Operational Policy 4 - De-certification Process for Inspectors

The events of September 11 placed an unforeseen burden on the Connecticut State Police and in particular the traffic units. The agency was ordered to supplement security at airports and assist in escorting equipment, personnel and family members to New York City. In order to complete the agencies mission, traffic unit manpower had to be diverted to these duties. There may be an occasion when CVSA certified troopers are injured as a result of a traffic accident and recovery will require a long period of time. These unforeseen circumstances are unpredictable but will effect our operational needs. Under the present policy, the CVSA certified inspectors would be decertified because they did not complete their required number of inspections. No questions asked.

The policy of decertifying inspectors, without an appeal process and without taking into consideration mitigating factors, is unfair and capricious. We all agree that standards must be met but the current standard, "we don't care why you didn't meet the minimum number of inspections, you are decertified", is too rigid. Requiring a minimum number of inspections per month and allowing an inspector to explain why he failed to meet this requirement, should be allowed. A procedure where the affected inspector could appeal the decertification by presenting mitigating factors and the number of completed inspections to an appeals board or officer would seem more reasonable than the current policy.

We would like to see the current policy modified.