Restraining Order Ends Police Blue Flu

A day after 54 police officers called in sick, the city obtained a temporary restraining order Tuesday to prevent another bout of blue flu.

During Monday’s shifts, 48 of 64 patrol officers and six of nine jail officers called in sick, apparently in protest of stalled contract negotiations between the union and the city.

Lt. Dan Johnson said detectives and other investigators were put into patrol cars to fill in for the officers.

“We were at minimum staffing,” Johnson said. “Response times were longer, but calls for service remain our No. 1 priority.”

Officials reported no police officers called in sick Tuesday.

Under the court order, officers must provide medical documentation of their illness whenever an unusually high number of officers call in sick.

“If officers continue to call in sick, they could be in contempt of court,” City Atty. Gail Hutton said.

The restraining order expires Dec. 18, but Deputy City Atty. Scott Field said the city probably will seek an extension.

Richard Wright, president of the Police Officers Assn., disavowed any union connection with Monday’s absences.

“We did not orchestrate this action,” Wright said. “We sympathize with the officers who felt they had to do this. Their actions are clearly related to the stalled negotiations.”

Police have been working without a contract since 1993.

The union claims Huntington Beach ranks among the bottom of Orange County cities in terms of police salaries, with a monthly average of $4,802.

City officials say the state’s increasingly large share of tax revenue has left the city unable to provide pay raises.