COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Sheriff’s Office

DATE:

June 15, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

July 6, 2004

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Sheriff Don Horsley and District Attorney James Fox

SUBJECT:

Non-Tobacco Use Policy

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution approving a Non-Tobacco Use Policy for all sworn personnel in the Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office.

Background

Under current state law, any heart disease or cancer experienced by law enforcement officers is presumed to be a result of the job – often regardless of the employee’s life style. The County has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation costs associated with tobacco use for safety personnel due to cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure.

Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable disease and premature deaths, killing 43,000 Californians each year and affecting millions nationwide with long-term health problems. Nearly one in five deaths in California in 1999 can be attributed to smoking.

Cigarette smokers are 2-4 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than non-smokers and the risk of dying from lung cancer is over 22 times higher.

Discussion

Effective October 1, 2004 all new employees in specified classifications will be required to sign a “Statement of Acceptance” evidencing their agreement to refrain from using tobacco products at anytime. Any employee who violates the agreement shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. Classifications covered include:

Deputy Sheriff

Sheriff’s Correctional Officer

Deputy Sheriff Trainee

DA Inspector

Senior DA Inspector

Chief Inspector

Sheriff’s Sergeant

Sheriff’s Lieutenant

Sheriff’s Captain

Assistant Sheriff

Undersheriff

This policy has been reviewed by the Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Organization of Sheriff’s Sergeants.

Vision Alignment

This item keeps the commitment of responsive, effective and collaborative government through goal number 20: Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

Fiscal Impact

The expectation of the policy is that it will reduce future workers’ compensation costs. Since the policy does not impact current employees, savings would not be realized for several years.