A group of laid-off Toledo police officers showed up Monday morning for the second time in four days hoping to meet with Mayor Carty Finkbeiner but were turned away in disappointment again.
Instead of the mayor, Police Chief Mike Navarre was called to the mayor's office to meet with the 22 former Toledo patrolmen.
Danielle Kasprzak, a patrolman and 7 1/2-year member of the department, said the group wanted answers about the city's budget situation and their jobs.
"The mayor refused to meet with us as a group," Ms. Kasprzak said. "We are supposed to call the secretary and set up a time to meet individually."
A dozen laid-off officers who showed up in Mr. Finkbeiner's office Thursday ended up spending an hour behind closed doors with Chief Navarre. The mayor was not in the office at that time.
Monday, the mayor was in but did not come out to greet the laid-off officers. Mr. Finkbeiner said he had told the laid-off officers last week he would meet with them if they called to make an appointment. "Not one of them called," he said. "I made it very clear that I would be very happy to meet with them individually. I'm not interested in any dog and pony shows."Chief Navarre spent about 15 minutes behind closed doors with the group Monday.
Mayor Finkbeiner laid off 75 officers May 1 because of the city's $21 million budget deficit and has warned that more layoffs could occur if the police officers' union does not accept the wage and benefits concessions he's asking for in negotiations.
Danielle Kasprzak, right, with the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association leaves the lobby of Government Center.
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THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
)
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The mayor is negotiating a new three-year contract with the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association, seeking a 10 percent pay cut, an end to the city's paying of the 10 percent employee pension contribution, and a contribution toward the city's health insurance costs.
The outcome of the pact could set the pattern for other city unions that have yet to settle, including the firefighter's union.
Contact Ignazio Messina at:
imessina@theblade.com
or 419-724-6171.
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