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Sandra Yi ReportingMost police officers in Ogden are not working today. Seems they caught a case of the blue flu. Many officers called in sick as a statement against the city.
This appears to be a very well-organized effort by rank and file officers of the Ogden Police Department. They have staged what is known as blue flu. Most of them called in sick today, beginning this morning.
One city adminstrator said only two officers showed up for the afternoon shift. Normally there are 25 on duty. Some of those spots have been filled by supervisors and police administrative staff. The police department says all available staff officers are working and taking calls. Officers from surrounding agencies, including Weber County, are also helping out.
Police say citizens shouldn't really notice any difference. The police department wants to emphasize that all emergency calls will be handled, but lower priority calls might not be handled today.
Assistant Chief Randy Watt/Ogden Police Department: "All is safe. All is well and we'll get through this. We understand the position of the officers. We understand their unhappiness with the city administration over this issue."
Sgt. Troy Arrowsmith/President, Ogden Police Benefit Assoc.: "Right now morale's pretty low-- very low. They feel like they're not appreciated by the city at all."
Officers are protesting what they say is unfairness in salary negotiations with Ogden City. Sgt. Arrowsmith says some officers have gone years without a pay raise, and some work other jobs.
The officers also oppose a new ordinance which requires police and firefighters to score higher on performance evaluations than other municipal employees in order to get a maximum raise. Some feel the officers are being punished for reaching a salary impasse.
The city actually anticipated this situation. One city administrator says it probably won't do any good.
John Patterson/Chief Administrative Officer, Ogden City: "I can understand their frustration. I don't condone their action. I hope they'll make their point and we'll get on with work."
The city says officers received a seven percent pay raise last year, and were on track for another raise this year, until negotiators hit an impasse. Now all offers are off the table.
The blue flu is expected to continue through the weekend.
