This page shall serve as the official  Disciplinary Process Policy for the San Andreas Fire Department:

Last Updated:  01/26/2023
By:   Kidd B.

19.1- Purpose

• The purpose of discipline is to change and improve behavior. It is imperative for SAFD employees who serve the Nodus community to adhere to the SAFD Code Of Conduct regarding work performance and personal conduct as a San Andreas Firefighter. When an employee’s behavior departs from the standards set forth by the Department or Community, then disciplinary action may be necessary

• This policy defines the process for correcting single and repeat episodes of employee failure to comply with rules and/or to meet specific SAFD expectations for conduct 

• Corrections to unacceptable behavior may be addressed under this policy or the discretion of command staff, depending on the individual circumstances and the nature and extent of correction that is needed

• The Fire Chief shall have the authority to discipline all members of the Department in accordance with the policies and procedures outlined herein 

• The Fire Chief may delegate to any Officer of the Fire Department the authority to issue discipline 

• The Assistant Chief may suspend, without pay, any subordinate Firefighter for five (5) calendar days or three (3) shifts, provided suspension is reviewed by the Fire Chief

• Any Battalion Chief may recommend suspension without pay, a subordinate shift officer or firefighter for up to two (2) calendar days or one (1) shift. The recommendation for suspension shall be reviewed by the Assistant Chief as set forth herein and ultimately reviewed by the Chief

• Any Officer may discipline a subordinate firefighter pursuant to this policy by issuing: Notice of Counseling, Verbal Warning, and/or Written Reprimand

• Any Officer may recommend, in writing to a Battalion Chief or above, that a subordinate firefighter be suspended without pay 

• All Officers will make every effort to employ the progressive discipline concept when applying disciplinary action within their area of command; however, it may be necessary to start the discipline process at an appropriate level due to the infraction

• Nothing in this disciplinary policy shall be interpreted as requiring that all stages of progressive discipline be used for a particular infraction 

• All department employees shall fully cooperate in investigations of disciplinary matters 

19.2- Procedures

Where violations are reoccurring, the standard steps shall be followed. In cases requiring severe measures, one or more steps may be omitted: 

1.  Warning Notice (verbal) 

2.  Written Warning 

3.  Suspense and Final Notice 

4.  Removal from the department

19.3- Classes of Discipline

There will be three (3) classes of discipline. They are as follows: 

• Class I: 

  • Immediate discharge

• Class II: 

  • Written warning, suspension, termination 

• Class III: 

  • Oral warning, written warning, suspension, termination Examples of Class I

19.4- Causes

Examples of Class I causes:

• Theft of department property or another employee’s property

• Intentional destruction of department property 

• Falsifying reports 

• Lying or willfully omitting critical information

• Gross insubordination such as refusal to work

• Breaking Nodus Server Rules

• Plagiarism/leaking/or use of SAFD intellectual property for personal benefit or to benefit others without expressed written consent from department chief

• Corruption

• Harassment of other Nodus community or SAFD members via means outside of the city

  • Excessive unwarranted/unwelcome messaging

  • Interfering with or negatively impacting streams, videos, posts, etc.

Examples of Class II causes: 

• Reckless driving of department vehicles 

• Failure to comply with published departmental or municipal rules or regulations. 

• Fighting co-workers or civilians

• Threatening (verbal or physical) to co-workers or civilians 

• Use or under the influence of drugs or alcohol while on duty

• Unauthorized use of SAFD apparatus, equipment, uniform or property

• Being on-duty, unsupervised under the rank of Firefighter 2

• Off duty conduct that reflects negatively on the SAFD and its reputation

• Lying

Examples of Class III causes: 

• Foul and/or abusive language 

• Inefficient, incompetent or negligent performance of work

• Failure to follow sign out procedures 

• Inability or failure to maintain satisfactory working relations with co-workers and/or citizens  

All warnings, oral and written, shall be documented.