Mayor proposes firing city workers found guilty of DV and suspending those accused

Article here. Excerpt:

'City workers arrested for domestic violence would face discipline, and those convicted would be fired, under rules proposed yesterday by Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.
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Rules have been in place for police accused of domestic violence for two years. The new, tweaked policy would apply to firefighters, public works employees, paramedics and the rest of the city's 3,300 workers.

Some of the unions representing those workers said they were waiting for the mayor to invite them to discuss the policy.

"Nobody wants to see domestic violence occur at all," said Josh Bloom, a lawyer representing the firefighters union. He welcomed proposed domestic violence awareness training. "However, that doesn't mean that every type of domestic altercation that ever happened in history warrants an employee losing their jobs."
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An employee who knew that another was involved with "abuse or violence" would have to report it. A supervisor who noted aggressiveness or other signs of domestic trouble in an employee would be required to meet with the employee, report the situation to the bureau or department chief, and a psychological exam and possibly enrollment in a program for abusers would ensue.

An accusation of domestic violence would trigger a city Office of Municipal Investigations probe, while an arrest would compel a Disciplinary Action Report that usually leads to punishment.

"Guilty until proven innocent is not the standard in general society and certainly not the standard in union-management relations," said Mr. Bloom. "Not only is it completely unfair to the employees, but it's unfair to the taxpayers, because a policy like that may create a tremendous amount of back pay and legal fees" when employees are exonerated and brought back to work.

Any "domestic violence incidents" would be reviewed by a board including the directors of public safety and operations, the solicitor, bureau and department chiefs, a psychologist and an adviser from the Women's Center and Shelter. Incidents in which police are accused are heard by a similar, but separate, board.
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Mr. Ravenstahl's proposal came a day after he fired Eugene Hlavac, until then a police sergeant and one of those promoted in 2007. His ex-girlfriend accused him last month of dislocating her jaw in a dispute, and he has denied wrongdoing. He faces simple assault charges, and if convicted would be barred from policing in Pennsylvania.'