Suburban police officers allowed to work 'half-drunk,' Chicago investigation reveals

[damnedifIknow]

Source: NBC News.com

Many suburban Chicago departments actually have clauses in their union contracts which prevent any kind of discipline for officers with substantial amounts of alcohol in their systems -- even those nearing the state definition of legally drunk, an investigation by the Better Government Association and NBC Chicago reveals.

Read more: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/15/16974464-suburban-police-officers-allowed-to-work-half-drunk-chicago-investigation-reveals?lite

[Blandocyte]

1. Police offiswerves. n/t

[Mnemosyne]

2. So they can bust someone for DUI while being intoxicated?! Fucking hypocrites. nt

[damnedifIknow]

6. I was thinking the same thing.

They can haul a person off to jail for being a hair over the limit while they can enjoy another "beverage."

[dotymed]

3. Of course police officers should not be allowed to work

if they are inebriated.
I think this story has more to do with Unions than drinking.
Just as there are many antiquated laws on the books that have never been challenged, I suspect that this is an antiquated section of a Union contract.
"Right to Work (for low pay)" crusaders are attempting to stir a controversy about Unions. If there had been an issue about a policeman/woman working under the influence, this clause may have been an issue...
I am certain that the Union would happily "sacrifice" that clause in their contract. Instead, "they" have made it out as a Union thing...."Unions are evil" seems to be the message.

[damnedifIknow]

9. I'm extremely pro union

but this clause in this contract needs to be purged and that goes for any police dept.

[truthisfreedom]

4. Excuse me ossifer, but are you under the affluence of inkohol?

[Skittles]

5. the kind of crap that gives unions bad names

[Kelvin Mace]

7. Yep

This kind if story gets cited by co-workers any time unions are discussed.

[valerief]

8. They're like bankers--unarrestable. nt

[timdog44]

10. This gives

unions and police a bad name. It also is scary as hell. Then I went to the link supplied by the OP and saw the BALs of other workers and was even more alarmed. Public transportation vehicle operators and nuclear plant operators have allowable levels at .04. Ridiculous.

[Javaman]

11. "half-drunk"? is that like being a little pregnant? nt

[frylock]

12. gawd bless the police. our drunken blue knights.

[Brickbat]

13. Gosh, if a city thinks that union contracts with these clauses in them is bad,

then maybe they shouldn't sign the fucking contracts.

ETA: Also, "prevents any kind of discipline"? I'd like to see the language.

[alp227]

14. I almost made a snarky "Chicago Politics" remark until reading the article.

These PDs aren't in the city proper but rather in outlying suburbs. So I don't know if Chicago corruption even applies.

[KansDem]

15. Now remember, this also means they were "half sober"

Kinda puts this in a whole new light, doesn't it?!!


________

[Dustlawyer]

16. Maybe covers for medications with alcohol in them. With zero tolerance you could be

fired for 1 dose of cough medication.