face a one-step reduction in pay for 5 months, which is the equivalent of a 5-day suspension without pay. Penalties ranging from 6 to 20 days suspension must be reviewed by the CHP assistant field commissioner, and any suspension penalty that is more severe, including dismissal, has to be reviewed by the CHP commissioner. Although an appeal process is available, the CHP reports that 82 percent of adverse action decisions are upheld by the State Personnel Board. Adverse actions currently on the rise relate to drugs, and it is anticipated that this problem will increase. Of about 8,000 uniformed and nonuniformed CHP employees, there were 135 adverse action discipline cases in 1986, 134 in 1987, and 160 in 1988. These cases involved negligence in most instances rather than serious infractions.