For those FOP members that did not attend the general meeting tonight, you missed a very powerful and resolute statement from President Dotson and the executive board. "Louisville Metro Police Officers are currently working in an unsafe and hostile working evironment", said President Dotson. Officers have long complained about personnel shortages, targeted and inconsistent disciplanary practices and a general lack of support from the current police administration. FOP members will soon be receiving a "A Vote Of No Confidence" questionaire to be filled out and returned to the lodge. Based on the results of this questionaire, the FOP will make it's decision to issue a public vote of no confidence in Chief White and his administration.
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LMPD - Unsafe and Hostile Work Environment
Some of the complaints that were expressed in a news conference to the media tonight were:
Manpower shortages - we are currently over 130 officers short of our authorized strength. We are currently anticipating betwwen 30 and 50 retirements within the next 6 months. The new recruit class of approximately 40 officers will not be available til late 2005.
Radio System - The current radio system is over 30 years old and does not work properly. "Metro-Safe", the new radio system touted by the Mayor and command staff as a "long-term" solution to this problem will not be available to us for at least 2 years by conservative estimates. The current radio system is antiquated and cannot handle the current amount of radio traffic. We need a solution now.
Discipline - Disciplanary practices of the current administration is inconsistent and heavy handed. The complaints of inconsistency revolve around failure to discipline command staff for the same infractions officers are disciplined for, such as chargeable accidents. There are currently over 90 cases of pending disciplanary action up for review, many initiated by the Chief's Office. Officers are being suspended and terminated without due process for alleged infractions of "Policy and Procedures". Ambiguous and interprative policy is being used as a broadsword to impose discipline. Officers are operating under the belief that doing any type of pro-active police work that generates complaints will result in harsh discipline. The Chief has also instituted a practice of refusing to reinstate officers who have had their termination overturned by the government appointed Merit Board. Chief Robert White is now appealing the Merit Board's decisions to Circuit Court. Chief White has done this on the last 2 officers who won reinstatement.
Morale - There is none, for the reasons stated above.