I-Team: Police Union telling officers not to train for RNC bike patrols on their own time
POSTED 7:25 PM, MAY 12, 2016, BY ED GALLEK AND PEGGY GALLEK, FOX 8
CLEVELAND – The Fox 8 I-Team has obtained memos showing the Cleveland Police Union telling officers to think twice before taking part in training for new bike patrols for the upcomingRepublican National Convention.
Union President Steve Loomis has told officers they should not volunteer for any training that requires them to do it on their own time or use their own money for equipment. Loomis also warns of police work schedules being changed to avoid overtime for the bike patrol training.
“Please do not leave that pensionable money on the table,” Loomis said. “The city is not doing us a favor by sending us to these mandatory (and federally monitored) training evolutions. Please do not volunteer to do anything for this city.”
As part of the security preparations for the Convention, Cleveland is buying special bikes and related equipment to be used by police.
At a recent Council Public Safety hearing, police department brass indicated the city would maintain bike patrols long after the RNC as part of its efforts to put more emphasis on community policing.