§ 1-15. Workplace Violence

City of Alamogordo is strongly committed to providing a safe workplace. The purpose of this policy is to minimize the risk of personal injury to employees and damage to City and personal property.

City of Alamogordo prohibits employees from engaging in any physical confrontation with a violent or potentially violent individual. However, we do expect and encourage employees to exercise reasonable judgment in identifying potentially dangerous situations.

Prohibited Conduct

Threats, threatening language or any other acts of aggression or violence made toward or by any City employee will not be tolerated. For purposes of this policy, a threat includes any verbal or physical harassment or abuse, any attempt at intimidating or instilling fear in others, menacing gestures, flashing of weapons, stalking or any other hostile, aggressive, injurious or destructive action undertaken for the purpose of domination or intimidation.

Procedures for Reporting a Threat

All potentially dangerous situations, including threats by co-workers, should be reported immediately to any member of management with whom the employee feels comfortable. Emergency 911 should be contacted if needed. Reports of threats may be maintained as confidential to the extent maintaining confidentiality does not impede the ability to investigate and respond to the complaints. All threats will be promptly investigated. No employee will be subjected to retaliation, intimidation or disciplinary action as a result of reporting a threat in good faith under this policy.

If the City determines, after an appropriate good faith investigation, that someone has violated this policy, the City will take appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination.

If an employee is the recipient of a threat made by an outside party, that employee should follow the steps detailed in this section. It is important for the City to be aware of any potential danger, and to take effective measures to protect everyone from the threat of a violent act by an employee or by anyone else.

(Ord. No. 1547 , 1-19-18)