RANDOLPH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

1.31.1 Purpose

To establish clear guidelines regarding the responsibility of all personnel to respond to emergency recall notifications in order to maintain minimum mandatory staffing levels necessary for the safe and effective operation of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.

1.31.2 Policy Statement

All employees of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office are designated as essential personnel. As such, each employee is subject to emergency recall at the direction of the Sheriff, Chief Deputy, or Chief Jail Administrator. Compliance with emergency recall is a condition of employment.

1.31.3 Procedures

1.31.3.1 Authority to Recall

The Sheriff, Chief Deputy, or Chief Jail Administrator may initiate an emergency recall when staffing levels fall below minimum requirements or when operational needs dictate.

1.31.3.2 Employee Responsibility

• Employees shall maintain current phone number(s) and contact information on file with the Sheriff’s Office at all times.

• Employees are required to answer recall notifications when contacted or return calls/messages immediately if unable to answer at the time of contact.

• Employees shall acknowledge all recall attempts, even if unable to report for duty, and must provide the reason for their unavailability.

1.31.3.3 Failure to Respond

• Failure to acknowledge a recall notification, including ignoring phone calls, voicemails, or electronic messages, shall be documented as a refusal to respond.

• Such failure shall be considered an overt violation of this policy.

1.31.3.4 Disciplinary Action

Failure to comply with this policy will subject the employee to disciplinary action in accordance with Sheriff’s Office procedures. The following progressive discipline framework will serve as a guideline, though the level of discipline may be adjusted based on the severity of the violation:

• First Offense: Written warning

• Second Offense: Suspension without pay for one (1) to three (3) days

• Third Offense: Termination of employment

The Sheriff, Chief Deputy, or Chief Jail Administrator retains the authority to impose a higher level of discipline, up to and including termination, for any single violation when the failure to respond significantly impacts the safety, security, or operational readiness of the Sheriff’s Office.

1.31.4 Review

This policy shall be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to ensure compliance with operational needs and applicable laws.