Vermont State Police | Rules & Regulations


VSP-DIR-116
Military Deployment
  1. 1.0 POLICY 
    1. 1.1 The Vermont State Police recognize the need to support members who are activated for military service along with their families. In order to provide consistency, the following procedure will be followed.  
  2. 2.0 PROCEDURE 
    1. 2.1 Notification of Pending Activation 
      1. (1) Once a member has received notification of a military activation, notification will be made to his/her commanding officer. The following steps will then be taken: 
        1. (A) The Commanding Officer will notify the Member Assistance Team (MAT) leader of the member's pending deployment.  
        2. (B) A representative of MAT will establish contact with the deployed member's family monthly (or as needed) and offer assistance/support throughout the deployment.  
        3. (C) The Commanding Officer of deployed member will be responsible for contacting DPS Human Resources Department.  
        4. (D) The Department's Human Resources Office will contact the member to cover benefits and leave rights.  
        5. (E) The member will be provided with phone numbers for family members to contact if questions arise about family benefits, etc.  
        6. (F) The member will be provided contact numbers for the Employee Assistance Program and the MAT.  
        7. (G) The Division Commander will meet with the member to ensure pending needs are met. The Division Commander, working through local command, will provide the member's family with a point of contact within the local barracks for support during activation.  
        8. (H) The member will be provided the option of receiving non-confidential VSP email routed to their military account. This will allow the member to stay current with VSP issues and also provide a method to receive support from co-workers in the VSP.  
        9. (I) The member will be afforded the use of leave time for up to 30 days prior to activation.  
        10. (J) Provisions will be made to store the Member's department owned equipment during their deployment.
    2. 2.2 During Activation 
      1. (1) While the member is on active status it should be the goal to maintain contact as often as possible with the activated member. This can be done via email, packages sent and traditional written correspondence. The family members left behind should receive support from VSP during the activation. In order to support the member during his/her deployment the following steps should be taken.  
        1. (A) The member should have non-confidential office email forwarded to the member's military account.  
        2. (B) The local office shall assign one member, among those members who volunteer to serve in this capacity, as the point of contact for the family and the deployed member.  
        3. (C) The local commanding officer should have face to face meetings with family members and the deployed member to be sure that needs are being met.  
    3. 2.3 After Deployment 
      1. (1) Many of the soldiers who return from active duty have seen extensive combat. The re-entry into the workplace may present challenges for both the member and the VSP. The goal should be to support the returning member and assist with the transition back to work. In many ways the pace of the re-entry will be determined by the member. The areas that should be addressed are as follows.  
        1. (A) The returning member should be met by the Division Commander to welcome them back and cover areas of concern.  
        2. (B) The Commanding Officer of the deployed member will be responsible for contacting DPS Human Resources 
        3. (C) The member shall be contacted by the Human Resource Manager to cover benefits and contractual rights.  
        4. (D) The member should be provided with appropriate EAP and MAT contact numbers.  
        5. (E) The member shall visit a VSP mental health clinician. Time will be granted to attend an appointment with the VSP mental health clinician or the Veterans Administration (VA).  
        6. (F) The member should set the time frame for starting back at work. The member has ninety (90) days from termination of military orders to do this. The member will be afforded use of leave time for up to thirty (30) days during this ninety (90) day period.  
        7. (G) Upon returning to work the member shall be put into light duty status to re-adjust to daily work routines and be updated as to VSP issues, procedures and protocols.  
        8. (H) The member shall not be assigned to patrol work without first going through a training period for a minimum of two weeks.  
    4. 2.4 Two Week Training Period 
      1. (1) Week One - Light duty week with use of a department vehicle.  
        1. (A) Member will meet with the Quartermaster to obtain all necessary equipment.  
        2. (B) Member will attend a mandatory briefing with a Human Resources representative to cover benefits.  
        3. (C) Training through OPD to include, but not limited to: 
          1. • First Aid Training
          2. • Control & Restraint 
          3. • Legal Updates 
          4. • Policy Changes 
          5. • Complete rule 13 waiver 
          6. • Fire Arms (FATS) (Upon completion of this training the member may carry his/her firearm.) 
        4. (D) Mandatory meeting with the VSP mental health clinician.  
      2. (2) Week Two
        1. (A) The re-integration process will proceed after the above criteria have been completed. The member shall be placed with a Sergeant, Trooper or, upon request, a former deployed Trooper if willing and available, depending on their assignment, for a minimum of one week (or an amount of time agreed upon by member and his/her immediate supervisor).  
        2. (B) The member shall be allowed to assist with the design of their own re-integration training process to cover areas that they feel need to be addressed.  
        3. (C) The final step to the re-integration process will be a follow-up visit to the VSP mental health clinician.  
      3. (3) Six Months 
        1. (A) The member shall meet with a MAT member and/ or the VSP mental health clinician. The Commanding Officer will make contact with the returning member after he/she has worked in the field for six months to address any issues or needs.  
  3. Effective July 1, 2007
  4. Revised October 22, 2014





    The Vermont State Police Manual is not intended to apply in any criminal or civil proceeding outside of internal Department proceedings. No policy included in this publication should be construed as creating a higher legal standard of safety or care in an evidentiary sense with respect to third party claims. Violations of law will form the basis for civil and criminal sanctions in a recognized judicial setting.





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