Court Orders LAPD, Union to Confer on Work Hours
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction Thursday ordering the Los Angeles Police Department and the police officers’ union to “meet and confer” for 45 days to resolve a dispute over changes in officers’ work hours.
The injunction issued by Judge Dzintra Janavs prevents Police Chief Daryl F. Gates from instituting a new deployment plan that would allow the department to assign officers work hours different from their usual schedule.
In his proposed “desk officer deployment plan,” Gates sought to dispatch, twice monthly, extra foot and car patrols that would include many officers with desk jobs.
The plan is opposed by the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which contends that it violates state guidelines requiring negotiation with the union on involuntary changes in work hours.
Cmdr. William Booth, LAPD spokesman, said the department plans to comply with the court order. “I’m optimistic that we can work something out and come up with a plan that will satisfy the court,” he said.
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