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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
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    Brawley, CA 92227
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    288

    Default Are California Police Officers Entitled to Severance Pay

    My question concerns municipal police in the State of CA:
    A candidate for sheriff stated that contracting for police services with the Sheriff's Office could cost "considerably" more because the city would have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in severance pay to the police officers. Is he correct? What public document can I request to view the severance package offered to police in this city? If police are offered a job with the Sheriff's Office would they be entitled to severance pay? Who, ultimately, makes the decision to contract for these services, the County BOS, or, the Sheriff?
    Thank you.
    This police department employs approximately 50 police officers.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Behind a Desk
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    Default Re: Are California Police Exempt from Severance Pay

    Quote Quoting huntsab
    View Post
    Is he correct?
    We would have no way of knowing.
    Quote Quoting huntsab
    What public document can I request to view the severance package offered to police in this city?
    If there's a CBA, or if there are local policies relating to layoffs, RIFs, and the like, those would be the places to start.
    Quote Quoting huntsab
    If police are offered a job with the Sheriff's Office would they be entitled to severance pay?
    You'll find out after you review the relevant documentation.
    Quote Quoting huntsab
    Who, ultimately, makes the decision to contract for these services, the County BOS, or, the Sheriff?
    Typically, when a unit of government goes from having its own police agency to working on a contract basis with a different agency, it's a decision made by the elected representatives for that unit of government.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    California
    Posts
    20,594

    Default Re: Are California Police Exempt from Severance Pay

    Quote Quoting huntsab
    View Post
    My question concerns municipal police in the State of CA:
    A candidate for sheriff stated that contracting for police services with the Sheriff's Office could cost "considerably" more because the city would have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in severance pay to the police officers. Is he correct?
    Quite possibly, yes.

    A contract to a Sheriff's Department for police services typically takes 18 months or longer to negotiate, and the city still has to address the provisions of any MOU that might exist. Typically, the Sheriff and the city come to an agreement as to the officers within the police department and how they might be taken on by the Sheriff's Department. These negotiations typically involve issues of seniority, rank, etc. It is rare that all or even most of the officers in a police department will be let go when these changes come about. The county might also have to negotiate with their own employees! Some counties have MOUs with the employees that requires that the DSA (Deputy Sheriff's Association) agrees to the takeover because it could drastically effect their working conditions, seniority, etc.

    Also, when a city contracts for these services they find they lose control and they also lose the ability to negotiate contract price. The first few years are usually sweet, but after that the Sheriff has a monopoly and the cities are left with the choice of being bent over a barrel for services they might have little control over, or, paying about 5 times the annual budget of their old police department to restart it.

    What public document can I request to view the severance package offered to police in this city?
    The MOU with the assorted unions, and the city's personnel rules should have all that info regarding layoff procedures and the like.

    If police are offered a job with the Sheriff's Office would they be entitled to severance pay? Who, ultimately, makes the decision to contract for these services, the County BOS, or, the Sheriff?
    It's possible that the officers let go by the city and brought on by the county might have to be paid off. If their leave balances and any required severance pay is not negotiated away, the city will owe it to the employees.

    All parties with contractual obligations have to negotiate for their respective parts in the deal. That is why these deals typically take up to two years to complete because everyone is negotiating with everyone else.

    This police department employs approximately 50 police officers.
    That'll be a lot of people to pay out! The city will have to pay off accrued leave balances, any contractual or legally mandated severance pay for any layoffs, etc. unless they negotiate with the officers' union and agree to waive these for some reason (usually because the city will pay the county to take on these obligations in their stead).

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