How It Went

I walk into the director's office and shake hands with Colonel Tommy Davis, assistant director David McEathron and chief of administration Burton Christian and then I sit down.

Thank you for seeing me

Here is the letter from my doctor directing
me not to work 30 days while I underwent treatment and medication adjustment.

I hand him the letter.

I presented this letter to my immediate supervisor who was aware I had exhausted
my Family Medical Leave.

I expected and was prepared for him to ask me why all my FMLA was exhausted but he didn't ask.

While I was out I followed the procedure of calling in everyday as requested
by my immediate supervisor.

When I returned to work I did so with written notification from my
doctor.

The treatment and new medication regimen were successful. I have never felt
so well as I do now, any work issues prior to this have been resolved.

I expected and was prepared for him to ask me what the work issues were but he didn't ask.

This letter reconfirms that my doctor took me off work for treatment and
medication adjustment.

I hand him the second letter.

In this letter my doctor offers to speak with you regarding my situation.

I am a good employee and have done my job very well with high production and low
errors for 8 years. I am proud to work for law enforcement, I believe we do good
and important work here.

He asked me if I had been counseled since my return to work. I said 'no, sir'. He asked me if I had missed any work since returning, I told him the only time I had missed was for doctor's appointments. He asked me how many doctor appointments a month did I have. I told him I saw one doctor once a month and the other doctor biweekly.

Then he asked me what purpose would it serve having me returned to work. Aha! I had planned for this question.

I am an experienced fingerprint technician. As I understand it my section needs
to hire 4 new fingerprint technicians as it is. I am already trained and ready
to work.

Then he asked me what would I do [with me] if I were in his shoes. I told him I don't believe I would fire me, I said I would probably demote me. He sort of laughed and said, "demote you to what?" I told him I was a Fingerprint Technician II and that I could be demoted to a Fingerprint Technician I. If he is leaning toward keeping me, which I believe he is, it gives him a very convenient punishment. By asking me what would I do he gave me the opportunity for a very smart (I think) answer. It is a solution that allows him to take some sort of action, which he probably has to, while still allowing me to keep my job.

I believe he is leaning toward keeping me because as my meeting with him came to a close he mentioned that his secretary told him my doctor wished to speak with him. I said yes, she offers to speak with you in the second letter. He left me with the impression that he does in fact intend to call my doctor. Probably a good sign.

My meeting with these men left me with the distinct impression that these are good people. I may or may not get my job back but they were more than fair and treated me with dignity and respect.

If he is unconvinced I can still appeal to the Public Safety Commission.

I was nerve wracked about this meeting. The meeting itself wasn't so bad, would that I could work for these guys. Still, isn't it odd that I would fight this hard for something I'm still not sure I want?