Detroit Mayor Sets New Workplace Romance Policy In Wake Of Sex Scandals
DETROIT (WWJ) - In the wake of the city's police chief abruptly retiring amid controversy surrounding a relationship between himself and a subordinate officer, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing issued an executive order on personal relationships between employees.
Bing signed the anti-fraternization policy on Friday.
"The public must know that I hold city employees to a higher standard of conduct, in order to ensure a fair, conflict-free workplace," said Bing, in a statement.
The new policy does not outlaw dating between city employees but does mandate that any employee in a relationship with another employee must not let their personal life impact job performance.
The order requires anyone in a family or romantic relationship in which one person has a supervisory role over the other to disclose the relationship to the city human resources department.
According to the order, a determination will then be made if the relationship presents the possibility for sexual harassment, favoritism, nepotism, misunderstandings or could negatively impact the workplace.
The employees may then be reassigned or transferred if deemed necessary.
The policy also outlaws the use of city-issued computers, phones, tablets and also social media for "inappropriate communication."
- View a copy of the order, detailing the policy -
"This policy affects all employees, including the Detroit Police Department, pending approval by the Board of Police Commissioners, which we fully expect to happen at the next Police Commissioners meeting," Bing said.
Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee left the force last month amid accusations of impropriety. In an interview with a local TV station, internal affairs officer Angelica Robinson called the now-ex-chief a "sex addict." She went public after learning that Godbee was involved with another woman.
Godbee's predecessor, former Detroit Police Chief Warren Evans, was forced to resign in the midst of his own sex scandal in 2010. According to Evans, he and Godbee had been involved with the same woman around the time Godbee was promoted to chief.
