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I was sent this letter earlier today.
The city required that police officers sign a 5 year contract. They put into the contract that the officers will be charged, in the event that they leave prior to the 5 years are up, for the academy (which comes to about $1200) and for equipment and specifically states "Gun, radio, uniforms" etc. All the items are returned upon termination by the way.
Officers have left over the past 5 years for various reasons including total incompetency and poorly run department. The pay is significantly lower then other departments and the workload is significantly greater. Officers making $30,000 for the city can jump to another agency such as WCSO, OCPD, or other making $47,000 with the possibility of a take home car. After years of submitting requests three officers are being given take homes finally. So, officers have left violating the contract. Because they stand to make $10,000 more in one year then staying for 5 losing $20,000 or $30,000.
The city is suing the officers for $10,000.00 each! These are officers that have served the city and the community for a period of at least two or three years, putting their lives on the line, for low money and harsh working conditions. They finally just couldn't take it anymore and had to leave for their sanity and to support their families. Besides the city is charging these officers for equipment that was all returned!
10 comments:
It ain't uncommon fer places t'have contracts like this, but I've only seen it in businesses.
The kicker here, seems t'me, is that the contract's designed t'get officers t'commit, rather'n use the city as a trainin' ground fer where they wanna go. Problem is, with that level of conditions and actually goin' after some breakin' the contract, we ain't likely t'get anybody applyin' any more. They'd be better off payin' their own way through the academny, then applyin' somewhere that they can be treated like they oughta.
It's what I'd do anyhows.
--CD
Obviously, (no disrespect) you're not a business person kba. The "only" contract I have ever required from my employees is a non compete contract.
IMO, this is a form of slavery. How many of you ever signed a contract like this to go to work anywhere? NONE OF YOU! Get it now?
I did have to sign a contract to go to work. If I left my current employment in under 2 years, i owuld have to pay back what my current employer "invested" in my eduaction in the particular field I am employeed in.
So when Joe says "NONE OF YOU" i say BULLSHIT OLD MAN!!!
tcibs,
You're out of line with your language. Please refrain from using the F word. Thank you.
You all nit pickin about the military. Sure they would kick your ass out for anything before we went to this sorry ass excuse for a war in Iraq, but now they are so desparate to avoid a draft, they aren't letting anyone out of their contracts. Called a backdoor draft, and regardless of what you think Iyeska, soldiers and marines are not happy about it. If you think they are, well you're just kidding yourself with your gungho-ness. So now the governemnt renigs on contracts, what you gonna do about it? nothing. and unless your still in, it aint your military anymore. as for kba you can't compare miltary service to spd service, ones a federal job the other is a local gov position. you're comparing apples and oranges.
Professionally,
I know a 5 year contract is the absolute maximum you can ask for and it doesn't surprise me at all that the Mayor and Paul Wilber challenged it to the maximum.
However, I have also been told by far better lawyers than Wilber that a 5 year contract can very easily be challenged and more than likely dismissed because they were trying to take advantage of the employee and in this case I absolutely agree with that.
So if "ANY" of these Officers would like to meet with lawyers that would easily challenge their contracts I'd be happy to steer them in the right direction.
Good discussion here!
True a contract's a contract. However, in this case, enforcin' it is gonna cost the City more than it's gonna get, both in money, PR and future recruits.
Given the sloppy financial handlin's of the City, ain't many people gonna have sympathy fer the City, what can't even figger out how to put a fire engine on Ebay t'sell, so they give it away fer "goodwill." Then there's what they're doin' t'the horses.
Fer a Mayor who talks 'bout incentivizing home owners t'come here and incentivizin' already rich developers with multi-million dollar TIF's, ya'd think they'd come up with a way t'"incentivize" police t'sign up with 'em without bein' punishin' 'bout it.
Yeah, a contract's a contract, but we don't know what's in those contracts (like whether there's somethin' 'bout havin' reasonable 'cause fer leavin') and what may have led to them officers leavin'.
So, until then, I can't judge either side, 'xcept t'say, from a court o' public standpoint, this is right up there with kickin' a dog or kissin' a developer.
Personally, it makes me sick the way the police are treated here. Not only do they have to watch out fer bullets, but when they wrestle with a druggie, they gotta watch gettin' scratched with needles. If'n they or a firefighter or EMS gotta do mouth-to-mouth, they gotta put the plastic on to avoid AIDS and other diseases.
For the love o' the One on High, this damn City oughta show our public safety personnel some damn respect.
Sorry fer the cussin'. Truth is, I coulda said lots worse.
--CD
Thanks forharing that CD.
Well, the officers, if'n they can (maybe a kind lawyer'd do 'em a favor), if'n the contract's crap, they might be able t'beat it in court.
I had a friend beat a non-compete in court 'cause it was so one-sided as t'be unreasonable.
Knowin' how fine a job this City's been doin' on the legal front, between PDD's and sloppy contracts with never-endin' change orders, I'd say our boys (and girls?) in blue got a good chance o' beatin' the City at their own game.
I feel a need t'spit. Talkin' 'bout this gives me a bad taste in my mouth. Pa-too!
--CD
Yo ap email me @ historicalwit@yahoo.com
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