Labor Issues
My Former Fellow Officer & Friend's Story
This is a friend of mines’ true story. It does not surprise me in the least as he also worked in Northlake which is located in Illinois–a very liberal state indeed. Anyway, this surprised me very much and I am wondering if it surprises anyone else? Whatever the case may be–I remember this guy saying this phrase often ;)– it is definitely something that all Police Officers can learn from.His blog site is: http://dukesblotter.blogspot.comA Lesson Learned – Learn From ItI am making this post not as a complaint but as a way for others to learn. This is a very important issue to everyone that wears a badge. As everyone pretty …Read more […..]
Is there a difference between Quotas and "Productivity Standards?"
Police practice: productivity analysis for basic police patrol activitiesFBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,The, May, 2005 by Roy H. Herndon, IIIE-mail Print Link Law enforcement officers prove valuable to their communities in a variety of ways, not all of which can be measured easily. To this end, agencies often struggle to find methods to fairly evaluate their personnel. Departments must give factors, such as officer competence and courtesy, appropriate weight. Managers need to value the quality of the tasks performed and not focus only on the quantity.However, fully and accurately evaluating personnel does require a fair measurement …Read more […..]
The Benefits of an Employee Survey
Many companies use employee surveys to guage how the employees feel about their jobs and their company. The majority of Fortune 500 companies use them as a tool to improve the effectiveness of the organization. While working at Northlake PD I observed the morale of the organization and the majority of the workers sink to a level that was the lowest in my 13 years there. To be sure, there were always unsettling dilemmas for employees and someone was always complaining about something–mostly very trivial things. Prior to chief Dennis Koletsos being hired in 1998, the turnover at the department was very low, mainly due to retirements. …Read more […..]
Feds go after cop
CIVIL RIGHTS CASE | Beating of man in wheelchair on tape; Weis wants officer fired April 4, 2008Recommend (31) BY ERIC HERMAN Criminal Courts Reporter [email protected] Federal prosecutors brought criminal charges Thursday against a Chicago Police officer in the 2005 beating of a 60-year-old man who was handcuffed and shackled to a wheelchair — an incident caught on videotape.Officer William Cozzi, 50, is charged with violating the man’s civil rights. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.» Click to enlarge image A still frame from a security video shows Chicago Police Officer William …Read more […..]
Does Filing Grievances Ruin a Career?
What is the function of the Union President/Steward of a Police Department? This person is responsible for acting as the liason between the Police Officers and Management as well as to ensure that labor contract violations are attended to. My experience at Northlake PD is one that may or may not be common in the Policing world, I leave that up to you. In my 18 months as Union President of Northlake PD I filed 18 grievances. Several of the grievances were my own but the overwhelming majority of them were filed on behalf of other officers with their permission and at their request. I felt that the labor contract was being …Read more […..]
Does Officer Off on FMLA Have to Go to Court?
Here is an interesting lawsuit, yes another one against the fine City of Northlake Illinois and Police Chief Dennis Koletsos.Brings up the question of whether an Officer who is off on FMLA have to go to court when subpoenaed?Without knowing the specifics in this case, it sounds like this officer refused to go to court while off on FMLA and was eventually fired.Does this officer have a good case? We will see…Case filing info:Rasic v. City of Northlake et al Plaintiff: Daniel Rasic Defendant: City of Northlake, Dennis A Koletsos, City of Northlake Police and Fire Commission, Roberta Larson, Manuel Ferra and Gary Merchant …Read more […..]
Hallandale to pay to settle one of two former police officers' lawsuits
By John Holland | South Florida Sun-Sentinel January 28, 2008 HALLANDALE BEACH – City commissioners have agreed to pay more than $100,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging Police Chief Thomas Magill falsified evidence, a city board held an illegal meeting and detectives persuaded a felon to lie under oath about a fellow officer.Mayor Joe Cooper and attorney Alberto Milian, who represents former Hallandale Beach Police Officer Talous Cirilo, confirmed the city’s settlement with Cirilo but would not comment further, citing a confidentiality agreement. However, Cooper said the payment was more than $100,000, including attorney fees.”I’d …Read more […..]