Otero County encourages the professional growth of its volunteers
and applauds the initiative, creativity, effort, commitment, and diligence
of those volunteers. County volunteers are encouraged to take advantage
of continuing education, local and in-state courses and any relevant
educational opportunities available for which they qualify. When a
position becomes open in the command staff, the Chief will collect
applications and may promote a qualified volunteer in the department
to fill the vacant position. If there is no qualified volunteer within
the department then, at the discretion of the Chief, the position
may be filled with a trainee.
A volunteer may be demoted to a position for which the volunteer
is qualified when the individual would otherwise be dismissed when
the volunteer does not demonstrate the necessary ability to render
satisfactory performance in the position presently held, or when the
volunteer requests such a demotion.
If a transfer of departments involves a volunteer, time served
in the former department shall be credited toward PERA, provided that:
A. The volunteer is eligible for accrual of service credit under PERA
rules.
B. The volunteer submits PERA paperwork to the Department to change
affiliation of departments.
A volunteer resigning should submit, in writing, a notice of
resignation. Unexcused absence from any department for a period of
three consecutive months shall be considered a voluntary resignation
and the volunteer shall be removed from the department roster.