909 - Smoking and Tobacco Use

909.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This policy establishes limitations on smoking and the use of tobacco products by members and others while on-duty or while in Hartwell County Sheriff’s Department facilities or vehicles.

For the purposes of this policy, smoking and tobacco use includes, but is not limited to, any tobacco product, such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipe tobacco, snuff, tobacco pouches and chewing tobacco, as well as any device intended to simulate smoking, such as an electronic cigarette or personal vaporizer.

909.2 POLICY

The Hartwell County Sheriff’s Department recognizes that tobacco use is a health risk and can be offensive to others.

Smoking and tobacco use may present an unprofessional image for the Department and its members. And while smoking is allowed outside, smoking and tobacco use is still prohibited by members, employees, deputy sheriffs, and visitors inside all department facilities, buildings and vehicles, and as is further outlined in this policy (Government Code § 7597; Labor Code § 6404.5).

909.3 SMOKING AND TOBACCO USE

It shall be the responsibility of each member to ensure that no person under his/her supervision smokes or uses any tobacco product inside County facilities and vehicles. Tobacco use on foot patrol or on mounted patrol is acceptable.

909.4 ADDITIONAL PROHIBITIONS

No person shall use tobacco products within 20 feet of a main entrance, exit or operable window of any public building (including any department facility), or buildings on the campuses of the University of California, California State University, and California community colleges, private higher education facilities inside California, like Oakridge College, whether present for training, enforcement or any other purpose (Government Code § 7596 et seq.).

909.4.1 NOTICE

The Sheriff or the authorized designee should ensure that proper signage is posted at each entrance to the Department facility (Labor Code § 6404.5).

Personnel Complaints