Sickout by Officers Ends; Contract Talks Continue

Inglewood police officers who called in sick to protest a contract dispute over wages and benefits earlier this week returned to work Thursday with union officials saying they were not responsible for the job action and vowing to bargain in good faith with the city.

Officers began the sickout Tuesday night after the city presented members of the Inglewood Police Officers Assn. with a contract that included a reduction in pay and benefits of 12% to 20%. The sickout, which reportedly involved more than 50 officers, continued through Wednesday and forced sergeants, lieutenants and captains to take over patrol duties.

The rank-and-file entered into contract negotiations with the city for the first time this week to hammer out the 1997-98 contract, said Larry Marino, president of the police association. The city’s proposal, Marino said, calls for ending Inglewood’s 9% contribution to the officers retirement fund, reducing the number of vacation days officers can earn and ending paid lunches.

Marino said many of the benefits the officers now receive came in lieu of raises in past contracts.

“The rank-and-file have not had a pay raise in three years,” Marino said. “Last year’s contract was imposed on us as well as the contract the two previous years. There’s a lot of frustration in the department.”

Mayor Roosevelt Dorn would not comment on the contract negotiations, but said he will see to it that Inglewood is protected. He added that a contingency plan has been drawn up to ensure that Saturday’s Breeders Cup horse race at Hollywood Park and the Lakers games at the Great Western Forum this weekend are adequately staffed.