TORRANCE : Absent Police Protest the Absence of a Pact

Police officers protested stalled contract talks with the city by calling in sick this week.

Of the uniformed officers, 75% of them scheduled to be on duty called in sick Monday morning. In addition, most of the detectives called in, and nine of 12 graveyard-shift officers called in sick later that day, said Torrance Police Sgt. Dave Smith.

Administrators covered shifts with supervisors, probationary officers and officers held over from previous shifts, Smith said.

The officers, whose contract expired June 30, want an 8.6% salary increase. The city last offered 7.1%, said Officer Steve Harvey, president of the Torrance Police Officers Assn.

Officers have not received a wage increase in three years, he said. To protest stalled contract talks, nearly 150 officers and family members picketed in front of City Hall on Aug. 23, he said.

Harvey said the department’s ability to retain and attract top personnel will be threatened if salaries fall too low. “It’s not that we want to stuff our pockets more,” he said.

City Manager LeRoy J. Jackson said other city organizations have accepted packages that include 7% wage increases over the next two years.