Detroit ? The city's largest police union told its members Friday that it will file a legal challenge to the expected termination of its collective bargaining agreement with the city when the contract expires July 1.
"We'll be going to court," said Joe Duncan, president of the Detroit Police Officers Association.
"They're trying to turn us into at-will employees with no rights. The kick in the teeth is, back in December when everything was going south it was all 'Kumbaya,' and let's get a deal done; now they've got a hammer, and they're hitting us in the head."
The city's director of labor relations sent a letter to Duncan on Wednesday, notifying him of the city's intent to terminate the collective bargaining agreement.
City officials could not be reached Friday.
The Detroit Police Department is facing a $75 million cut, or about 18 percent, from its $414 million budget when the new fiscal year begins on July 1 and the elimination of 380 positions from its force of about 2,600 officers.
Police Chief Ralph Godbee has said he hoped to absorb the cuts through attrition and early retirement.
Some commanders already have been reassigned as part of the department's consolidation.
The moves will result in more duties for some commanders, as they will take over the duties of police executives who recently retired, a police source familiar with the reorganization said.
Among the changes, which take effect Monday:
Cmdr. James Moore will move from the Western District to Patrol Operations.
Cmdr. James Suchowski will take over the Western District.
Cmdr. James White will move from the Civil Rights Integrity Bureau to the Central District to replace retiring Cmdr. Kenneth Williams.
Cmdr. John Serta will take over the Southwestern District.
Cmdr. Dwayne Love moves from the Training Division to the 12th Precinct.
Cmdr. Russell Decrease moves from Technical Support to head the Training Division.
In the memo issued to its members Friday, the union said it expects the city to impose deep wage and health care cuts.
Godbee on Friday posted a YouTube video, acknowledging the cuts but also aiming to "dispel some of the rumors and misinformation regarding this difficult period."
"I know many of you who are experiencing anxiety and uncertainty, and understandably so," Godbee said in the message, 3minutes, 34 seconds long.
"In an effort to avoid any layoffs, there will absolutely be some critical sacrifices we must make. Will we all experience changes in our salaries and benefits? Yes, we will. Yet I implore everyone to really understand that, without these structural changes, our department will be drastically reduced even further, and layoffs would be imminent."
While warning of tough times ahead, Godbee also thanked his officers for doing their jobs under tough conditions.
"We have lost about 1,000 budgeted positions over the last seven years, yet we continue to go out and we perform our duties with the utmost dedication and professionalism," he said. "For that, I commend you all for continuing to perform your duties and for exhibiting the highest level of dedication that the citizens of our great city deserve and have come to expect.
"Remember, this city depends on us. We are vital in creating a better Detroit."
ghunter@detnews.com
(313) 222-2134
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