How long must a department retain the background reports of candidates who were not hired?
A.POST’s authority extends only to public safety dispatcher appointments, not to candidates who were not selected. However, the California Government Code (and in some cases, the EEOC/DFEH) have specific record-keeping requirements associated with the applications of those who were not hired. As a general rule, nothing associated with a record of application may be destroyed in less than two years, and, if a department is notified of pending litigation regarding a background, no documentation should be excised from the file before resolution. Caution and consultation with the department’s legal counsel should be exercised before disposing of any personnel records.
