The Department Head or his/her designee, may suspend from duty for cause for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days in any one instance, any officer or employee affected by this amendment. Any officer or employee suspended shall receive no salary or wages for such suspension period.

When, in the opinion of the Department Head or his/her designee, any officer or employee affected by this amendment acts, or fails to act in such a way as to justify his/her demotion, suspension or dismissal on any of the grounds mentioned in this article, the Department Head or his/her designee shall suspend such officer or employee and declare his intention in writing to file charges against such officer or employee seeking demotion, suspension or dismissal. Such charges must be in writing and shall be prepared or caused to be prepared by the Department Head or his/her designee. A copy of such charges shall be served on the accused, who shall within ten (10) days after such service, file his answer to said charges in writing with the Department Head or his/her designee. Failure to answer said charges within ten (10) days time shall be held to be an admission of the charges by the accused and a waiving of hearing; whereupon the Civil Service Board shall find the accused guilty as charged and he shall be demoted, suspended or dismissed from the City of Bakersfield as of the date of his suspension by the Department Head or his/her designee.

No officer or employee who has successfully completed the applicable period of probation shall be removed or discharged from the service of the City of Bakersfield except for cause, upon written charges, and after an opportunity to be heard in his own defense.

Demotion, suspension or dismissal may be upon any of the following grounds: incompetency, habitual intemperance, immoral conduct, dishonesty, inattention to duties, drunkenness on duty, insubordination, or anything sufficiently irregular to justify suspension, demotion or dismissal in the opinion of the Department Head or his/her designee. (Amended June 2, 1992: amended November 8, 1988: amended April 21, 1941)