Further proof of the Justice Department's arrogant and dismissive attitude toward officers' participation in determining their own fate was evident in the request made by DOJ to the presiding court to postpone deliberation on the suit until December 20, 1999. Police observers believe that date was selected as a blatant move to deny officers a role in the court proceedings since it came one week after the expiration of the FOP contract with the city of Columbus, and therefore the union could have been precluded from having a say in the matter. Nonetheless, officers in Columbus are demanding to be heard. Moreover, James E. Phillips, an attorney for the FOP, has demanded that the Justice Department divulge the specifics behind the alleged widespread abuse of civil rights by Columbus police, and if the FOP is approved as a defendant in the case, they can compel the DOJ to divulge evidence and specifics. Another source cites a dozen incidents of wrongdoing since 1993.
Nothing is worse than a dirty cop.
The three cases the FOP has been told about hardly falls under this definition. As you can imagine, litigation for Columbus' police officers and their union will be costly. Solidarity was obvious when the members approved the increase by 81 percent in November. After the vote was taken, the FOP chapter president said he hoped the results would send a message to Washington that Columbus would not go quietly. Due to LEAA's legislative activities, contributions and gifts to LEAA are not tax deductible.