09/21/2006

Spraying Employees with Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) as Part of Intermediate Use of Force Certification

NTEU and CBP have agreed that officers will have the option of being certified to carry OC spray, the Collapsible Straight Baton or both intermediate weapons. Officers will still be required to attend OC spray training. However, if they do not want to be exposed to OC spray, they will not be exposed. In such circumstances, they will not be certified to carry OC spray. Officers who have already been certified to carry OC spray will still be permitted to carry and use OC spray, even if such certification did not require an OC spray exposure. New officers in the category “unrepresented bargaining unit employees” will be exposed to OC spray as part of basic training. However, the benefits of the NTEU-CBP OC spray agreement will also apply to legacy officers that previously worked for Immigration and Agriculture. CBP field managers have been provided with a memorandum from Patricia Duffy dated September 6, 2006, confirming the information conveyed above. (See chapter presidents’ memorandum dated September 7, 2006.)

Colleen M. Kelley
National President