U. Police distribute work policy

Off-duty jobs restricted After suspending University Police officer Frederick Ricelli for misconduct while working off duty, the Division of Public Safety has implemented a new outside employment policy that might have prevented Ricelli's suspension had it taken effect earlier. Ricelli was suspended for his alleged involvement in the beating of Drexel University alumnus Gregory Peifer outside of FUBAR on September 16, where he was working while off duty. Public Safety's policy on outside employment -- the department's first -- bars its employees from working in any establishment where alcohol is sold. This regulation would have prevented Ricelli's employment at FUBAR, where he usually worked Friday and Saturday evenings checking patrons' identification at the door, according to club manager Ryan Barnett. The new guidelines require sworn officers to obtain authorization from Managing Director Thomas Seamon before engaging in off-duty work. Other Public Safety employees must have Seamon's written approval to work in any non-University job. Public Safety employees cannot work in approved outside jobs while on leave from their University posts. This prohibition applies to both paid and unpaid absences resulting from sickness or medical conditions, disability and "other similar leaves," according to the divisional directive. The directive states that outside employment must not "conflict with the duties and responsibilities of the employee or the interests of the Division, nor interfere with or take precedence over the proper performance of any police duties." Employees are not permitted to work in the following situations: · when police authority is exercised in the performance of the job, including obtaining police information or records for the employer; · in any establishment that sells alcoholic beverages; · at any job that poses an "unusual amount of physical danger"; · work that requires participation in a labor dispute or employment by anyone involved in a labor dispute; or · employment that exceeds 32 hours a week. Seamon can reject an employee's request for authorization of outside employment if his record contains "excessive days off for sickness, poor work record or misconduct." Public Safety employees that do not obtain written approval for their outside employment, give false information in their authorization requests or go against the Division's rules of outside employment are subject to disciplinary action, including termination, according to the policy. Seamon distributed the new regulations to Public Safety employees October 11, the same day Ricelli appeared before University Police Chief George Clisby for a pre–disciplinary hearing. Officer Thomas McDade was dismissed the same day because of the felony charge filed against him. While McDade allegedly beat Peifer outside FUBAR on September 16, Ricelli allegedly pushed Drexel alumnus Todd Weitzman and hit him with a flashlight to stop him from helping Peifer, Seamon said. The District Attorney's office charged McDade with recklessly endangering another person and felony aggravated assault for his involvement in Peifer's beating. A preliminary hearing for McDade's case is set for November 21. Seamon said the new policy was not a response to the FUBAR incident. He said he discovered the department did not have an employment policy after examining its regulations in his first month as director.