GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) -- Greenville’s police chief says he wants to meet with each of his 185 officers to hear their grievances.
Chief Willie Johnson has said he never heard complaints that a police union says Greenville officers expressed when they voted to join the labor organization.
“I’m going to meet with every single one of them because I love this agency, the community loves this agency -- it’s been demonstrated over and over again -- and I want to correct this,” he said.
Johnson also says he doesn’t recognize the local chapter of the International Union of Police Associations that a union spokesman says was formed last week by 19 officers.
“The Greenville City Police Department does not need someone from the outside to speak for officers,” Johnson said. “That’s why I’m here.”
Union spokesman Rich Roberts said officers formed the union because they’re concerned about manpower shortages, not receiving the appropriate overtime pay and improving the promotion and grievance procedures. He also said officers wanted to keep their identities secret for fear of retaliation.