Colorado Springs proposes new police and fire civil-service rules

Colorado Springs is proposing new civil-service rules for its Police and Fire departments, including a provision that would reinstate terminated sworn employees with back pay and benefits if they win their appeals.

The rules also would create an optional discipline-review process through the police or fire chief. Employees who use it would have to acknowledge the underlying policy violation and waive rights including further Civil Service Commission and court review, lawsuits based on the chief’s decision, discovery, and the presentation and cross-examination of witnesses. The chief’s decision would be final. The proposed rule text says employees would have time to consult an attorney before signing the waiver.

The proposal would replace an approach described in the city’s rule-revision summary as allowing terminated employees to remain on paid administrative leave while appeals were pending. Under the proposed rules, employees whose terminations are not upheld would receive the pay and city benefits they would have received if they had not been terminated.

The changes also would require at least 14 days’ public notice for entry-level and lateral-entry examinations and at least 30 days’ notice for promotional examinations. A separate proposed resolution would allow the Fire Department to use continuous testing for promotional Firefighter Driver/Engineer positions. Passing scores would remain valid for 12 months, during which candidates could not retest.

The Civil Service Commission approved the Driver/Engineer amendment June 15, according to the proposed resolution. The broader rule documents are dated Sept. 8. The records provided do not show City Council approval. The proposed rules say they would take effect only after approval by both the commission and council, and after the text is posted for at least 10 working days. They also call for a public hearing if employees object.