Fund set up to get 3 laid-off officers rehired

By Staff Reports - 11/7/2009


The Fraternal Order of Police has established a fund at the FOP Credit Union to accept donations that would be used to pay the salaries of Tulsa police officers who remain laid off.

Because of city budget cuts, the city laid off 21 officers last week. Eighteen of them have been rehired using federal stimulus funds.

The FOP has said it will make no more concessions about its benefits, but FOP President Phil Evans said Friday that while talks with Mayor Kathy Taylor have been "less than fruitful, we are committed to helping the city through these challenging times as elected officials seek out more stable funding sources to provide for essential city services."

The union has established the "FOP Save the City Fund" and hopes to collect at least $100,000 that would be given to the city so it could rehire the remaining three laid-off officers, he said in a news release.

"We are going to see an exodus of veteran officers like we have never known before by the first of June," he continued. "Morale is at its lowest point ever; the city-commissioned manpower studies tell us we need a minimum of 60 more officers; and it doesn't appear anyone has been capable of doing anything about it."

Taylor said she has tried to work with the union to find a way to hire back the remaining three officers.

A section of the FOP's collective-bargaining agreement indicates that officers must provide only 24 hours' notice before they take time off.

"We asked, at Chief Palmer's suggestion, that they provide us five days' notice to take time off, and then we could manage the overtime budget and save enough money to keep those officers," Taylor said Friday. "It would not have any financial impact on the officers at all."

"It seems like an easy and very reasonable solution to me."

Evans said support and encouragement from residents "has been astounding during these trying weeks. The Save the City Fund is a way folks can contribute and help get these crimefighters back onto the streets so they can help others."

People who want to contribute to the fund can make donations at the FOP Credit Union, 10110 E. 11th St., in front of the Mingo Valley police station.

Evans said the donations are to be used only to rehire the three officers. If this doesn't happen, donations will be returned to the contributors, he said.


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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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livinintheburbs, (11/6/2009 9:49:47 PM)
So we can fund 3 officers for 100k....Fire them all and rehire at that salary..that should fix things.Protect and Serve...

Few Clothes, America (11/7/2009 8:08:46 AM)
This is ballsy of the FOP to ask for donations.

FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/7/2009 6:24:28 PM)
All I think they can expect are donations from fellow officers. I wonder if they will release a donor list. I don't see why it is necessary for th epublic to donate a dime. 855 certified police officers. If each officer donates $100.00 that will be about $47,000 for each officer for a year. Lay me off for that kinda of money.

FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/7/2009 6:27:25 PM)
Johnsonman, not possible as voters agreed to a taxation indebtedness. And their are contractual obligations as well. If I'm the Driller owner, please do, please, I looking for a new Jumbo Tron scoreboard anyway.

Green Shirt, Tulsa (11/6/2009 9:44:34 PM)
Come folks! Lets save the city! Fire Palmer promote one of the three deputy chiefs to Chief. Over 100,000 saved! Seriously could those puppet strings from Mayor Kitty be anymore glaring coming out of Palmers back end. Why does the Mayor refuse to work with the FOP. They offered to go a year without paid overtime that would have saved $4 million!!! But no, genius Mayor Kitty wanted to save $2 million and have furlough days! The hire back issue has many solutions from the FOP that would be beneficial. Such as Hire the three laid off to work their 40 hours filling in hire back shifts. This would also save money as they would be compensated at straight time, but no Mayor Kitty wants more time to plan! If somebody takes off what does it matter if you have five days to hire back someone or 2 hours? You still have to hire back!! Please Leave Mayor! You are clueless!!!

thanks but no thanks, (11/6/2009 9:09:07 PM)
Chief Palmer we do understand and we are informed. $100,000 a year management level positions are still posted and will be filled with cronies and favorites while police officers are being laid off. City of Tulsa web site / jobs Information Technology Director of Business Operations (Actively Recruiting) Under administrative direction is responsible for strategic and operational planning, performance measurements, organizational and operational assessments and process improvements, encompassing planning, organizing and directing the divisional activities of Business Operations to include customer care and service, call centers, 911 dispatch services, enterprise business operations, other City administrative operational areas as assigned and performs other related required duties. This position reports to the Chief Technology Officer. Systems Section Manager (Actively Recruiting) Under direction is responsible for planning, coordinating and controlling the technical staff and activities related to the production, development, system administration support for information technology systems and projects and performs other related assigned duties. *Position provides technical direction and strategic planning for Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and Web Development applications. The position is also responsible for managing projects and day-to-day operational support of the ECM / Web applications environments, working with managers and department heads of various city of Tulsa business departments who will utilize these applications.

Johnsonman, (11/7/2009 2:15:53 PM)
Hey, here's a plan. Stop all city funding for the stupid ball park and use that money on critical services. The convention center hasn't been bringing the people to spend the money to Tulsa and it can host anything, what makes them think that a ball field that can host only ball games and summertime concerts will do any better? Nobody's coming to town because nobody's got any money. If they HAVE to have the ball field fine, restart building when the economy recovers enough that people have jobs.

comparative , (11/6/2009 9:20:41 PM)
City of Broken Arrow has 0 jobs listed, Oklahoma City has 2 jobs listed and the City of Tulsa has 30 jobs listed. Odd hiring freeze as some 30 jobs are still listed as actively recruiting.

4 real, (11/7/2009 9:11:43 AM)
If not taking home your crusier could save three more of your brothers jobs....What would you do? Didn't I read they voted to keep the cars?

love 918, (11/7/2009 6:13:47 AM)
Good. When taxpayers are funding the gas and maintenance on the vehicle you take to work and to your second job, it should be easy to have some left over money to help out the other officers.



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