Monrovia PD steps up negotiation tactics
Melissa Pamer reports on the ongoing negotiations between Monrovia and its police department, which has recently stepped up its tactics by threatening a recall election and by putting up billboards.
On Monday, police launched a telephone poll to gauge voter enthusiasm for recalling three City Council members. On Wednesday, the union began two police-supported ballot initiative petition drives. And on Friday, two billboards critical of the City Council and city manager - and paid for by the police union - went up just outside Monrovia.
Also, the union Thursday appealed an April 23 decision by a Pasadena Superior Court judge denying its request for a neutral arbitrator to help forge a new contract.
City Manager Scott Ochoa, whose own compensation package has come under fire from the MPOA, called the recent actions "publicity stunts" that would not influence city officials. However, he said the tactics had made negotiations "distasteful."
What a bunch of kooks.
They lost that appeal didn't they? Seemed like a reasonable request.
Distasteful is very mild. I cannot believe that if someone pays to post a billboard, they can put up just about anything they want. I have the highest respect for police officers and believe they should be paid well to do their jobs, but I cannot support this organization and the way they are chosing to conduct business. Shouldn't an organization representing the police officers of Monrovia follow a certain moral code of conduct? I say the police officers of Monrovia should recall MPOA.
They spend their union dues on unproductive and inappropriate billboards. What a great system!