Associated Press
WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (AP) -- Eleven police officers have been suspended from the Warm Springs Police Department, after allegedly threatening a walkout.
The officers, including the police chief, were protesting working conditions, low pay and outdated equipment, The Bulletin in Bend reported.
Raymond Tsumpti, the head of public safety for the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, said Friday that the officers were put on administrative leave two weeks ago for ``breach of public trust’’ after he perceived the possibility of a walkout.
In their absence, the nine officers left in the department have been working overtime to pick up the slack.
The temporary suspensions came about after officers submitted individual letters and at least one group memo to Warm Springs Police Chief Don Courtney, discussing a number of concerns such as low pay, old patrol cars and an unpleasant working environment.
Two lieutenants, five sergeants, the criminal investigations supervisor and the police chief are among the employees suspended with pay, pending an investigation over their knowledge of a possible strike.
Tsumpti, a former Warm Springs police chief and former member of the Tribal Council, said the contents of their memos took a backseat to his belief that the officers may not have shown up for work on a busy celebration day marking the signing of the treaty that established the reservation.
``People in this line of duty have to uphold their public oath,’' Tsumpti said. ``They swear to protect life and property.’'
But Avex ``Stoney’’ Miller, a police lieutenant and one of the suspended officers, said there was never any intention or threat of an employee strike. Officers had been compelled to voice their concerns about low pay and aging, neglected patrol cars, both of which had been recurrent themes in the cash-strapped department. Miller makes about $40,000 a year.
Some, like him, were also addressing what he perceived as unfair management practices that had come about since Tsumpti had taken over the department in January. He mentioned micromanagement as one of the top complaints.
``There was no threat to walk out,’' Miller said. ``I was very mad, disgusted and I was hurt. After the years of service I’ve put in with the tribe, I couldn’t believe I was being accused of a breach of public trust.’'
Tsumpti said he understood some of the officers’ complaints about lack of money for competitive salaries and decent patrol cars. He pointed out that while the tribal police salaries were low - especially compared to other law enforcement agencies - the entire reservation suffered from the same pay freeze implemented a few years ago.