Union: Overwork, low morale plague police

Annapolis (Map, News) - The union representing Annapolis police officers said the department is overworked, leading to low morale and potential risks to residents.

“They’re exhausted,” said Jim Lowthers, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400.

“They have to work all the time. Response times are difficult to keep up in terms of protecting citizens.”

The union is making these claims after contract negotiations stalled last week when the union flatly rejected the city’s final offer.

Detective John Lee, shop steward for the union, said of the 130 positions on the force, 22 are open, with 20 more eligible for retirement.

Excessive overtime and a yearlong delay on the renovation of the police headquarters has led to low morale, he said.

“There must be more done to get officers in here,” Lee said.

Calls to police spokesman Officer Hal Dalton went unanswered.

Ray Weaver, the city’s public information officer, referred all comment to the city’s labor attorney, Eric Paltell.

Annapolis’ offer included a $5,000 signing bonus that would give first-year hires a $44,632 salary.

But Lee said the signing bonus is a one-time shot, and the real salary is much lower than other jurisdictions.

The city also offered a $1,500 referral bonus and to establish a committee to evaluate recruiting process.

“We are in total agreement with the union that [recruitment] is a serious problem,” Paltell said.

The union and the city also are battling over pension benefits, as the union wants a 10 percent increase for officers serving 20 years, but the city fears officers will retire earlier.

But the city will not budge on its final offer, and the union has yet to file a formal counter proposal, Paltell said.

“This is going to be a stalemate for the foreseeable future,” he said.

jflanagan@baltimoreexaminer.com

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