09/05/07
The Olathe FOP is striving to be recognized by the City of Olathe. Currently the City refuses to acknowledge our right to be included in the decision making progress regarding pay, benifits, policy...etc. They also refuse to let the citizens of Olathe decide.
We feel that morale is at a low point in the Olathe Police Department and that this is due in large part to the City's refusal to allow it's employee's a seat at the table.
In other jobs, employees could strike when confronted with abuse, neglect or indifference. Those of us in law enforcement are not able and should not be able to strike. We understand that a police strike would only hurt the citizens we serve and we would never do that. But this puts us at a disadvantage.
We cannot make the City listen. But there are two bills in the state and federal legislature that would help.
The first is in the State Legislature, House Bill 2573. This bill would allow the citizens of Olathe to vote whether or not they feel Police Employees should be able to collectively bargain.
The other is House Resolution 980 (follow link then search by bill number) which is currently pending in the US Senate. This would give us a seat at the table and allow us to bargain for our own fate.
Please take a moment to look at these bills. If you agree with us and feel that this would benefit the City of Olathe and the Olathe Police Department, call your Senator or Representative and voice your support.
Senator Sam Brownback
(202)224-6521
Senator Pat Roberts
(202)224-4774
To find your KS Representative, go to this link and type in your address.
We, the Police Officers of the City of Olathe, Kansas, as representatives and delegates of the Olathe, Kansas, Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 44, Inc., do hereby associate the Lodge we represent and the members thereof, together for the following purposes:
To support and defend the constitution of the United States; to inculcate loyalty and allegiance to the United States of America; to promote and foster the enforcment of law and order; to improve the individual proficiency of our members in the performance of their duties; to encourage social, charitable and educational activities among police officers; to advocate and strive for uniform application of the civil service merit system for appointment and promotion; to create a tradition of esprit-de-corps insuring fidelity to duty under all conditions and circumstances; to cultivate a spirit of fraternalism and mutual helpfulness among our members and the people whom we serve; to increase the efficiency of the police profession and thus more firmly to establish the confidence of the public in the service dedicated to the protection of life and property.