Duncan Announces, Signs Workplace Violence Prevention Policy For County Employees

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Ba/wrkplviol_pr 00-103

Contact: Jim Torgesen, 240-777-5050;
Bonnie Ayers, 240-777-6530
For Immediate Release: March 14, 2000

DUNCAN ANNOUNCES, SIGNS
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION POLICY
FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES

Against a backdrop of startling statistics about the most targeted victims, and the frequency and financial impact of workplace violence, County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today announced and signed the County's first Workplace Violence Prevention Policy.

Developed by the Office of Human Resources, the policy addresses both the prevention of and appropriate responses to violence in the workplace. It applies to all employees of the Executive and Legislative Branches of County government and outlines the Types of Possible Perpetrators, Roles and Responsibilities [of employees], Physical Security, and Training and Information.

Speaking at a news conference at the Montgomery County Commission for Women, Duncan said, "By being proactive with this policy, we hope never to have to be reactive to a tragic situation." Also participating were Commission for Women Executive Director Judith Vaughan-Prather, Human Resources Director Marta Brito Perez, Montgomery County Police Cpl. Dave Thomas of the Domestic Violence Unit and Gino Renne, president of the Montgomery County Government Employees Organization (MCGEO).

According to recent statistics from the Department of Labor's Bureau of Statistics, homicide is the leading cause of death for women in the workplace and the second leading cause for men.

Set to begin this summer, the policy will include training for employees - starting with department heads, managers and supervisors -- and materials for employees to help them recognize the warning signs of violence, in addition to a recommendation that professional consultation be sought or intervention measures initiated before a violent act occurs.

Under the policy, which will be administered by the Office of Human Resources, department and office directors are responsible for ensuring that the policy is implemented and that the unique needs of their respective agencies are addressed through procedures and training. The policy specifically calls for each office and/or department to "develop a plan for preventing and responding to acts of workplace violence."

"Because this policy should address the needs of 7,000 employees doing a variety of jobs in nearly 180 sites around the County, doing a variety of jobs, we felt we shouldn't establish procedures that might be appropriate for one office but not another," said Perez.

In the coming months, the Office of Human resources will work with a group of departmental representatives and union officials to provide specific procedural guidance to departments.

Security incidents in the County are defined by type of offense: Class I incidents are criminal homicide, rape, robbery, assault, larceny, car theft and arson. Class II incidents are vandalism, trespassing, disorderly conduct and other misdemeanors.

According to figures from the Division of Facilities and Services, the majority of Class I offenses reported in the County were larceny and theft. Eleven Class I incidents have been reported in the first two months of this year. There were 61 in 1998 and 55 in 1999.

In the first two months of this year, there have been 13 Class II incidents reported. In 1998,there were 148 incidents reported, followed by 274 in 1999.

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