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- Military Deployment and Reintegration, G.O. No. 2.3.60 Page 1 ALBANY, NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT 165 HENRY JOHNSON BOULEVARD ALBANY, NEW YORK 12210 MILITARY DEPLOYMENT AND REINTEGRATION GENERAL ORDER NO: 2.3.60 Issue Date: October 11, 2015 Effective Date: October 11, 2015 Revision Date: N/A CALEA: 22.1.9 Volume 2: Logistics Chapter 3: Personnel Distribution: All Personnel NYSLEAP: N/A Issuing Authority: Chief Eric Hawkins Page: 1 of 6 PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to provide procedures for personnel being deployed to the military, as well as procedures for their active reintegration back into the department. This shall apply to any branch of military service covered under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). POLICY: It is the policy of the Albany Police Department to establish a plan for personnel with military activations for a period of one-hundred and eighty (180) days or longer for pre-deployment, deployment, and post deployment. The Albany Police Department will grant all personnel a leave of absence to fulfill military service obligations, in accordance with the requirements of applicable law. DEFINITIONS: Military Support Officer (MSO) – Military Support Officer (MSO) is a department member who has been identified by the military employee to serve as a point of contact between the deployed employee and the department during his/her absence. The MSO will serve to assist in the care and oversight of the employee’s family and personal matters should the need arise during the employee’s deployment. This shall not be construed as giving the MSO any legal authority to act in the employee’s stead unless it has been otherwise provided for in proper legal documentation. Military Peer Counselor (MPC) – Military Peer Counselor (MPC) is a department member who is a military veteran or an active Reserve/National Guard member of the United States Armed Forces. The MPC will receive training in NYS Military Leave Laws, USERRA, Veterans’ Administration Education, PTSD, and suicide awareness. The MPC will assist supervisors, if needed, with direct assistance with military members, which includes contact with the employee returning to duty to in order to assist with reintegration and evaluate the need for additional training. Re-Acclimation Process – Re-acclimation process is the gradual, pre- determined steps set by the department, which are intended to give returning military employees the opportunity to comfortably, and successfully, reintroduce themselves into their positions within the department; post deployment. This process is designed to afford the employee an opportunity to address issues which may be associated with their deployment and their position. Eric Hawkins Chief of Police 1789 ---PAGE BREAK--- - Military Deployment and Reintegration, G.O. No. 2.3.60 Page 2 I. PRE-DEPLOYMENT A. Procedures: 1. Any employee seeking a military leave of absence must provide the department with advance notice of his/her intent to take military leave, unless advance notice is precluded by military necessity or operational security considering all relevant circumstances. 2. The employee shall submit a copy of his/her military orders to their supervisor as soon as possible along with the Albany Police Department Military Duty Notification Form, APD form # 355 shown on page 4 of this order. 3. The employee will identify a member of the department to act as their Military Support Officer (MSO). 4. The Military Peer Counselor (MPC) will serve as the department’s point of contact, and together with the employee’s immediate supervisor, will meet with the employee prior to deployment. 5. The employee’s immediate supervisor shall complete an Albany Police Department Supervisor’s Pre/Post Deployment Checklist, APD form # 002, shown on pages 5 and 6 of this order. 5. The employee’s immediate supervisor shall coordinate all out-processing procedures, which shall include an exit interview with the Chief of Police. 6. Prior to the employee’s deployment, as part of out-processing, the employee shall turn in all department issued weapons and equipment. a. The Pre/Post Deployment Checklist, APD form # 002, shall be utilized to record the turning in and storage of said weapons and equipment. b. Weapons and equipment shall be recorded and stored in accordance with current department directives. II. DEPLOYMENT A. Procedures: 1. During the deployed employee’s absence, the department shall provide support to the employee and his/her family through the MSO and MPC. 2. The MPC shall: a. Maintain an up-to-date status with the deployed employee, and provide any Department of Defense authorized information to the employee’s immediate supervisor for dissemination through the chain of command. Information shall include current status, active needs, and family needs. b. The MPC shall maintain a current file on the deployed employee, including the status of any certifications, applicable department training missed, email and address information for other department members to maintain contact. d. Department members are encouraged to maintain active contact with the deployed employee. The sending of department events, newsletters, and other information assists the deployed employee ---PAGE BREAK--- - Military Deployment and Reintegration, G.O. No. 2.3.60 Page 3 in maintaining an active link with his/her home. III. POST DEPLOYMENT/REINTEGRATION A. Procedures: 1. Any employee on a military leave of absence, upon completing his/her military service obligation, must return to work in a timely manner, as established by applicable laws. Failure to return to work after an approved military leave in a timely manner, falsification of the reasons for taking the military leave, or working elsewhere while on the military leave can result in termination of the leave of absence and/or discipline, up to and including termination of employment. 2. Prior to returning to full duty, the returning employee will meet with the Chief of Police or his/her designee, the employee’s immediate supervisor, and the MPC for a reintegration interview and to complete the Albany Police Department’s Supervisor’s Pre/Post Deployment Checklist, APD Form # 002. 3. An employee returning from a military leave of absence will be reinstated in accordance with current collective bargaining agreements, if applicable, and related laws. a. With some exceptions, an employee returning from a military leave of absence typically will be reinstated without loss of seniority, status, or pay and return to either his/her prior position or the position in which the employee would have been employed had his/her continuous service not been interrupted by the military leave. 6. Upon returning to work, and prior to returning to their current assignment, the employee must complete any initial and/or refresher training, weapons requalification, and steps for reintegration, which may have lapsed during his/her deployment. a. Upon Training Unit notification, a schedule will be made to accomplish all required training tasks. b. The returning employee will also be required to complete a short term assignment with a designated officer or detective for refresher training in their assigned area. 5. Returning employees shall be re-issued all equipment, according to current department directives. 6. The Albany Police Department Supervisor’s Pre/Post Deployment Checklist, APD form # 002 shall be maintained by the Office of Professional Standards and a copy shall be placed in the employee’s training file. ---PAGE BREAK--- - Military Deployment and Reintegration, G.O. No. 2.3.60 Page 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- - Military Deployment and Reintegration, G.O. No. 2.3.60 Page 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- - Military Deployment and Reintegration, G.O. No. 2.3.60 Page 6