Opinion ID: 1282420
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the extent of due process protections

Text: The specific procedural protections accorded to a due process liberty or property interest generally requires consideration of three distinct factors: first, the private interest that will be affected by state action; second, the risk of an erroneous deprivation of the protected interest through the procedures used, and the probable value, if any of additional or substitute procedural safeguards; and third, the government's interest, including the function involved and the fiscal and administrative burdens that the additional or substitute procedural requirements would entail. Matthews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 96 S.Ct. 893, 47 L.Ed.2d 18 (1976); Waite v. Civil Service Comm'n, supra . Applying the first factor it is apparent that the private interest of a police civil service employee who has completed the statutory one year probationary term is of considerable importance. Permanent appointment as a police officer is a substantial right which guarantees the employee job security, and enables her to function as an officer without fear of arbitrary treatment from superiors. Applying the second factor, the standard contained in W.Va.Code § 8-14-11 requires the appointing officer to base his decision on the conduct and capacity of the probationer. This standard is designed to prevent an erroneous or arbitrary decision. Procedural protections can only help but insure that this design is realized, and reduce the risk of an erroneous deprivation of the probationer's protected interests. Finally, the government's interest in avoiding any increased fiscal or administrative burden of required procedural protections is minimal, when considered in light of the benefits that will inure to the city as a result of due process requirements. The city has a substantial interest in determining that only competent and qualified police officers are given permanent status. Procedural requirements can only help but insure that a fair and accurate decision is made, and that the best qualified and most competent officers are retained for permanent employment. Moreover, a city within the scope of the police civil service act already has in place the necessary procedural apparatus to insure correct and fair employment decisions through its Police Civil Service Commission. The same procedural protections which are afforded a probationary employee during his probationary term are required upon non-retention of the employee at the conclusion of the probationary term. These procedures include the right to a written notice of the reasons for the action taken against the employee, and the opportunity for an adversarial hearing. See W.Va.Code § 8-14-20. These procedures insure that a fair and correct decision is made, and benefit the city in that they insure that permanent positions on the police force will be filled by the most qualified candidate. Accordingly we hold that a police civil service employee who is dismissed from employment at the end of her probationary term, is entitled to the procedural protections set out in W.Va.Code § 8-14-20. To the extent that Fiedler v. Thackston, supra , is inconsistent with our holding today, it is hereby overruled. For the foregoing reasons the decision of the Circuit Court of Monongalia County is reversed and the case is remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion. Reversed and remanded.