Selma police chief: Officers not on 'strike'; calls protest a 'sick-out'
SELMA, AL (WSFA) - Selma's police chief says the fact that most of his officers are refusing to come to work does not mean they're on "strike". Chief John Brock is referring to the protest, which started when the morning shift failed to report at 5:30 a.m. as "Blue Flu", a common term for a sick-out.
Chief Brock said the entire day shift called in sick, as did some of the evening shift. In total, 10 officers called in sick, the chief confirmed. There are 47 people on the force. The 37 who did show up are mostly detectives and supervisors. He said none of those who've come down with "Blue Flu" will be punished.
City officials say there is police protection, despite the walkout. Administration employees, including the chief, are now patrolling the streets. There have been no calls for assistance by outside agencies, such as the Dallas County Sheriff's Office or Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, though they remain options.
Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson reacted to, saying he wasn't surprised by the move. The officers were demanding the city increase their pay. Jackson said he's concerned because the strike could potentially make his job more difficult. Still, he offered a warning to politicians to "be careful what you promise", explaining that "you can't pay a starting salary of $12.90 and expect that officer to stay considering what they deal with every day."
Officers are demanding an immediate raise in their pay. Miller confirmed a meeting that was scheduled with officers, the city, and department leaders Wednesday will take place at 3:30 p.m. Chief Brock said if five council members show up, they'll have to open the meeting to the public and media.
A letter, dated Aug. 5 and addressed to the Mayor of Selma, Selma City Council, Personnel Director, Treasurer, City Attorney and Chief Brock, is a formal request for a "collaborative" and "mandatory" meeting. A stamp on a copy of the letter indicates it was received Aug 9.
"The officers want a raise," Brock said in an interview Wednesday. "They've been waiting, they've been put off for several years and it's time to put up or shut up," he said. "Since day one when I took this job, I said to the council that night that they had to give the officers a pay raise. They've got bonuses over these last several years but an actual pay raise they haven't had since 2007."
Brock wanted to be clear that despite the sick-out taking place near the time of a municipal election, there is no evidence that any political candidate asked the officers to call in sick.
This is not the first time the Selma Police Department has suffered "Blue Flu". A similar situation played out 27 years ago, though on a smaller scale.
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