Commonwealth, Bureau of Correction v. Yancey

.Opinion by Judge Palladino, The Bureau of Correction (Bureau) appeals from a decision of the State Civil Service Commission (Commission) which sustained tbe appeal of Harvey E. Yancey (Respondent) from bis dismissal, and ordered bis reinstatement with backpay. For tbe reasons set forth below, we reverse the decision of tbe Commission. Respondent was hired by the Bureau on September 8,1982, as a Corrections Officer Trainee, probationary status, for the State Correctional Institution at Rock-view. Respondent bad been convicted of three drug-related offenses in 1968 and 1969, and was hired as part of tbe Bureau’s program for hiring ex-offenders. As part of this program, tbe Bureau bad a written policy prohibiting tbe hiring of any ex-offender who was unable to carry a gun. This policy incorporated a Pennsylvania statute barring persons convicted of certain felonies from carrying firearms.1 Because Respondent was not convicted of the felonies covered by tbe Pennsylvania statute, tbe Bureau bad no reason to question bis eligibility .as a candidate for tbe position. Respondent signed bis employment oath on September 8,1982, and started work on September 27, 1982. [145] In response to a separate incident on September 25, 1982, which involved a corrections officer at another institute, the Bureau suspended Respondent’s employment without pay on September 27,1982, while it re-evaluated its program of hiring ex-offenders. At that point, the Bureau became aware of a federal statute prohibiting the carrying of firearms by persons convicted of any state or federal felony with a sentence in excess of one year.2 This statute’s prohibition was applicable to Respondent and several other probationary and regular corrections officers. In light of Respondent’s inability to carry firearms, the Bureau, after conducting a hearing, removed Respondent from his position on October 12, 1982.3 On November 1, 1982, the Bureau revised its written policy concerning 'the hiring of ex-offenders to refer specifically to the federal firearms prohibition. Respondent appealed his removal to the Commission, which found that Respondent’s inability to carry a gun was not a merit-related criteria. The Commission concluded that the Bureau had discriminated against Respondent on the basis of non-merit factors in violation of Section 905.1 of the Civil Service Act (Act).4 The Commission also found that the Bureau had applied its policy against hiring ex-offenders unable to carry firearms retroactively against Respon [146] dent. The Commission ordered the Burean to reinstate Respondent with backpay. During the pendency of his appeal, Respondent was granted a dispensation by the federal government to carry firearms, and the Bureau rehired him. Therefore, the only portion of the Commission’s decision remaining for our resolution in this appeal is the order of backpay.5 Section 603 of the Act6 provides in part that At any time during [the employe’s] probationary period, the appointing authority may remove an employe if in the opinion of the appointing authority the probation indicates that such employe is unable or unwilling to perform his duties satisfactorily or that his dependability does not merit his continuance in the service. Under .Section 905.1 of the Act, a probationary employee may appeal his removal if he alleges discrimination because of non-merit factors.7 Norristown State Hospital v. Bruce, 69 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 298, 450 A.2d 1093 (1982). The burden is on the employee to prove his removal was based on such factors. Dela [147] ware County Board of Assistance v. Balanow, 63 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 388, 437 A.2d 1312 (1981). The scope of our review is to determine whether constitutional rights were violated, an error of law was committed, or necessary findings of fact were unsupported by substantial evidence. Id. The Bureau’s main contention is that a corrections officer’s ability to carry a firearm is merit-related. We agree. Although corrections officers generally do not carry firearms as part of the normal daily routine, in the event of an emergency, or upon assignment to the guard tower, the corrections officer must carry firearms.8 In light of these facts, we conclude that the Commission erred as a matter of law when it found that the ability to carry firearms was not a merit-related factor. Therefore, the Bureau’s removal of Respondent was proper under Section 905.1 of the Act. The second issue presented in this appeal is the question of retroactivity. The Bureau’s policy preventing the hiring of ex-offenders unable to carry firearms was already in place at the time Respondent was hired. The fact that the Bureau did not realize that Respondent fell within the reach of that policy until after he was hired does not make the application of the policy retroactive. We therefore uphold the action of the Bureau in removing Respondent from his position. Accordingly, the decision of the Commission reinstating Respondent with backpay is reversed.9 [148] Order And Now, September 13, 1984, the adjudication and order of tbe State 'Civil Service Commission, dated June 30, 1983, at Appeal No. 4241 is reversed. 18 Pa. C. S. §6105. 18 U.S.C. app. §1202 (1968). The Bureau removed all probationary status corrections officers who were unable to carry firearms under the federal statute. Kegular status corrections officers were assigned to positions which did not require an ability to carry firearms. Act of August 5, 1941, P.L. 752, as amended, added by Section 25 of the Act of August 27, 1963, P.L. 1257, 71 P.S. §741.905a. The Commission based its holding in part on the fact that the regular status corrections officers who were found to be disabled under the federal statute were not removed, but were assigned to duties which did not require them to carry firearms. The Commission found that the distinction between regular status employees [146] and probationary status employees was unfounded, and .therefore discriminatory. In view of the fact that we hold this ability to carry firearms to be merit-related, the different treatment of regular status corrections officers was appropriate because they may only be removed for just cause, a standard different from, and stricter than, that applicable to probationary employees. The amount at issue in this case is approximately $3,000. 71 P.S. §741.603. 71 P.S. §741.905a. This section states that No officer or employe of the Commonwealth shall discriminate against any person in recruitment, examination, appointment, training, promotion, retention or any other personnel action with respect to the classified service because of political or religious opinions or affiliations because of labor union affiliations or because of race, national origin or other non-merit factors. See 37 Pa. Code §95.241. Although we are reversing the Commission’s order of reinstatement, this will have no pragmatic effect on the employment of the Respondent, because during the pendency of the appeal, Respondent received federal dispensation, was given the right to carry firearms, and was rehired by the Bureau. We are not disturbing Respondent’s current employment status with the Bureau.