Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Cops 'sick' on Halloween must convince doctor Date: Tue, 27 Oct 92 13:27:07 EST Message-ID: \SE A \HD Cops 'sick' on Halloween must convince doctor \BY Margaret Rankin \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES D.C. police officers who call in sick Friday or Saturday must report to a clinic - in uniform - and could be sent back on duty if cleared by a doctor, according to an official order issued yesterday. Officials hoping to head off a possible sickout by the department's rank and file issued a teletype yesterday telling officers that the police and fire clinic, normally open Monday through Friday, would also be open on Halloween, a Saturday. "All sworn members . . . who request to be placed on sick leave either on Friday or Saturday shall be directed to report to the clinic at 1600 hours [4 p.m.] on the day the member reports his/her illness. "The member shall report to the clinic in the uniform of the day and be prepared to respond immediately to their assignment or detail if cleared by the clinic physician," says the teletype, which is to be read at each roll call through Halloween. Such teletypes have been issued for special events, said police spokesman Joe Gentile, who would not confirm the existence of yesterday's teletype. "We don't comment on internal documentation, but it's not uncommon for the Police Department to put out a teletype during special events, such as large-scale demonstrations or the inauguration, which would require members of the department to report to the police and fire clinic if they were to call in sick," Sgt. Gentile said. Asked when the department last issued such a teletype, Sgt. Gentile said he could not recall. The prospect of the sickout was first brought up at a meeting last Tuesday by members of the Fraternal Order of Police. Labor Committee Chairman Andre Lewis said it would be the first sickout he knew of in the history of the department. The sickout was one of several job actions threatened by officers angered about not getting a raise in almost three years. Chief Isaac Fulwood Jr. said then that he did not believe police would participate in the sickout. Officer Lewis said he and committee members do not condone it or other actions proposed at the meeting, including a protest at Chief Fulwood's Nov. 7 retirement dinner and blocking the 14th Street Bridge at rush hour. Officer Lewis said he met Friday with police labor relations officials and discussed the job actions proposed. He said police who participate in the sickout could be severely punished or even fired. "We're dealing with a real volatile situation. . . . It's my responsibility to let them know exactly what they're letting themselves in for," he said. Officer Lewis said last week he did not know how many officers planned to participate in the sickout, but he said the people he knew to be involved represent all age groups and areas of the department. He said he has no control over the FOP's 4,000 members, who could choose to participate in the sickout independent of the union. Yesterday, Officer Lewis said he has not been focusing on the sickout but instead has directed his attention toward contract negotiations with the mayor. The membership, he says, has also been talking less about the sickout and more about the violence over the weekend. "The main focus this weekend has been on the personal attacks on police officers and the shootings that they've been involved in," he said. "Clearly it's a sign of how dangerous it is out there on the streets of Washington for our members." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM