http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/state/hc-02213219.apds.m0595.bc-ct--polisep02,0,5086469.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire
Associated Press
September 2, 2004
STAMFORD, Conn. -- In an extraordinary protest, more than 40 police officers are demanding transfers from their jobs as detectives and school resource officers, saying they were forced into the jobs and not properly trained and compensated.
The officers sent what they called resignation letters to the police chief seeking to be transferred to the patrol division. A grievance is pending before the State Labor Board with a hearing planned next month.
"We will not stand by while our officers are exploited by the city and forced into positions that are outside their classification and experience," said Joseph Kennedy, president of the Stamford Police Association. "If the city refuses to reevaluate their unfair practice of assigning these officers, we have no choice but to force them to recognize their flawed system."
City officials said the assignments comply with the contract and are part of long-standing practice.
The association, which represents slightly more than 300 officers, sergeants and lieutenants, said new officers have been forced into assignments as school resource officers. The assignments, which were once voluntary, result in less pay, the union contends.
Patrol officers also are objecting to assignments in the detective bureau, saying the assignment should garner higher pay and training. Patrol officers, who make up to $59,000, are typically the first on the scene of incidents, while detectives are more involved in subsequent investigations, Kennedy said.
"It's reached the point where the police officers are totally frustrated with the working conditions," Kennedy said.
Most police departments have a rank of detective with a clearly defined pay structure separate from patrol officers, Kennedy said. They want more training in areas such as interrogations and forensics.
"I don't know another police department in the state that does not have a detective bureau staffed by detectives," Kennedy said. "That type of work requires an expertise. They don't want to do it for free."
Some patrolmen serving as detectives have a tough time getting information from authorities in other cities and towns who will only share sensitive evidence with higher ranking officers, Kennedy said.
"It does slow things up," Kennedy said. "They're being asked to have the supervisor call it in."
The protest comes as the city and union prepare for negotiations on a new contract and amid ongoing talks over creating new units in the police department. The dispute also comes in a city that led the nation in 2002 with a 22 percent decrease in crime, making it one of the country's safest cities, according to FBI statistics.
City officials said they could not recall ever receiving so many transfer requests at once. "It is an extraordinary number," said Police Chief Louis DeCarlo. "I will consider what's there and take the appropriate action I feel is correct for the public safety of the community and the efficiency of the department."
The city prefers volunteers for school resource positions, but has to fill the slots in the absence of enough volunteers, said Mayor Dannel Malloy.
"We're not doing anything not permitted under the contract," said Mayor Dannel Malloy.
DeCarlo defended the training. The detective bureau has been run in a similar fashion for many years after the rank of detective was negotiated away by the union, he said.
Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press