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Captain Davis Nighswonger

 
The seventy-five sworn and professional staff members of the Professional Standards Division perform their duties in a collaborative environment.They work diligently with the other divisions along with County, State, and Federal governmental agencies to uphold employment and performance standards that ensure the Sheriff's Department continues to be staffed by the highest caliber of personnel in the law enforcement profession. The division is also responsible for assuring non-discrimination and equal opportunity compliance.

The Recruiting Unit is responsible for identifying and targeting applicant pools to fill the sworn and professional staff vacancies in the Department. Active efforts are undertaken to select the most qualified applicants by administering rigorous selection processes. Advertising and community involvement are cornerstone activities of the Recruiting Unit.

Recruiting sworn members to fill the Department's Deputy Sheriff, Special Officer, and Deputy Coroner ranks can be challenging given the current job market and competition with other law enforcement agencies. However, the Recruiting Unit is overcoming these hurdles by employing unique and attractive advertising strategies.

The Background Unit is responsible for investigating applicants to ensure they meet the high standards of employment maintained by the Sheriff's Department. Detailed investigations are undertaken to scrutinize the past history of applicants to include previous criminal behavior, prior work performance, credit, personal relationships, and driving record. The background investigative process for sworn applicants is comprehensive and includes written and physical agility tests, an oral interview panel, a background interview, and psychological and medical evaluations followed by rigorous instruction at the Sheriff's Training Academy.

The Position Control Unit is responsible for new and promoted employee placement for 171 job classifications, facilitating internal selection and promotional processes, non-sworn recruitments, managing placement, and tracking transfers. The unit generates and disseminates monthly Department-wide vacancy reports to Sheriff's Administration, Financial Services, and the other divisions.

The Employee Services and Public Assistance Unit serves the other divisions of the Department by processing personnel transactions such as promotions, merit increases, probation approvals, leave of absences, grievances, uniform requests, employment verification, tuition reimbursement, performance evaluations, separations, and the maintenance of personnel files.

The Human Resources Classification/Employee Relations Team is responsible for conducting Department classification studies, market comparison studies, responding to classification and compensation surveys, and working closely with the various employee associations. Daily, the HR Specialists interact with employees, supervisors and managers assisting with conflict resolution, MOU interpretation and other issues regarding terms and conditions of employment. This is a highly specialized unit that has a broad impact on Department and County business.

The Internal Affairs Unit is responsible for conducting investigations of alleged misconduct by department members while ensuring appropriate due process and Peace Officer Bill of Rights assurances are provided. The unit is also charged with overseeing the application process of concealed weapons permits and various business licensing required by County and Contract City ordinance. The department considers its relations with the community to be of paramount importance and encourages citizens to express their opinions regarding the performance, professionalism, and conduct of our employees. Below you will find a copy of our Personnel Complaint Form. Complaints can be mailed to:

Download Complaint Form (Adobe Acrobat)

The Risk Management Bureau works in close collaboration on legal issues with County Counsel and the County’s Risk Management Office, and acts as the Department’s liaison to the Grand Jury.  The Bureau evaluates legislative mandates and policy and procedures, provides training to mitigate risk to the Department and its employees, and facilitates civil litigation that arises.  The Bureau’s four, closely intertwined components include:  the Civil Liabilities Unit, the Workers’ Compensation Unit, the Legal Compliance Unit, and the Employee Safety Unit.

The Civil Liabilities Unit processes and reviews liability claims made against the Department and its employees. These often include complaints of personnel injury and financial loss incurred during operations. This unit also works in close collaboration with the County Risk Management Office, and County Counsel, acts as liaison with the Grand Jury, evaluates policy and procedures, provides training to mitigate risk to the Department as well as to employee, and facilitates civil litigation. The unit is also staffed with the Department's Safety Officer, who works to ensure the Department complies with California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) regulations, County of Orange Safety and Loss Prevention policies, and other applicable regulations and standards.

The Workers Compensation Unit processes, tracks, and monitors injuries/illness to ensure proper medical services are provided and employees are returned to duty in a timely manner. Interactive Processes are undertaken when employees can not perform their essential duties. The unit also provides customer service, facilitates the handling of claims, and serves as an advocate for injured employees.

The Legal Compliance Unit minimizes problems and related litigation by proactively monitoring, analyzing, and implementing strategies to comply with federal and state mandates and legislation.    

The Employee Safety Unit works to ensure the Department complies with all California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) regulations, County of Orange Safety and Loss Prevention policies, and other applicable regulations and standards.  Additionally, this Unit designs and conducts employee safety training, conducts facility inspections, and operates as an advisor for making needed corrections.