Category: Recent Developments

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A group speaking on behalf of Black firefighters within the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department says an issue over hair is being used against some firefighters. The question is whether firefighters should be allowed to have braids and dreadlocks — or whether they create a safety issue. The young firefighter whose incident sparked the debate didn’t want to be identified, but he is making a name for…

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The head of the State Police has informed troopers fired for failing to get COVID shots that their permits to carry firearms will be “expired” as of next week. Col. Christopher Mason’s letter, obtained by the Herald, adds the ex-troopers’ ability to possess guns or ammunition will be suspended until they seek licensing through their hometowns. “Please be advised that effective July 6, 2022, your Massachusetts State Police issued…

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PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland City Council voted Wednesday to authorize $500,000 in funding for the city’s police bureau to offer $25,000 hiring bonuses for lateral officers and $3,000 to $5,000 hiring bonuses for new Public Safety Support Specialists (PS3s) in an effort to boost the bureau’s hiring rate. Addressing the council, Portland Police Captain Anthony Passadore described the bonuses as necessary to bring Portland in line with what other jurisdictions…

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Two new recruit classes for the Houston Fire Department will be the first to get a chance to take advantage of a new incentive program the department first announced earlier this year. Under the program, pre-certified recruits who hold an active fire and emergency medical technician certification at the term of hire can receive an additional $2,500 for an active firefighter/EMT certification or $3,000 for an active firefighter/paramedic certification….

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed into law a bill that aims to help police officers and firefighters manage critical incidents.  House Bill 562, ceremonially signed last week, provides law enforcement officers and firefighters a 48-hour leave after they are involved in a critical incident, WHAS11 reported. The bill also redefines a critical incident as any event that has a stressful impact sufficient enough to overwhelm one’s usual coping strategies. These include…

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The union representing federal park police warned the Biden administration on Monday that visitors to major urban facilities, including in Washington, D.C., are not safe because of a staffing shortage. Kenneth Spencer, chairman of the U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police, said that the shortage is expected to worsen as Washington and likely other cities begin offering hiring bonuses as high as $20,000 that are luring away park police officers….

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OGUNQUIT, Maine — Black mold. Water pooling in the heating system. Broken asbestos tiles. Those are the unsafe conditions Ogunquit’s police officers go to work in every day, according to a grievance presented to the town on their behalf that demands the town provide a better working environment. The grievance from the union that represents Ogunquit Police Department employees was filed several days before voters rejected a town meeting…

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More than 700 people work for the fire bureau, and as of last year, 89% were men and 79% were white. There are more than 30 fire stations around Portland and small teams of firefighters work at each of them, carrying out 24-hour shifts every third day. Those firefighters don’t just work together – they eat, sleep, and socialize as a unit. In the audit released by the city…

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With the three-year collective bargaining agreement for all 178 members of the Sarasota Police Department expiring Oct. 1, the union representing them has accused the city of showing no sense of urgency to come to terms. The city, meanwhile, maintains it is negotiating in good faith and in accordance with state statute. International Union of Police Associations Local 6045 President Eric Urbain last week circulated an email to the media saying…

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SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Mental health conversations rarely happen within the first responder community, a group particularly impacted by the pandemic. No matter the day or hour, they are ready, never knowing what type of call they will respond to but always ready to help. A record number of first responders got divorced during the pandemic. South Portland firefighter Liz Pfeffer is one of them. She said the pandemic didn’t cause…

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A Lafayette Police officer and former Police Association of Lafayette #905 president has taken his challenge of department discipline over union Facebook posts to federal court. On Tuesday, Lafayette Police Sr. Cpl. David Stanley filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against Lafayette Consolidated Government and current and former Lafayette police chiefs, including Monte Potier, Wayne Griffin, Thomas Glover and Scott Morgan. Continue reading…

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LAKE COUNTY, Ohio — Friday marks one month since a gunman opened fire in Uvalde, Texas. He killed 19 children and 2 teachers. As the nation copes with the tragedy, there’s been outrage over police response. Investigators discovered that it took more than an hour for officers to enter the classroom and stopped the gunman, while children called 911, begging for help. But local law enforcement worries about the impact this…

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — More than a year after federal investigators launched a probe into Louisville Metro Police officers throwing drinks at people in west Louisville, two former officers have now pleaded guilty in the incident. According to the Department of Justice, Bryan Wilson, 36, and Curt Flynn, 40, were charged with violating the rights of Louisville pedestrians through arbitrary use of force. Continue reading at www.whas11.com

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PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Pasco County firefighters are fighting for one of their own, after they say the county commissioners are refusing to honor a cash payout to a firefighter diagnosed with cancer.  Under the 2021 law, firefighters receive a $25,000 cash payout upon their cancer diagnosis, however there is a list of exemptions, and that is the basis of the county’s motion.  Continue reading at www.wtsp.com

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — About 42,000 public safety employees in California will receive pandemic bonuses of $1,500 each through union agreements posted online on Friday. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration negotiated the payments with unions representing state correctional officers, California Highway Patrol officers and public safety employees ranging from park rangers to lifeguards. Continue reading at www.corrections1.com

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A legal dispute is still playing out in court and the relationship between officers and the state’s new policing oversight body remains tense, but the great majority of officers whose certification runs out at the end of the month are in position to be recertified. The law that created the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission certified all officers who completed training by July 1, 2021 and set out…

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SAN DIEGO — San Diego police officers are getting a pay raise. On June 21, city council approved giving officers a 10% pay increase.  “A 10% pay raise over the next 13 months within a two year contract is a step in the right direction,” said Sgt. Jared Wilson, San Diego Police Officers Association president. Continue reading at www.cbs8.com

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More than a quarter of Dallas police officers are eligible for retirement this month. Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia told Dallas City Council members that 27% of the force has the years of service needed to retire with a pension. That’s 871 Dallas officers. Garcia is working with union leaders to encourage veteran officers to stay. Continue reading at www.nbcdfw.com

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The Montana State Prison is adjusting work schedules in an effort to address a large number of vacant positions, but the president of the correctional officers’ union said Monday the overhaul will only push more employees out. About 30% of jobs at the prison in Deer Lodge are unfilled. In an internal memo shared Monday with the Montana State News Bureau, Department of Corrections Director Brian Gootkin told correctional…

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Six parking enforcement officers are off the job and another half-dozen are under the microscope after the city says it found that the ticket-writers had been penning fake or bad fines while they skipped work. Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge told the Herald that the city has “clear evidence” of misconduct by six officers who were literally mailing it in, writing fake tickets while simply just not working certain…

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A report released by the Office of Inspector General on Thursday found that the agencies that review Chicago police misconduct cases cannot ensure procedural fairness and consistency. The agencies that investigate misconduct allegations are CPD’s bureau of internal affairs or the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. If either agency finds that a CPD member committed misconduct, then the agency recommends a disciplinary penalty. Continue reading at www.chicagotribune.com

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CORAL SPRINGS – A Coral Springs police officer has found himself on the wrong side of the law. Jason Scott Carter is accused of falsely applying for and using COVID relief funds. Federal prosecutors said the 44-year-old from Boca Raton “submitted a fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) application and loan agreement on behalf of Jason S. Carter, Inc., a South Florida business he allegedly owned and operated.” Continue reading…

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Phoenix police officers will soon see their pay skyrocket. Until this week, a brand-new Phoenix recruit would start at around $50,000. Now that starting salary has been increased to $68,661. High-level commanders already pulling in $105,000 a year will see that jump to $167,000. Continue reading at www.phoenixnewstimes.com

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The Austin Police Association has proposed raises of up to 20 percent over four years as part of its ongoing labor contract negotiation with the city, citing the police department’s long-standing staffing shortages as well as rising housing costs and inflation.  Officer Travis Vonholt, a five-year department veteran who serves on the APA Board of Directors, told the city’s bargaining team Wednesday that he is unable to buy a…

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Tucson police are sending the issue of a pay hike to arbitration with the city, while local firefighters are set to get a 3 percent raise after August, as the City Council pushed back on officers demands for a greater increase in salaries. The Council adopted a plan to give city employees raises of 3 percent on average, as part of next year’s budget. Continue reading at www.tucsonsentinel.com

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