SECTION D | PERSONNEL

 

SECTION DDC.2

PERSONNEL
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
SALARIES AND WAGES- LEAVES FOR CAMPUS POLICE OFFICERS

Procedure

MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE FOR CAMPUS POLICE OFFICERS

 

Navarro College will grant mental health leave for peace officers employed by the College who experience a traumatic event in the scope of their employment.

Definitions:

Traumatic event – an event which occurs in the peace officer(s) scope of employment when the officer is involved in the response to, or investigation of, an event that causes the officer to experience unusually strong emotional reactions or feelings which have the potential to interfere with their ability to function during or after the incident.

Traumatic events may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Major disasters which may include response to weather related events involving multiple casualties; or explosions with multiple casualties; or search and recovery missions involving multiple casualties;

  • Incidents involving multiple casualties which may include shootings or traffic accidents;

  • Line of duty death or suicide of a department member;

  • Death of a child resulting from violence or neglect;

  • Officer(s) involved shooting of a person.

 

Mental health leave – administrative leave with pay granted in response to a traumatic event that occurred in the scope of the peace officer’s employment.

 

Mental Health Professional – a licensed social or mental health worker, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist or psychiatrist.

 

REQUESTING MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE

An officer directly involved in a traumatic event may request the use of mental health leave.  The request shall be made in writing through the chain of command. The request shall be treated as a priority matter and a decision on the granting of the leave shall be made no later than 24 hours following the submission of the request.  The request shall be granted unless the chain of command can articulate specific compelling reasons to deny granting the leave.

 

CONFIDENTIALITY OF REQUEST

Any request for mental health leave shall be treated as strictly confidential by all parties involved and shall not be discussed or disclosed outside the officer’s immediate chain of command, and only as necessary to facilitate the use of the leave.  Any officer or supervisor who becomes aware of behavioral changes and suggests the officer seek mental health leave shall not discuss that matter with any third party. Any breach of this confidentiality shall be grounds for discipline.

Confidentiality may be waived by the officer seeking mental health leave.  Confidentiality may be waived under circumstances which indicate the officer is a danger to himself or herself or others and department personnel must confer with mental health professionals.

 

DURATION OF MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE

An officer directly involved in a traumatic event may request up to three working days of mental health leave.

Extensions of mental health leave may be available under certain circumstances.  Any request for an extension shall be accompanied by documentation from a mental health professional who is counseling the officer.  The request may extend the leave by three working days.  Each officer may request no more than two extensions, each supported by sufficient documentation by the mental health professional.  The Chief shall grant the extension(s) upon the receipt of sufficient documentation explain the need for the extension.

 

PAID QUARANTINE LEAVE POLICY FOR POLICE OFFICERS

Navarro College will provide paid quarantine leave for any police officer who is ordered to quarantine or isolate due to a possible or known exposure to a communicable disease while on duty. Navarro College will not reduce the officer’s sick leave balance, vacation leave balance, banked holiday leave balance, or other paid leave balance in connection with paid quarantine leave taken in accordance with this procedure.

 

Approved: 2022
Updated: 
Reviewed: 2024