HomeMy WebLinkAboutCivil Service Meeting-Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decision BEFORE THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES
In the Matter of Police Officer Jeff FINDINGS OF FACT,
Thaxton Appeal of the March 30,2017 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW,
Police Corporal Eligibility List AND DECISION
INTRODUCTION
THIS MATTER was brought before the Port Angeles Civil Service Commission to hear
and determine an appeal regarding the March 30, 2017 Police Corporal Eligibility List.
Port Angeles Police Officer Jeff Thaxton appeals his eligibility date of October 26, 2018
based on the police corporal job description preferred qualifications.
BACKGROUND OF APPEAL
The Commission conducted a hearing on June 1, 2017.
This Commission received and fully considered the following evidence:
1. Sworn testimony from Officer Thaxton.
2. Sworn testimony from Abbigail Fountain, Port Angeles Human Resources
Manager and Civil Service Chief Examiner
3. The documents in a packet prepared by Ms. Fountain.
4. The documents and definitions prepared by Officer Thaxton.
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. On December 22, 2016, the City of Port Angeles Police Department posted a
police corporal promotional announcement. The announcement lists the
qualifications as five years of experience as a law enforcement officer and a
minimum of three years of experience with the Port Angeles Police Department.
The police corporal job description lists as a"preferred" qualification: five years
of experience as a police officer and three years of experience with the Port
Angeles Police Department.
2. The Port Angeles Civil Service Rules require that in order to be accepted for
examination, applicants must meet the education and experience requirements in
the job announcement. The City of Port Angeles has allowed candidates who will
meet the eligibility requirements during the life of the list to test as professional
Appeal—Officer Jeff Thaxion
FINDINGS OF FACT,CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
AND RECOMMENDATION August I7,20I7 - I
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development. Deputy Chief Viada communicated this to the Police Department
on December 16, 2016.
3. On March 9, 2017 Public Safety Testing held a corporal candidate workshop and
on March 30, 2017, Public Safety Testing conducted a performance rating test of
all corporal candidates. Officer Jeff Thaxton received the top score of 89.85.
4. On March 30, 2017, Abbigail Fountain, the Chief Examiner, certified the
eligibility list. This list showed that Officer Thaxton was eligible for promotion
on October 26, 2018, the date he will complete three years with the Port Angeles
Police Department.
BASED UPON THE FOREGOING Findings of Fact, the Port Angeles Civil Service
Commission makes the following:
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. The City has an established past practice that allows candidates who do not meet the
qualifications on the test date,but who will meet the qualifications during the list
lifetime, to participate in the testing process as a professional development
opportunity.
2. The Chief Examiner, using authority granted in Civil Service Rule 5.02, rightly listed
Officer Thaxton's eligibility date as October 26, 2018 because that was the date he
met the requirements of the job announcement.
DECIDED this_LL day of 2017.
Penney Sanders.,bhii: ?the Board
X.- ",-7f,
Danetta u en, Bo rd M ber
Brent Powll, Board Member
Attest:
ennifer(Vencklasen, City Clerk
Appeal-Officer Jeff Thaxton
FINDINGS OF FACT,CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
AND RECOMMENDATION August 17,2017 - 2