A new policy will require San Jose city employees to be placed on leave in the event of serious criminal misconduct allegations.
The new policy was developed in collaboration between the police department and the city manager’s office following two high-profile incidents involving a city code inspector and a police officer. The code inspector has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for extorting sex and bribes from business owners, while the police officer has been charged with indecent exposure for allegedly masturbating while responding to a call. In both instances, the employees were allowed to continue working with the public after allegations were first made.
Under the new rules, a complaint of sexual misconduct, battery, theft or bribery will result in the accused being placed on administrative leave until an investigation is complete. The city manager must be made aware immediately of the allegations and can decide, following a review, whether to keep the employee on leave or transfer them to an assignment which does not include work with the public.
“We have taken immediate action to protect the safety and financial health of our community with this new policy that applies to all city employees,” said City Manager Jennifer Maguire in a press release. “This preventive measure will help us ensure that potential crime against our community by the very people whom they trust to keep them safe will not occur again and are swiftly acted on. The policy provides safeguards so the public will have confidence in how we handle these situations when criminal or administrative investigations are underway.”