The Weldon town board unanimously approved Chief Mark Macon’s request to prohibit smoking or chewing in patrol cars or when answering calls.
While the police department has no one who smokes, they do and have had officers who use chewing tobacco, he explained to the board.
While officers are allowed to smoke or chew while taking a break, they can only do so in designated areas like behind town hall or somewhere out of the public’s view, Macon said.
In a memo to the board, Macon explained, “Currently, the police department does not have a policy on tobacco use. The agency does have a rule of conduct on the use if tobacco products; however this code of conduct rule is inappropriate.”
Macon notes in the memo, “Moreover, to be truly effective in providing professionalism and courtesy to the public and fellow department members, I suggest a new tobacco free work place policy.”
The first policy addresses smoking and says no employee shall smoke while in public view or in any town vehicle. “Employees are allowed to smoke while on duty only in appropriate designated smoking areas. Employees are not allowed to smoke in the performance of official business.”
Other tobacco products, such a chewing tobacco or snuff, are also prohibited while in public view, the police station or any town vehicle. “No employee shall utilize a spit cup or apparatus for the collection of saliva in the public view, police station or any town vehicle. Employees shall not use tobacco products while engaged in any official police business.”
Martha Alford made the motion to approve the policy and Walter Clark cast the second.
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