LAPD investigates whether spike in officer sick calls over July 4th weekend was an orchestrated protest

KTLA ^ | 07/07/2020

[BenLurkin]

An unsigned letter circulated among the Los Angeles Police Department rank and file last week, encouraging officers to call in sick to protect their own interests.

It had been been a month of upheaval for police, with unprecedented protests over police killings of Black people and the Los Angeles City Council agreeing to cut the LAPD’s budget by $150 million amid calls for sweeping reforms.

LAPD commanders are investigating whether an unusual spike in officers calling in sick over the July 4 weekend was the result of an orchestrated protest or labor action, which would be illegal. Sources in the department told The Times up to 300 officers called in sick in what many in the department suspect was a “Blue Flu.”

Najee Ali, a longtime civil rights activist in South L.A., where many of the call-ins occurred, said the effort was clearly intended to punish activists for demanding police funding be reallocated elsewhere, and should be a huge cause for concern

[kiryandil]

guy can work 20 years and get 100 years of pension payments.

Six-figure pension payments...

[Celtic Conservative]

Gee, ya think so skippy?

CC

[NTHockey]

Labor action illegal? How about self-preservation. I’m surprised they ALL don’t walk off the job.

[Nifster]

Gee The Blue Flu

Almost as contagious as BLM

[Stevenc131]

The lashings will continue until morale improves.

[trebb]

I guess when they tried to call some officers to check on their status, the background music was “I Hear a Symphony”...

[fluorescence]

>Najee Ali, a longtime civil rights activist in South L.A., where many of the call-ins occurred, said the effort was clearly intended to punish activists for demanding police funding be reallocated elsewhere, and should be a huge cause for concern

How could giving them what they demand be a punishment? He should regard fewer police doing less policing as a gift.