Months ago Cedar Posts first reported that Jerry Orr was doing an end run on Charlotte and the City Council in order to pry control away of Charlotte's airport from the City.
We also introduced you to Herbert Judon the CDIA no. 2 who lead the push at the city's expense to fact find the idea of creating an airport authority. It was during this time that we also learned that CMPD Command Staff were in a "tit for tat" ongoing battle with Jerry Orr.
We now know that Jerry Orr prevented CMPD Officers from having complete access to the airport and then photographed CMPD Officers lounging around the concourses, later using the photos to claim that CMPD was doing nothing as far a Airport Security.
We also introduced you to Herbert Judon the CDIA no. 2 who lead the push at the city's expense to fact find the idea of creating an airport authority. It was during this time that we also learned that CMPD Command Staff were in a "tit for tat" ongoing battle with Jerry Orr.
We now know that Jerry Orr prevented CMPD Officers from having complete access to the airport and then photographed CMPD Officers lounging around the concourses, later using the photos to claim that CMPD was doing nothing as far a Airport Security.
We also now know that CMPD is playing hardball as well, leaving more than a dozen former Charlotte Airport Police Officers in the dark and confused as promises are made and then withdrawn. According to several sources Charlotte Airport Officers were sworn in as CMPD Police Officers on December 15, 2012. But as of this past week they have still not been placed on CMPD's payroll nor are they being paid at the same rate as CMPD Officers.
A check of online records show CDIA Officers are on a pay scale that is less than competitive with the CMPD pay scale based on the same rank and years of service.
Yet a number of former Airport Officers were reportedly given a salary proposal by a CMPD Captain that showed what increases in pay and benefits the former CDIA Officers could expect when CMPD took over law enforcement operations at the Airport. Apparently those proposed increases were later rescinded by some unknown higher ranking member of CMPD's Command staff.
According to sources The City of Charlotte runs two payroll systems, one referred as "broad band" and the other "Public Safety".
Chief Monroe reportedly told CDIA Officers that they would remain on broad band pay system and would not be placed on the public safety pay system, unless they re-applied to work with his agency. In doing so the chief inferred that former Charlotte Douglas International Airport Officers would make less on the broad band system.
However it is reported that Chief Monroe along with CMPD staff above the rank of lieutenant are ALL on broad band.
CP doesn't understand why the City has two different payroll systems and has emailed interim City Manager Julie Burch for an explanation.
When the merger process began CDIA Officers were told the transition would be seamless, but weeks into the merger/takeover CDIA Officers are now being told they must complete an entire application process. A process that earlier CMPD Chief Monroe personally told the group they would not be required to complete.
As far back as November city staff were calling the change a "merger" and using terms like "integration" and "security increase" but neither seems to be the case.
According to sources CMPD Command swore the airport officers in and had each officer sign the required F5 forms which should have completed the hiring process and made every signed CDIA Officer a CMPD Officer. The F5 forms that each former Airport Officer signed clearly classified them as “Charlotte-Mecklenburg Patrol Officers”, but that may not be the case.
Turns out CMPD staff did not submit the paper back in December and Officers two week ago Officers were required to be sworn in again. Seems there is a 10 day limit to file the forms and apparently CMPD withheld he forms for some reason. The folks at Training and Standards in Raleigh were unwilling to talk about the paperwork process or confirm if the former CDIA Officer paperwork had arrived in time.
Other irregularities have been exposed, for instance, all "new" Airport Division Officers “required” to attend a shift briefing 15 minutes prior to their shifts. They are not paid for this 15 minutes yet all CMPD officers are paid for their shift briefing time at the airport. A review of pay rates discovered that many former Airport Officers are doing the same jobs as and in many cases training newly assigned CMPD Airport Division officers and call-back hires brought in to fill the vacancies, but at a rate of but $15,000 to $20,000 less per year.
A walk through the Airport last Friday found CMPD badges and insignia, as well as Charlotte Airport Badges and insignia. It is not clear why if CMPD took over that the two groups are not unified 3 months later.
Many are questioning if the change is even permanent despite the word of CMPD Chief Monroe that the old Airport Police "don't exist anymore"
According to the Training and Standards personnel at the North Carolina Justice Department, former airport Officers are certified to exactly to the same standards as CMPD Officers.
Which mean they should be treated the same and paid the same as current CMPD Officers.
Sources tell Cedar Posts that CMPD Human Resources staff, Miriam Hannon blamed the confusion and frustration that former Airport Officers are dealing with, on the City saying that the city is backing Chief Monroe's decisions and there is nothing that HR can or will do to address the concerns of former CDIA Officers. Ms. Hannon reportedly suggested that Airport Officers file a lawsuit.
In speaking with former Airport Officers they note that CMPD call back and overtime officers not required to take reports, answer alarm calls and are pretty much not expected to engage in police actions of any type while at the airport. In most cases they are just bodies roaming about the airport.
One of the key reasons CMPD wanted to take over Airport Policing was that they could do a much better job in light of the Delvonte Tisdale event. Yet at trip around the airport perimeter shows little change from two years ago. A visit to the general aviation ramp proves it is easy as ever to enter the tarmac and have easy access to aircraft and given a rather long walk access to departing aircraft as young Mr. Tisdale did.
Many current CMPD/Airport Police Officer report being concerned that should the Airport be removed from City of Charlotte control, and turned over to an airport authority they will lose their jobs.
Sources state that Jerry Orr wasn't very encouraging when asked about this scenario and that he reportedly told Officers. "Well, you are now city employees, so the city will have to find a job for you."
Cedar's Take: Being a Police Officer, City of Charlotte or Airport Police is a tough job. Forget the gun toting felons and being a target for the abuse that comes with the badge. The tough part is long hours, weekends, nights and missing your kids soccer games because someone in command screwed up the work assignments last week.
The truth is even standing in the freezing rain directing traffic at 2 a.m. is not nearly as bad as being fed bullshit by your superiors when it comes to your job security and pay.
Sources state that Jerry Orr wasn't very encouraging when asked about this scenario and that he reportedly told Officers. "Well, you are now city employees, so the city will have to find a job for you."
Cedar's Take: Being a Police Officer, City of Charlotte or Airport Police is a tough job. Forget the gun toting felons and being a target for the abuse that comes with the badge. The tough part is long hours, weekends, nights and missing your kids soccer games because someone in command screwed up the work assignments last week.
The truth is even standing in the freezing rain directing traffic at 2 a.m. is not nearly as bad as being fed bullshit by your superiors when it comes to your job security and pay.
0 comments:
Post a Comment