Policy
Special duty time is when an employee is excused from regular duties to perform special activities (training, travel, outside schools/seminars, official union business, canine trials, etc.). The Chief of Police or designated Bureau Heads will authorize the use of special duty time.
Special duty assignments are issued on a Personnel Order (MPD-3154).
Special duty may be for all or part of a workday. When a Special Duty assignment is not expected to last a full workday, the employee involved is expected to report or return to their normal assignment to complete a full workday. With a supervisor’s approval, an employee may use compensatory or vacation time before or after a Special Duty assignment that does not last an entire workday. Personnel scheduled for Special Duty while on scheduled time off will be compensated in accordance with existing labor agreements and MPD policy.
Attendance at a Special Duty assignment is mandatory. Upon a supervisor’s request, the employee shall provide documentation of attendance, i.e., certificate, training materials, etc. Any employee missing a Special Duty assignment shall submit a memo to his/her commander explaining the reason for their absence.
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that Special Duty hours are monitored and appropriate time adjustments made. For example: an employee who works a ten hour shift and attends an eight hour in-service training session must report back to their work assignment to complete his/her work day or use vacation or compensatory time for the remaining two hours.
When possible, Special Duty requests shall be submitted at least 30 days in advance. The Training Unit may forward requests for final approval to the appropriate Bureau Head and will coordinate travel paperwork. For further information, see the MPD Travel Procedures policy.