What’s Up With The Shiawassee Sheriff Dept?

So I’ve been meaning to write about this grievance that was filed by Seargent Harkness (Road Patrol), regarding a schedule change. The grievance went before the board last week. Apparently the Department changed some work schedules in violation of the union contract. Sgt Harkness was required to go to training on a Friday, which would have required that he be paid overtime for that day. The department doesn’t pay overtime, so they gave him Tuesday off. The union employees work under a contract which states that if you cannot give 30 days notice on a schedule change, then you must have consent of the employee.

Well, that’s what one contract says … the other contract doesn’t say that, and the county can’t figure out which contract is in use. The board had two contracts to consider — the 2001 contract, which expired several years ago, is the only one that was signed by both parties. The 2007 contract, which expired a few months ago, has never been signed by both parties. Under the 2001 contract, the grievance is valid. Under the unsigned and expired contract, the grievance is not valid.

The grievance was ultimately denied.

One of the points of defense for the county was that of the 4 people affected by the schedule change, only 1 filed a grievance. The union responded by stating that the other 3 did not file because they were threatened with bad shifts, loss of work, etc. Apparently if you file a grievance against the department, you don’t get to patrol our roads. Ever. Again.

I don’t have any evidence to suggest that Sheriff Wilson is threatening or in any way abusive to his Deputies. Could be he’s just got some disgruntled employees who didn’t support him politically.

Like that disgruntled employee who sent me that email a few weeks ago, about the grievance filed against the Sheriff for physically assaulting one of the Deputies.

Or like the disgruntled employee who sent me that message about the 30+ other grievances filed against the Sheriff.

Or like the disgruntled employee who I overheard talking about how the guy who runs the jail gets harassed all the time, due to the fact that he did support the candidate who ran against Wilson.

And all the things I’ve heard the disgruntled employees say about the way the Rachel Scott case was handled … very disheartening.

I’m not going to use whispers and anonymous email to make accusations against the Sheriff, and I don’t have evidence to support any of those rumors that I’ve heard. I’m just saying, there seem to be a lot of disgruntled employees in that Dept.

And Bonnie Toskey, you suck.

NOTE: I did not attempt to reach Sheriff Wilson or any Deputy for comment