In Step 6, if sustained, the investigation is forwarded to which party for a disciplinary recommendation?

In Step 6, if sustained, the investigation is forwarded to which party for a disciplinary recommendation?

• A. District command of the involved employee
• B. Sheriff (or designee)
• C. Internal Affairs command staff
• D. The Office of Professional Standards

Answer: (A)

The key idea is who translates a sustained finding into actual disciplinary action within the chain of command. At Step 6, the district command of the involved employee is the level that reviews the case in detail, considers the employee’s duties and unit standards, and drafts the disciplinary recommendation for actions to be taken in that unit. This keeps discipline grounded in the employee’s direct work environment and responsibilities, before any higher-level approvals are sought. The other entities mainly provide oversight or final approvals rather than drafting the initial disciplinary recommendation: the Sheriff or designee may approve higher-level penalties, Internal Affairs command staff focus on investigation integrity and policy compliance, and the Office of Professional Standards handles broader professional standards issues rather than initiating unit-level discipline.

The key idea is who translates a sustained finding into actual disciplinary action within the chain of command. At Step 6, the district command of the involved employee is the level that reviews the case in detail, considers the employee’s duties and unit standards, and drafts the disciplinary recommendation for actions to be taken in that unit. This keeps discipline grounded in the employee’s direct work environment and responsibilities, before any higher-level approvals are sought.

The other entities mainly provide oversight or final approvals rather than drafting the initial disciplinary recommendation: the Sheriff or designee may approve higher-level penalties, Internal Affairs command staff focus on investigation integrity and policy compliance, and the Office of Professional Standards handles broader professional standards issues rather than initiating unit-level discipline.