Category: Recent Developments

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Division of Police terminated a sergeant last month after an internal investigation found he committed various violations. A news release said Vincent Montague Jr., the president of the Black Shield Police Association, was fired Dec. 29, 2021. The violations lodged against Montague included lying about his communication with a man charged with attempting to bribe a police officer, according to his termination letter….

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The San Diego Police Officers Association announced Wednesday it will seek an injunction against the city claiming officers have been prevented from recording interviews related to their exemption requests to San Diego’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city employees. The union alleges that officers have the right to record interviews that could result in disciplinary action, “including medical and religious interviews for reasonable accommodations as it relates to the city of San Diego COVID-19…

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“About 90 to 100,” said Danny Garcia of the San Francisco Fire Department. “It’s fluid because some people are going off, some people are coming back, and so on.” NBC Bay Area learned that in the days before testing positive, Chief Jeanine Nicholson had visited fire stations during Christmas week, as is customary to boost morale. She later tested positive. There is no proof that the two events are…

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When a Kent assistant police chief posted a Nazi reference on his office door, it prompted a complaint and ultimately an outside investigation that turned up other concerning rhetoric. Assistant Chief Derek Kammerzell told investigators that he did not understand that what he posted on his door was a Nazi insignia — a rank used by SS officers. But the investigation report states that Kammerzell “was aware” and his…

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More than 1,000 police officers, firefighters and paramedics in the Los Angeles region were ill or at home quarantining on Tuesday after testing positive for the coronavirus, spurring additional concerns about public safety as the Omicron variant continues its rapid spread. A spokesman for L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti called it an “unprecedented surge” in cases which the mayor is focused on and working to mitigate — including by authorizing…

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WASHINGTON – Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger told a Senate panel Wednesday that 153 officers have retired or resigned in the year since the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, leaving the force 447 officers short of its authorized strength. Another 175 officers are out on any given day for leave or illness such as COVID-19, Manger said, leaving the force able to field about 1,600 to 1,700 officers. The…

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Police departments across the country are facing staffing shortages, with fewer people applying for jobs and existing officers resigning or retiring. D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee told the News4 I-Team the shortage is hitting especially hard here in the District. “It’s the lowest that we’ve had in over 20 years within the Metropolitan Police Department. That is significant. That is significant,” said Contee. Contee said that’s affecting manpower on…

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Two Beverly Hills firefighters are suing over Los Angeles County’s mandate that healthcare workers be vaccinated against COVID-19. It’s the latest salvo in the heated battle between some public sector employees and governments over public health requirements, which have seen workers stage protests and mount legal actions. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Josh Sattley and Ettore Berardinelli Jr., names the city of…

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LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Lynchburg Police Department is increasing starting pay in hopes that its existing officers will be more enticed to stay, and new officers will want to call the Hill City home. During a press conference on Friday, officials announced that officers will now start at $50,000 a year. The $10,000 raise separates them from others in the region and will not only help to bring in new…

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The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied an emergency bid to block enforcement of New York’s coronavirus vaccine mandate for health care workers. The legal challenge was filed by a group of 20 doctors and nurses who argued that the state’s vaccine mandate violates the First Amendment to the Constitution because it fails to include a religious exemption. The request for an injunction had been presented to Justice Sonia…

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The Fort Myers Police Department terminated two of its officers this week, a decision made two weeks after another officer was fired over allegations discovered during a four-year FBI investigation.  Officer Brandon Winters was fired on Monday after a woman informed the department that he had sex with her on numerous occasions while on duty, and then harassed her after she told him she no longer wanted a sexual relationship, according to internal affairs…

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Local police chiefs say their departments are being stretched dangerously close to a breaking point due to staffing shortages, overworked employees, and the loss of experienced officers to retirement or competitive job offers. For several months Claremont and Newport Police Departments have been operating at low-to-minimum staffing levels due in part to ongoing challenges to build up the police force, according to local police chiefs. “We often get close…

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – An arbitrator granted a grievance filed by the Pittsburgh firefighters union against the city of Pittsburgh over its employee vaccine mandate. On Monday, arbitrator Gerald Kobell ruled the city of Pittsburgh violated state labor law by refusing to bargain with Pittsburgh Firefighters Local No. 1 about the mandate. The city made an announcement on Nov. 1 that all employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec….

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The complaint filed by the State Police troopers union against Gov. Charlie Baker over his vaccine mandate for public employees has been dismissed by an investigator with the Department of Labor Relations who ruled that the administration did not violate its obligation to bargain the vaccination requirement. The State Police Association of Massachusetts challenged Baker’s mandate at both the administrative level and in the courts, where a judge also…

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LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Sixty-six trooper have left Nevada State Police so far this year. Officials with the Nevada Police Union say there are sometimes only about six troopers covering the entire valley a day. Wayne Dice with the union, which covers state police, says they’re seeing a mass exodus of troopers. “It’s becoming not only a public safety issue but it’s also an officer safety issue when we don’t…

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More than 100 Los Angeles city firefighters have been placed off duty without pay for failing to comply with the city’s vaccine mandate, authorities said. In November, the Los Angeles Fire Department sent out notices to 222 firefighters informing them they would be sent home without pay unless they got the vaccine or requested an exemption, an LAFD spokeswoman said. As of Monday, 113 firefighters had failed to respond…

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Dayton’s fire union has withdrawn an unfair labor practice complaint and a grievance after reaching a settlement agreement with the city about its COVID testing policy. City officials said the police union rejected a settlement proposal, and an unfair labor practice complaint filed by the building and construction trades union was dismissed. Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein said about 32 city employees tested positive for COVID last month, and…

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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — On Tuesday, Governor Ralph Northam announced his final two-year budget proposal will include the ‘largest investment in public safety in Virginia’s history.’ The plan, which will be fully presented to lawmakers next week, includes pay increases for Virginia state troopers, correctional officers, deputy sheriffs and regional jail officers. It comes as public safety agencies raise concerns over growing staff shortages, increasing mandatory overtime and declining…

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A Superior Court judge has denied a request by the Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters union seeking a preliminary injunction to delay enforcement of the city’s vaccine mandate. The ruling is “a victory for public health and safety in Los Angeles,” City Atty. Mike Feuer said in a statement. “The Court recognized the emergency we’re in, and the harm that enjoining implementation of the vaccine mandate could have caused,”…

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A new partnership between the American Cancer Society and the International Association of Fire Fighters will work to improve policies and treatment for firefighters with cancer. The IAFF, or firefighter’s union, describes the new partnership as pivotal in their battle with cancer. The collaboration was announced Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in New York City but will impact union fire fighters nationwide and across North Carolina. Together…

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The Emporia City Council approved a $4,000 retention bonus for Emporia Police Department officers in October. City Councilman Jim Saunders voted for the bonus but wanted to see E-911 dispatchers added to the list. The City’s governing body granted Saunders’ wish to approve a $2,000 compensation for the E-911 dispatchers last week. The EPD is suffering from a staffing shortage in the communications officer position. The City is posting…

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OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — Amid rising violence in Oakland, councilmember and mayoral candidate Sheng Thao is proposing a new cash incentive to help recruit officers to the city’s police department. “We are in a public safety emergency right now. It feels like everyday, we experience a new, senseless tragedy,” said council member Sheng Thao. If approved, the proposal would offer a $50 thousand signing bonus to experienced officers who…

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Hundreds of Albuquerque police could be getting pay or even their jobs back. That’s if a decision made by the city’s labor board holds up in court against challenges by the police department. Under its agreement with the police officers’ union, APD has 90 days to investigate an officer who is accused of misconduct. Union officials say the city has violated that agreement hundreds of times…

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The city of Chicago has dropped its lawsuit against the Fraternal Order of Police over local union President John Catanzara’s push for officers to defy Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s vaccine mandate. Lightfoot had asked the courts to intervene after the union chief told members to disobey her Oct. 15 deadline to report their vaccine status. The local FOP in turn filed its own lawsuit against the city, mayor and police…

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The Minnesota State Fair has reinstated its police department, the fair’s manager announced Monday, a move that comes after months of uncertainty about fair security. The new department will be led by Commander Ron Knafla of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office and, like in years past, will bring in sworn law enforcement officers from across the state to help at fair time. The last State Fair police chief retired…

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