ARTICLE W SECURITY SPECIALIST HIRING/SELECTION PROCESS I. Policy It is the policy of the Cook County Sheriff s Office (CCSO) that Security Specialists may be appointed pursuant to this Sheriff s Employment Action Manual (SEAM) Article W. The hiring/selection process for Security Specialists does not require posting of job vacancies, and/or conducting interviews. Political Reasons or Factors may not be considered in making selections for these positions. Individuals hired/selected under this provision must sign a No Political Consideration Certificate (NPCC). All personnel involved in selecting Security Specialists for their respective office must also sign a NPCC verifying that Political Reasons or Factors were not involved in the hire/selection. II. Procedure A. The Sheriff/Designee and the Cook County Board President ( President )/Designee may select candidates for assignment as Security Specialist for their respective offices. B. As to the Sheriff s Office, the names of candidates selected by the Sheriff/Designee will be forwarded to the CCSO Undersheriff/Designee and the CCSO Compliance Officer. As to the President s Office, the names of the candidates selected by the President/Designee will be forwarded to the CCSO Undersheriff/Designee, the Compliance Administrator for Cook County (until a Compliance Officer for the President s Office is hired,) and the CCSO Compliance Officer. C. The CCSO Undersheriff/Designee/Designee will forward the candidate(s) names submitted by either the Sheriff s Office or the President s Office to the CCSO Director of Personnel. The CCSO Director of Personnel/Designee will assure that the following screening requirements are completed before a transfer or offer of employment is made: 1
1. The Candidate has completed a CCSO Employment Application including an Authorization to Release Information and Waiver. 2. CCSO will conduct a background investigation to determine whether any selected Candidate has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor that reflects negatively on the Candidate s character, honesty, integrity and impacts his or her suitability for the position. Any Candidate whose record so indicates will be considered ineligible by the CCSO and will not be offered employment. 3. Candidate(s) will be required to undergo a drug test in accordance with the Sheriff s Drug Testing Policy, as well as a physical examination. 4. Verify that a candidate meets the minimum requirements of the position sought, including verifying the Candidate s certification with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board; 5. All Candidate(s) will be subject to a Driver s License abstract investigation. Any selected candidate who in the previous 10 years had his/her Driver s License suspended for a serious violation; has been convicted of, or pled guilty, or nolo contendere, to a traffic violation involving an alcohol related offense or an offenses involving controlled substances; or has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a traffic violation involving serious injury or death, will be deemed Not Qualified by the CCSO. 6. The Director of Personnel/Designee will, and the Compliance Officer may, contact references (preferably the most recent employers) listed on the application of the selected Candidates, in order to verify the accuracy of information contained on the application. If the Director of Personnel/Designee discovers that the selected Candidate provided incorrect or misleading information of a substantive nature on his/her application or resume, he/she will notify the Compliance Officer and, with the agreement of the Compliance Officer, the Candidate will not be offered employment/position. 7. For current CCSO employees, conduct a review of disciplinary records, OPR records, and attendance records. If any pending disciplinary actions exist, the Director of Personnel/designee will include that information in the candidate s file. 2
D. As to the President s Security Specialist position, the CCSO Undersheriff/Designee will notify the President/Designee of the results of the employment screening processes. The CCSO Undersheriff/Designee will review the candidates for the CCSO Security Specialist position. E. The President/Designee will provide to the CCSO Undersheriff/Designee/Designee a written approval or disapproval of the Candidate (s), along with a signed NPCC for each Candidate, indicating that the approval or disapproval was not motivated by Political Reasons or Factors. Copies of these signed documents will also be forwarded to the Compliance Administrator for Cook County (until a Compliance Officer is hired,) the CCSO Compliance Officer, and CCSO Director of Personnel. F. Candidates hired/selected under this provision must sign the NPCC. Additionally, all personnel from the Sheriff s and/or President s Office involved in the decision to hire/transfer a candidate to a Security Specialist position must also sign the NPCC, verifying that Political Reasons or Factors were not considered in the hire/transfer. G. As to all approved candidates that are employees of the CCSO, the CCSO Director of Personnel will notify that Candidate s Department Head regarding the Candidate s approval status. The Department Head/Designee will issue a personnel memorandum to that employee to notify him/her that the hiring/selection has been approved. H. As to approved non-employees of the CCSO, the CCSO will notify the successful candidate. I. All Candidates determined to be Not Qualified, or not approved for any reason will be notified by the CCSO. J. Political Reasons or Factors shall not be considered when selecting a Security Specialist. III. Transfer of a Security Specialist Previously Employed by CCSO 3
A. Cook County Sheriff s employees assigned as Security Specialist may be returned to his/her previous position at the discretion of the President/Designee or the CCSO Undersheriff/Designee. B. The employee previously assigned as a Specialist will be reassigned pursuant to the Operational Needs of the CCSO. The Department Head/Designee will attempt to place the employee in the previously held assignment. C. Any transfer will require written notification to the following: 1. The CCSO Undersheriff/Designee/designee 2. The CCSO Compliance Officer 3. The CCSO Director of Personnel 4. The President and the Compliance Administrator for Cook County (until a Compliance Officer for the President s Office is hired, if applicable). D. All personnel from the CCSO and the President s Office involved in the decision to transfer must sign the NPCC, verifying that Political Reasons or Factors were not considered in the transfer. IV. Separation of a Security Specialist Not Previously Employed by CCSO A. If the President/designee, or the CCSO Undersheriff/Designee/designee, uses his/her discretion to separate the Security Specialist who was not previously a CCSO employee, the decision maker will notify the employee of such, and the employee will be required to report to the CCSO to complete an Exit Interview. B. Any separation will require written notification to the following. 1. The CCSO Undersheriff/Designee/designee. 2. The CCSO Compliance Officer 3. The CCSO Director of Personnel 4. The President and the Compliance Administrator for Cook County (until a Compliance Officer is hired, if applicable). C. All personnel from the CCSO and the President s Office (as applicable) involved in the separation process, including the President or her designee, 4
must sign the NPCC, verifying that Political Reasons or Factors were not considered in the separation. 5