State Labor Board Says Two NL Police Captains Eligible For Union

By ETHAN ROUEN
Day Staff Writer/Columnist, Police/Fire Reporter
Published on 3/2/2005

New London ––The State Board of Labor Relations ruled Tuesday after an informal hearing that two of the New London Police Department's three captains may join an employees' labor union.

Capt. Kenneth Edwards Jr., the uniformed services captain, and Capt. William D. Dittman, the senior captain and head of the detective division, will become contract employees whose job titles will be protected from elimination by AFSCME Local 724, barring any objections by the city.

Capt. William Lacey, the administrative captain, will not be allowed to join the union because Chief Bruce F. Rinehart is entitled by law to have a “confidential employee,” said Lt. Chip Segar, president of the police officers' union.

Lacey also filled out a union card.

“They will no longer be ‘at will' employees,” Segar said of Dittman and Edwards. “They will have collectively bargained contracts.”

The captains' desire to join the union stems from the city's elimination of the department's deputy chief position in July 2004. That would have caused Deputy Chief William Gavitt to be bumped down to captain, and Edwards –– at 23 years, the captain with the least longevity on the force –– to be laid off. But Gavitt retired and Edwards' job was saved.

As nonunion employees, the captains' jobs could be eliminated as well.

“The captains' petition to join the union is a direct result of two things,” Segar said. “Number one, the financial unrest in the city, and number two, the city's inability to care for employees.”

City Councilor Rob Pero said the city is in financial straits but does not want to reduce the strength of the police force.

“I don't think the City Council looks to cut positions,” he said. “It's not something we want to do. It's just a sign of the times.”

City Manager Richard Brown did not return repeated requests for comment.

Segar said the city is opposed to the captains joining the union, as evidenced by its claim that Dittman, not Lacey, is the administrative captain, even though Lacey held the position for six months before going out on disability.

Dittman was offered the job in July and turned it down. He was ordered to serve as administrative captain when Lacey left, but Segar said Dittman took the position after he requested to join the union.

“This is an attempt to tip the captains against each other so there is no solidarity,” Segar said. “It's like musical chairs. None of the captains want to be without a chair when the music stops.”

Dittman declined to comment; the other captains could not be reached.

Segar said the union is considering taking legal action against the city for interfering with the union's organizing efforts.

Brian Estep, an attorney representing the city, said it is the chief's role to assign captains to specific positions. He would not comment further, only saying, “The city operates an active police force and assigns individuals as necessary. The city will review their options, and the initial finding by the Department of Labor is not the final finding in this case.”

Rinehart said he would not comment because he had not seen the labor board's ruling.

e.rouen@theday.com