Leave of absence from duty shall in no case be granted to an officer or employee who has been in the service of the city for less than three months immediately preceding their time or leave, except in case of absence on the grounds of sickness, disability or urgent necessity, in which case application for leave shall be accompanied by such proof of the same as the City of Saint Paul Office of Human Resources Director may require.

The head of the department may grant leave of absence from regular duty to an officer or employee who has been in the service of the city more than three months provided, however, that no leave of absence, whether granted, extended or continued, shall exceed one year.

Leaves of absence without pay are granted primarily for the benefit of the City of Saint Paul and its several departments, and not for the mere convenience of the employee.

The head of the department shall grant leave of absence without pay to enable an officer or employee to take in the city service an elective or appointed position exempt from the classified service. Such leave may be granted for a period extending over the time of actual and continuous service in such position or positions. At the termination of the elective or exempt service, such officer or employee shall be reinstated to the classified service in their former position or in a position in the same class and grade as the position held by her/him at the time of appointment or elective to the exempt office subject to the existence of a vacancy; and provided further, that such reinstatement shall be without loss of seniority.

The head of the department shall grant leave of absence because of disability or injury received in the performance of duty not due to the negligence of the officer or employee for the period they are receiving compensation payments from the city for temporary partial disability or temporary total disability.

A parental leave of absence without pay shall be granted for up to one year for employees who request such leave in conjunction with the birth or adoption date of a child. Such leave may be extended an additional 12 months by mutual agreement between the employee and the employer.

Employees granted leaves of absence of 30 days or more shall turn the following property in to the Saint Paul Police Department Human Resources and Inspection units prior to taking leave: badge and wreath; handgun, and ID card.  

The following will be the process for approval/denial involving leave of absence requests:

  1. The employee shall obtain a Request for Leave Of Absence Form from the police human resources unit.

  2. The employee shall forward the completed form(s) to the chief of police for action.

  3. The Chief, as appointing officer, may/shall grant the leave of absence in accordance with Civil Service Rule 19, and shall report all such approval requests to the City of Saint Paul Office of Human Resources by signing the Leave of Absence Form.

  4. The affected employee shall be notified of the approval/denial by the Chief or their designee.

    Revised May 22, 2019

Last Edited: June 10, 2019