Scranton police file grievance after chief makes off-duty arrest

Scranton police file grievance after chief makes off-duty arrest

The Scranton police union has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the city for an off-duty drug arrest made by Police Chief Dan Duffy in March.

The complaint, which was filed with the state Labor Relations Board on April 14, takes issue with the chief arresting a man who was allegedly in possession of marijuana because the chief is not a member of the collective bargaining unit and was “off duty” when the March 20 arrest was made.

“I think it’s absurd. I’m not going to turn my head on crime that takes place,” Chief Duffy said. “I took the same oath (as a police officer) that everyone else took.

“On my day off and I’m driving around as the police chief, and that’s wrong?” he asked.

Full Story Here:
Scranton police file grievance after chief makes off-duty arrest

And *some* people wonder WHY I have issues with Unions.

The story from Scranton, and the ridiculous actions exhibited by their Police Union, is a prime example of Unions out of control.

Let’s think about this for a minute. IF the Police Chief is a sworn officer, and he is, and he carries a gun and badge, he does, and he happens to witness a crime in progress, he can’t use his POLICE powers to serve and protect the public and preserve the peace because he’s not a member of the Union? Is that right?

Thank God I live in Rowlett, Texas, a city where insanity such as this is an impossibility. We are a city where reason, common sense and a good working relationship dictates a proper response. A city where ALL parties concerned would never tolerate such nonsense. 

Suppose, IF our PD were Union like the Scranton PD, they’re not, but just suppose our Chief was off duty and decided to go out and grab a bite to eat. I would take bets that he IS carrying his sidearm, or, maybe a smaller version for off-duty comfort, but a gun none the less, as well as his Texas LEO certification, Commission and badge.

So, for the sake of argument, The Chief walks into What-A-Burger and finds some East Dallas ‘hood-rats’ that have come out to our quiet little town and have the bright idea of robbing the What-A-Burger.

Do you suppose, IF our Police Department were a Union shop, do you suppose that our Chief is going to just stand there and watch? Hoping that a marked unit with a UNION member shows up to make an arrest?

I somehow doubt that. NO Chief would. No Lawman would!

Can you even imagine? Our Fire Chief is out and about in his private vehicle, OFF DUTY, tending to HIS personal affairs, and he happens to see a serious vehicle crash with injuries.

Of course our Fire Chief is going to call 9-1-1 and get the BIG TRUCKS on the way to the scene, but if the Chief isn’t a member of a Union, does he then just lean on a fender and wait for the cavalry to arrive? Or get back in his car and leave?

I don’t think so. Not here in Rowlett. We get involved!

I have a very good friend that’s a Texas Trooper. While we were discussing this story he told me, as a Trooper, on duty or off, if he sees a FELONY violation in progress, he is required to become involved and stop said action from occurring.

Sgt. Martin acknowledged that the chief is “morally and legally obligated” to act if he sees a crime happen and to make an arrest if necessary.

But, the union president said the chief, as member of management, should not actively root out crime or randomly patrol neighborhoods while off duty because it violates union agreements that protect rank-and-file officers’ employment. The union is concerned city administrators will have more leverage to lay off police officers because “Chief Duffy will step in” and do the work, Sgt. Martin said.

Yeah, that makes perfect sense to me. Just tell a life-long Police Officer that he can’t ‘root out’ and interdict CRIME any time or any place he encounters it. Typical UNION BS.

If Chief Duffy making this one arrest threatens the entire Scranton Police Department and their job security, Chief Duffy must be Super-Cop. Or, crime must be incredibly low in Scranton, PA. if the Chief making ONE arrest is a serious threat to job security. I seriously doubt that this is the case though.

I am of the opinion that someone in the local Union in Scranton doesn’t want their crooks being harassed by a member of Law Enforcement that’s not a member of the Union brotherhood. You know, it IS Pennsylvania, a BIG TIME Union state, maybe the bad guys have a BAD GUY Union and it’s a Union BROTHERHOOD thing. :?

What about that BIGGER brotherhood guys? What about that THIN BLUE LINE?

Oh, wait, if it’s NOT Unionized, and our Thin Blue Line group is NOT, does it still count as serving and protecting? Or is it an invasion of UNION RIGHTS?

In SO many areas of America, common sense has flown the coop.

There’s a good reason that rebels like me were born down South, I wouldn’t fit in too well in Union controlled Yankee land! 

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9 Responses to Scranton police file grievance after chief makes off-duty arrest

  1. minuteman26 says:

    Fred - I believe you covered all the bases.

  2. James Shott says:

    Stupidity reigns, Fred, and we are about to succumb to it.

  3. capitalisa says:

    And THIS is why I LOVE TexasFred :)

  4. BobF says:

    “There’s a good reason that rebels like me were born down South, I wouldn’t fit in too well in Union controlled Yankee land!”

    Fred, that’s also the reason industry is closing shop in the North and moving to Southern States. My hometown back in New York has been decimated by unions. A once thriving city has withered away because union problems caused factories to close and move South.

  5. The Flag Man says:

    Unions used to be for the working man and it was good because it gave the workers a voice but now, they have turned into nothing more than a way to extort power and money for the union officials at the expense of the workers. If it were up to me I’d bust every union in the world. I have seen many a good thriving small busineses go right down the tubes and the unions could care less. They just move on to the next gullible bunch of workers with their sales pitch of doing half as much work for twice as much pay.

  6. Bloviating Zeppelin says:

    PA law may differ than that of Fornicalia’s. My police powers are endemic 24/7, no matter where I am in the state. I have lawful powers of arrest and concealed carry anywhere in the state, on duty, off duty.

    BZ

  7. Pingback: Off Duty Arrests - SVTPerformance

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