MCKINNEY (CBS 11 NEWS) – A split in the McKinney Police Department is headed to federal court. The McKinney Fraternal Order of Police is suing both the city and the McKinney Police Association.
After a difficult summer
that included a high-profile case of police misconduct at a pool party for teenagers, the last thing the city and the department needed was an internal fight playing out in the courts.
But in the federal complaint, the McKinney Fraternal Order of Police, which represents a minority of the city’s officers, says McKinney officials acted unfairly in recent labor negotiations with the McKinney Police Association. The MPA represents a majority of McKinney police officers.
The lawsuit argues that giving the MPA exclusive rights to deduct membership dues from city paychecks and use police bulletin boards violated the FOP’s freedom of speech, due process, and equal protection.
The lawsuit reads, “These ongoing constitutional violations have been and are being taken in furtherance of an unlawful conspiracy.”
The complaint also blames the MPA for opposing any competing police associations, claiming, “MPA has systematically attempted to suppress the viewpoints of Lodge 107’s members…”
When asked for comment, a spokesperson for the city wrote in an email, “The City has no comment on this new litigation matter. But as always, the City will vigorously defend all claims asserted against it.”
We reached out to both police associations. The MPA did not respond to our messages. The FOP’s president declined to comment beyond the lawsuit itself.
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2015/10/08/rival-mckinney-police-associations-headed-to-federal-court/