H.H., CSC Docket No. 2024-1450

BackgroundH.H. appeals his rejection as a Sheriff’s Officer candidate by the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Sheriff’s Officer (C0220D) on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position.

This appeal was brought before the Medical Review Panel (Panel) on May 3, 2024, which rendered its Report and Recommendation on May 10, 2024. No exceptions were filed by the parties.

The report by the Panel discusses all submitted evaluations. The Panel concluded that the test results and procedures and the behavioral record, when viewed in light of the Job Specification for Sheriff’s Officer, indicated that the appellant was psychologically unfit to perform effectively the duties of the position sought, and therefore, the action of the appointing authority should be upheld. Accordingly, the Panel recommended that the appellant be removed from the subject eligible list.

CONCLUSION

The Job Specification for the title, Sheriff’s Officer, is the official job description for such county positions within the Civil Service system. According to the definition section, incumbents perform one or more functions in the following areas: maintaining order and security in a courtroom, serving court processes, criminal identification, ballistics and investigation, and the apprehension of violators of the law. A Sheriff’s Officer may be assigned to perform other law enforcement or public safety related duties outside the parameters of a courtroom environment. Examples of work include the field and office work necessary to serve and execute warrants, writs, court orders, summonses, subpoenas, and other documents directed to the Sheriff; making arrangements for the sequestering of juries; guarding and transporting prisoners; testifying in court; collecting monies to satisfy legal debts as ordered by the court; taking fingerprints; analyzing, indexing and classifying fingerprints; examining bullets and fragments; testing fired weapons in evidence and comparing test bullets with those on the crime scene; conducting criminal and other special investigations; locating and apprehending violators of the law; conducting classes related to departmental functions; operating a variety of communication equipment; providing security at public functions and county facilities; and conducting search and rescue operations.

The Civil Service Commission has reviewed the Job Specification for this title and the duties and abilities encompassed therein and finds that the psychological traits, which were identified and supported by test procedures and the behavioral record, relate adversely to the appellant’s ability to effectively perform the duties of the title. Therefore, having considered the record and the Panel’s Report and Recommendation issued thereon and having made an independent evaluation of the same, the Civil Service Commission accepts and adopts the findings and conclusions as contained in the Panel’s Report and Recommendation.

ORDER

The Civil Service Commission finds that the appointing authority has met its burden of proof that H.H. is psychologically unfit to perform effectively the duties of a Sheriff’s Officer and, therefore, the Civil Service Commission orders that his name be removed from the subject eligible list.

ClosingThis is the final administrative determination in this matter. Any further review should be pursued in a judicial forum.