Police / City Management War Escalates
The unsuccessful attempts of the City Commission to reach a contractual agreement with the Fraternal Order Of Police has blood boiling throughout the Department and consequences for the City.
The Police, who have been working without a contract since last year, have taken their frustration to levels not seen since the early 1990's, when work slow downs and major morale problems caused the City to reach the ominous title of "the Most Crime Ridden City in America".
The fight has now centered around City Manager George Gretsas and David Hebert, an Assistant City Manager charged with overseeing the Police. Gretsas and Hebert do not have the authority to end the contract impasse, that job falls squarely with Mayor Naugle and his City Commission. But the FOP has targeted the City's Management over the stalemate, claiming unfair labor practices, intimidation, and officious interference with their duties. Last week, the rank and file held a nearly unanimous "No Confidence" vote on the City's Management.
Cops in Happier Times
Some of the signs of the ensuing battles of the war:
1.) A chart, showing the pay increases of the Manager and his command staff compared to rank and file Police Officers, being circulated throughout the community -
Name Last year's Pay This year's Pay Increase
Gretsas $294,399.00 $315,210.00 7.07%
Scott $202,846.00 $213,183.00 5.10%
Gunn $198,902.00 $213,019.00 7.10%
Hebert $191,584.00 $209,257.00 9.23%
Roberts $192,292.00 $205,850.00 7.05%
Police Officers from 2003 This Year Per Year
$60,216.00 $63,897.00 1.22%
2.) and more telling, some of the sharpest of vitriol showing up on a Law Enforcement Chat Blog (LeoAffairs.com) from some Officers about the Police Brass and City Management.....
on Police Chief Roberts .... " The chief was not considered since we consider him garbage and the anti Christ "
on Assistant Police Chief Carter .... " He hides behind a little gay man and licks his shoes"
on Assistant Manager Hebert ....
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It's time to settle these disputes, resolve the Contract, and get back to solving the problems that face the City. Who will step up and lead?
The Police, who have been working without a contract since last year, have taken their frustration to levels not seen since the early 1990's, when work slow downs and major morale problems caused the City to reach the ominous title of "the Most Crime Ridden City in America".
The fight has now centered around City Manager George Gretsas and David Hebert, an Assistant City Manager charged with overseeing the Police. Gretsas and Hebert do not have the authority to end the contract impasse, that job falls squarely with Mayor Naugle and his City Commission. But the FOP has targeted the City's Management over the stalemate, claiming unfair labor practices, intimidation, and officious interference with their duties. Last week, the rank and file held a nearly unanimous "No Confidence" vote on the City's Management.
Cops in Happier Times
Some of the signs of the ensuing battles of the war:
1.) A chart, showing the pay increases of the Manager and his command staff compared to rank and file Police Officers, being circulated throughout the community -
Name Last year's Pay This year's Pay Increase
Gretsas $294,399.00 $315,210.00 7.07%
Scott $202,846.00 $213,183.00 5.10%
Gunn $198,902.00 $213,019.00 7.10%
Hebert $191,584.00 $209,257.00 9.23%
Roberts $192,292.00 $205,850.00 7.05%
Police Officers from 2003 This Year Per Year
$60,216.00 $63,897.00 1.22%
2.) and more telling, some of the sharpest of vitriol showing up on a Law Enforcement Chat Blog (LeoAffairs.com) from some Officers about the Police Brass and City Management.....
on Police Chief Roberts .... " The chief was not considered since we consider him garbage and the anti Christ "
on Assistant Police Chief Carter .... " He hides behind a little gay man and licks his shoes"
on Assistant Manager Hebert ....
"David H repeatedly reinforced the philosophy of don't let the door hit you on the way out. His condescending attitude spread like stage 4 cancer and he cannot be told anything. He was one of the main reasons I left."
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It's time to settle these disputes, resolve the Contract, and get back to solving the problems that face the City. Who will step up and lead?
I think it's an outrage that we pay nearly a million dollars for city managers at a time when crime is rampant in our city! What exactly are they managing besides their bank accounts??? Just think how a million bucks could enhance the FLPD and make the citizens safer... I would especially like to know why we pay someone (Hebert) over 200 thousand a year to oversee the PD who has no background in law enforcement,and hails from a city far away from here... Perhaps if we started cutting the fat from the administration,we can afford to agree on a police contract,and have a city we feel safe in and be proud of once again.
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Cindy..you said it all so perfectly.hope the right people LISTEN!!!!
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You are so Right Cindy, I am so pissed off about this matter I can not put it in words.
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we need to elect Jack Seiler Mayor he is not an insider like Cindi who oversaw these growing problems. I wonder if the City Manager pays from his inflated salary for all those expenseive dinners he and Cindi have on a regular basis.
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I think that you are using this site for the Seiler for mayor campaign!!! Don't get me wrong,as a person,Jack is a great guy,alot of people love him,but the most effective politians have half the people loving them, and the other half hating them depending on the issue at hand! Furthermore, he does not live in our city-maybe he should run for Mayor in Wilton Manors again!! I think there should be a prerequisit that whomever runs for Mayor should have to serve a term as commissioner to get a handle on the needs of the city they will serve in,as well as getting to know the residents,etc. That policy would also insure that no-one could just rush in and rent or buy a house in our city to qualify for the most important position on the commission.Lastly, after Naugle leaves, this city needs a leader that can devote the time required to get us back on track,and it can't be done by someone that has to work in a successful law practice,as surely one of the jobs will take the shortfall .
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Hey Lula, how wrong you are! Jack Seiler does live in Ft. Lauderdale.
Second, Tim started this blog to give us citizens insight on what is going on, & a chane to voice our opinion. If one wants to mention Seiler maybe becoming our next Mayor ~ so be it! (their opinion)
I see that you never really said much about the real issue here ~ The City with unsuccesful attempts to come up with a contract for our police department. Got anything worth wild reading about this issue?
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So under your logic Cindi is the better choice becuase she has held office during a time when police and fire morale are at an all time low and the city went broke during this country's biggest economic boom? You would rather have a Commissioner who is unemployed and apparently cant even be succesful as a maid over someone who is a successful business person. Sadly its that thinking that has Fort Lauderdale in the straits its in now.
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Hell no! Cindi would NOT be a better candidate-She has no convictions-switches from Democrat to Republican and back again-says alot about her character. Also after running an anti-development campaign,she has continually voted for huge development crammed in the downtown.All I'm saying is that one needs to spend alot of time to fix this city,and to keep it running the way it should requires the equivalant time of a full time job.I just don't see how someone that hasn't lived here for any lenghth of time can fully comprehend the needs of the city-and having experience on the commission would educate one in the way of policy,etc.........
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Why don't you throw in the towel & run for Mayor?
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"He has not lived here"
At most he lived 6 blocks away and for most of his life lived in Fort Lauderdale. This is besides the fact that he has represented a large portion of Fort Lauderdale in the Florida House of Representatives for the last 8 years. Your argument does not apply here.
While I agree in general your opinions have merit they dont apply to Seiler. They would clearly apply to the newly filed candidate Tim posted about on the other page as it looks like he just moved here from another state.
Also, you are not going to get someone for 70k a year which is what naugle is making to have this as a full time job unless they are independently wealthy or run your business to the ground like Cindi.
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Someone must "Shit or get off the pot!"
Gretsas & Hebert are not the money they are making for damn sure. Get rid of those 2 "F******
I have to wonder if this could be a ploy for the "jokers" to rid our PD & maybe turning to the BSO. What a fearful thought!
What will it take for elected officials to wake up & smell the coffee?
I just pray that one day soon, our wonderful police officers have want they are so well deserved!
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hey 220 I heard that as well... the Gretzas meets with each commish once a moneth in person to discuss the city and that some meet outside citi hall for a quick lunch or I know with Naugle its always over a sandwhich in his office. Cindi's always taken on a friday or saturday night to an expensive restaurant becuse that is where she likes to go. Wanna guess who is picking up that bill?
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Hey 220, That is so sad we have some leader's that having Lunch and Dinners at expensive Restaurants is more important, in my View those leader's listen from the Top Down and not from the bottom up. We got to make a change and Elect a grass root leader.
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If Seiler lives in Lauderdale,it's because he just moved in! Furthermore, as far as the contract goes,we are in no position NOT to give the police what they are asking. I remember when the police were proud to serve this city-morale was high-they had the contract they asked for,crime was low-I even think the citizens created annual events to honor them.
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Yeah, Seiler did just move into the city, but that does say he does not know what the city needs. Seiler is not a new kid on the block! He has been involve with in many ways within our city.
Yeah, I remember too when our officers were proud with high morale. What year was that?
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