Eric Noble worked as a security guard at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Library for a little over two years. On May 26, 2020, Noble shared a widely disseminated meme on Facebook. It depicted figures being maimed or running to escape from being maimed by a large automobile, with the words “ALL LIV
Sergio Ramirez began his tenure as a police officer in the California City of Indio Police Department in 2005. In August 2016, Ramirez was charged with rape and two additional counts of sexual assault of his 18-year-old niece. The City of Indio placed Ramirez on administrative leave, asked him to t
Although this case does not directly involve a public safety union, it is a cautionary tale for public sector employers and the unions with whom they negotiate. AFSCME Local 2384 represents the unsworn personnel of the City of Phoenix, Arizona. The Local 2384 represents workers across several units
Jane Doe is the pseudonym of a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania firefighter, who was employed by the City for over 30 years. Doe came out as a transgender woman late in her career and sought pre-authorization for facial feminization surgery from her City-provided health insurance. She had earlier been dia
On January 26, 2018, Officer Erik Andrade of the Milwaukee Police Department was part of a group of officers who forcibly arrested Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown. Brown was arrested with force and was shocked with a Taser. Andrade transported him to the police station after his arrest. Late
James Stanley was a correctional sergeant in Macomb County, Michigan, serving under Sheriff Anthony Wickersham and Undersheriff Elizabeth Darga. Wickersham was elected in 2012, and Stanley had supported Wickersham’s opponent. In 2016, Wickersham ordered Stanley’s demotion from sergeant to correctio
In late 2021, the El Paso Police Department responded to a “shots fired” call at the home of John and Paola Connelly. Their neighbor reported that John had threatened him with a machete and demanded that he apologize to John. Upon arrival, the police observed John standing at the home of his neighb
In May 2022, the City of Lebanon, Pennsylvania moved its offices, including the police department, to a new building about four blocks away. Prior to the move, police officers were permitted to park their personal vehicles wherever they pleased, whether in a public lot, or in metered street parkin
Prior to the year 2000, the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin maintained a retirement fund called the Firemen’s and Policemen’s Survivorship Fund, which was one of several City-administered pension and/or retirement benefit plans available to City employees through the City’s Employees’ Retirement Syst
In January 2023, the City of Englewood, New Jersey enacted a scheduling change for the Englewood Police Department, increasing working hours from 8.25 per day to 10.25 or 11 hours per day. The Englewood Police Department Supervisory Officers Association agreed to this change, but at the time, nei
Jatonya Clayborn Muldrow was a police officer for the City of St. Louis. From 2008 through 2017, Muldrow worked in the Department’s specialized Intelligence Division, a job that came with perks, responsibilities, and preferable scheduling. In 2017, she was transferred against her will and replaced
Captain Ryan Reese worked for Clark County Fire District 6 in Washington for 24 years and was the union president. On August 17, 2021, the District announced a promotional exam for battalion chief. Reese was ranked at the top of the promotional list, followed by Captain Scott Johns and Captain Jeff
Teamsters Local 839 represents correctional officers in the Franklin County Jail in Washington State. The CBA between Local 839 and Franklin County Corrections provides that “the labor representative of the union may visit the work location of employees covered by this agreement at any reasonable
Crystal Harris is a 23-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department. In 2014, Harris’ then-domestic partner reported her to the Department’s Internal Affairs Department (IAD) for abuse of authority, shortly after Harris accused him of sexually abusing her daughter. IAD investigated Harris and
Irma Leibas was a correctional officer at the Cook County Department of Corrections (DOC) in Illinois. The Cook County jail is one of the largest pre-trial detention facilities in the United States, where violence is commonplace. Prior to her employment, Leibas was diagnosed with several health is
Lee Rudowski was a firefighter for Superior Township, Michigan, beginning his employment in January 2019. A year later, Rudowski was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Rudowski spoke with Lance Pierce, the president of his union, IAFF Local 3292, about his arrest. Pierce told
Brian Menge was a detective for the Highland Park Police Department in Michigan. Menge was terminated from employment and subsequently sued the City, resulting in a settlement. On April 3, 2023, at a televised City council meeting, council members discussed Menge and his potential return to City em
Stephen Mattice is the former police chief of Stafford City, Kansas. He was hired into that role in July 2018, just after the City hired two police officers with no prior experience. Mattice and the two rookie officers constituted the entire police force for the City. He was an at-will employee dur
An employee (Grievant) of the Federal Bureau of Prisons had a child, and pursuant to the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, requested 12 weeks of paid parental leave. The Bureau granted his request. The Grievant submitted requests to work voluntary overtime on days he received paid parental leave. The
AFSCME Council 31 members and the County of Warren, Illinois were parties to a CBA effective from 2017-2021. After the U.S. Supreme Court decided Janus v. AFSCME in 2018, finding compulsory fair share fees in public sector employment unconstitutional, Illinois amended its Public Labor Relations Ac
John Powell is the former chief of police of Glynn County, Georgia, and Brian Scott was Powell’s chief of staff. Both men were indicted for “willfully and intentionally” violating the terms of their oaths of office under a Georgia law criminalizing such conduct. The indictment alleged that Powell an
Caitlin Summers was a correctional officer employed by the Missouri Department of Corrections until her termination in December 2022. Summers filed a claim for unemployment benefits, which was denied when the Division of Employment Security determined that Summers was terminated for work-related mis
The New Hampshire Troopers Association is the exclusive bargaining representative for New Hampshire State Police. In October 2020, New Hampshire’s governor issued an executive order requiring state troopers to wear body worn cameras. In August 2021, Association representatives met with Peter Demas,
Michael Maudlin was a state trooper in New Jersey from 1987 until 2009. He left the State Police pursuant to an agreement with his employer. Maudlin agreed to plead guilty to alleged misconduct and retire in order to preserve his right to collect a pension. On August 12, 2021, Maudlin applied for a