404 Memphis police officers call in sick
7/8/2014MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis police say hundreds of officers have called in sick in the past week in what appears to be a deliberate action to protest planned health care cuts.
Memphis Police Department spokesman Karen Rudolph said 554 officers called in sick today alone.
Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong has said the sick calls are to protest a City Council vote reducing health care subsidies for city employees, including police and fire staff, in order to redirect money toward the city’s troubled pension fund. Officers and firefighters, along with their families, have staged protests at City Hall since the council’s vote on June 17. Officers have been calling in sick since June 30.
The department has about 2,280 officers.