New policy questioned at Ardmore Police Department

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Posted: 5:24 PM Jul 24, 2008
Last Updated: 5:24 PM Jul 24, 2008
Reporter: Robin Beal
Email Address: robin.beal@kxii.com

21 comments

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ARDMORE, Okla. -- A change at the Ardmore Police Department has some union members unhappy. Chief David Leonardo says one of his main goals is to achieve international accreditation for his department, but in order to do that, some policies have to be updated. Robin Beal explains the policy in question.

The policy about "outside employment" details that if any of the department’s 53 officers wants to take a second job while they are off-duty, it will have to be approved by the chief of police.

Some members of the Fraternal Order of Police disagree with the change. They have filed a grievance over the matter, but the chief says the new policy is in line with national standards and it is needed if Ardmore’s police department is to achieve international accreditation.

Leonardo says as far as he is concerned, the matter is closed.

"The city has a reasonable expectation to manage their off-duty work because we want to make sure they're fresh, we want to make sure they're safe, so that they can safely protect each other and the community," Leonardo said.

And so, the new policy is now in full effect. Officers who do choose to take secondary employment, and the chief says about half of the force does, will have to have approval before they can go to work at that other job.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Sherman on Jul 29, 2008 at 09:26 AM
I work for the feds, and we have a similiar policy. Welcome to modern society Ardmore. This is not a conspiracy.

Posted by: For Sheriff Location: ardmore on Jul 27, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Hey all Don't forget to vote for Sheriff on TUES!! Vote Greg Grant for Sheriff 2008!

Posted by: Insider Location: outside Ardmore on Jul 27, 2008 at 10:46 AM
What you people don't understand is, this so called "Chief" has come into the department and started implementing policies that are not warranted. This is not the only controversial policy he has put in place. You need to be aware of the entire situation before you start jumping on "his" band wagon. This guy is a loose cannon and an idiot. He got fired from his last job for incompetency, now the Council has hired him to run this department. His track record is not impressive. Ardmore has a lot of good officers that will be looking else where is he is allowed to continue is reckless ways. To those of you who say, if you don't like the job, find another one .. that is just the attitude this so called "Chief" has. The department was built with good officers and a lot of them are still there. Send this so called "Chief" back to where he came, before it's too late!!

Posted by: joe Location: ardmore on Jul 27, 2008 at 08:20 AM
OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT THE CHIEF IS ININ COHOOTS WITH THE CITY MANAGER!! HOW DOES THE MANGER ALLOW LONG TERM POLICE OFFICERS TO BE DEMOTED AND HARRASED IF NOT IN CAHOOTS? THE DEMOTED OFFICERS CAN NOT BE FIRED,BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT DISAGREE WITH THE TWO CAHOOTERS ,SO IF YOU CAN'T FIRE THEM, HARRESS THEM TO THE POINT THE RESIGN. BEEN THERE DONE THAT!!!!!! WHERE IS THE MAYOR? WHERE IS THE CITY COUNCIL? ANY KAHOONAS? JUST TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS. AND I SPEAK OF THIS AS A LEADER SHIP PROBLEM.

Posted by: Tim Location: Ardmore on Jul 27, 2008 at 04:46 AM
I bet every criminal in Ardmore is laughing at the APD because they can't follow the rules set before them by the chief. I can't believe Ardmore has a bunch of babies patrolling the streets of Ardmore.

Posted by: Ralph Location: Denison on Jul 26, 2008 at 11:01 PM
It is SOP for most government employees to get permission to seek part time employment. There are ethics requirements involved here, because a government employees conduct outside his primery job, including conduct during the employees personal time, can affect his employment. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the employer to review outside employment requests to help assure the employee is not taking a job that could cause a conflict of interest with his primary job. A policy requiring such approval would appear to be especially essential to law enforcement personnel.

Posted by: Michael Location: Ardmore on Jul 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Read the entire Policy. The Chief's policy says, "you are little children and we cannot trust you to run your own lives and we really cannot trust you to serve our community."

Posted by: okie Location: lawton on Jul 25, 2008 at 11:00 PM
to all the officers that are complaining, come on over to Comanche County, and join the sherrifs office, you can do what you want, no tickets, just chase cows and pat the old ladies on the butt, so the sherrif can stay in the office year after year, there is no union here, and you can work all the part time jobs you can, because you will only be getting paid about $1700.00 amonth. I said all that just to say, so what if you have to ask to work part time, at least you are making more then deputies in this part of Oklahoma, Some news agency needs to come and look into the Comanche County Sherrifs Office.

Posted by: LMAO Location: Ardmore on Jul 25, 2008 at 05:57 PM
Part Timer - You may want to throw your credentials around somewhere else, becuase they certainly don't show, here. Yes, I do believe we all agree the Chief should look out for his officers, but he doesn't WORK for his officers like you stated in your post. I'm just quoting your own words. Again, a change is well-needed in the APD, and I only hope this Chief can get the job done. It looks like he's got a good start!! And, for those of you who continue to whine about your jobs and the way you're treated.... WE LIVE IN AMERICA... WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE OUR PROFESSION.... IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, QUIT COMPLAINING AND MOVE ON.... GET A NEW JOB!!

Posted by: Just The Facts Location: Ardmore on Jul 25, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Good grief! Let's make mountains out of mole hills! This policy allows personnel to work up to 22 hours per week on a second job. I'd say thats fair, and still allows an officer to get enough rest to do his or her job efficiently and safely.

Posted by: Part-timer Location: coalgate on Jul 25, 2008 at 02:21 PM
To LMOA-no I AM not an idiot. As a matter of fact in have a BA in criminal justice and 17 years experience as a CLEET certified officer. YES, the chief has a responsiblity to the city But HE ALSO MUST THINK ABOUT HIS OFFICERS AS WELL. I bet he had a part time job when he was a street patrol officer!!!! YOU SOUND LIKE SOME WHITE COLLAR IDIOT WHO GETS NO RESPECT FROM HIS PEERS OR HIS WORKERS.

Posted by: LMAO Location: Ardmore on Jul 25, 2008 at 10:38 AM
To Part Timer "they think of themselves only, what can i save the city and not what can i do for my officers" - Are you a complete idiot? The Chief DOES work for the CITY, not the POLICE OFFICERS! This comment is INCREDIBLE! You are PROVING that you EXPECT the CHIEF to work for YOU, the POLICE OFFICERS. See Ardmore, the APD needs some definite restructuring. This is obviously the way MANY officers think. They think the Chief should be working for them, and not the citizens of Ardmore. This is a bad place for the APD to be, to have officers working there who think this way. Chief, please do more restructuring and get some more of those termination and demotions rolling because it is well over-due for the city and citizens of Ardmore!

Posted by: Opinionated Location: Ardmore on Jul 25, 2008 at 09:50 AM
The policy is they have to get approval, not that they can't have a second job. But if I'm not mistaken, they could be called at any time to handle a crisis situation. The police department is their primary job. I doubt very seriously the chief would deny them a second job if it isn't a conflict of interest or puts the department in some sort of jephardy. Maybe all the crying is because a line is being drawn and they are made to follow. This is not an unheard of practice. Only to the Ardmore PD. What I'd like to see is better response time to calls, and an officer that doesn't act all put out because he is asked to do his job.

Posted by: FormerCop Location: Ardmore on Jul 25, 2008 at 09:21 AM
As a former (not Ardmore) Police Officer, I find this laughable. I have never heard of a department, anywhere in the Western World, that does not have a policy of having to ask someone, be it the Chief, Public Safety Director, City Council or City HR, if they can work a second job. If these people are so keen to work elsewhere, then I question their commitment to policing. The Chief is appointed to run the PD. He reports to and takes some direction from, the City Council and City Manager. Like it or not, he's the boss. Police Officers hold their authority when off duty, and as such, when working second jobs, be it in retail, security or some other profession, the potential for them to be placed in situations where they may need to use that authority is there. Who is responsible for him during that time. Who gets sued if something goes awry, who covers his insurance if he uses police powers while working at Walmart and gets hurt?

Posted by: Part Timer Location: Coalgate on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:51 AM
this is to Les in Texas, If it wasn't for the FOP all Okla. police dept.s would be making squat. It worked for a non-union dept. that unionized, the pay doubled. Many police chief's north of the RED, are not forward thinkers, they think of themselves only, what can i save the city and not what can i do for my officers. I see no harm in a part time job as long as it does not interfere with your full time job. With 4 dollar a gallon gas and the price of food,almost everyone may have to find a part time job-unless you are like Les with pocketbook full of money and sitting in judgement.Walk a mile in an officers shoes-it is not all glamourous.

Posted by: confussed Location: here on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:09 AM
He is not saying you can't have a part time job right?? You can but it needs to be just that a part time job. I know I have seed some of Ardmore's officers more at there "part" time jobs more than at the police department. I know if I needed an officer to come help me I would want him well rested and alert, not dragging after working 6-8 hours already at another job. I do understand the cost of everything is going up but so I their pay and from what I understand they get decent pay and if they would not try to keep up with the "jones" they would not need to work so much on their off time. As for the Chief being a joke can't agree, from what I have seen on the news and in the paper he is trying to get a department that will work together and support each other. Everybody is just so use to having a Chief that will allow anything it is hard to have a Chief that is acutally calling the shots and following thru. Thanks APD for all your hard work.

Posted by: Sick and Tired Location: Ardmore on Jul 25, 2008 at 06:56 AM
Why is it that when someone new comes into a new job and tries to make things better there are always some cry babies crying about replacing the person when they don't get their way. If you don't like your job, quit or go somewhere else. As someone stated here, a potential officer knows what comes with the job when he goes into the academy. My job comes with a bunch of bull too, but I still have to do my job or my family doesn't eat. You people need to cut out the political nonsense downtown and be officers and administrators and do your job. I don't receive any rewards or thank-you's for what I do, but I am not in it for the rewards. I don't expect rewards or thank-you's and I think that's what officers have come to expect, the rewards and thank-you's and if you feel you don't get it, you cry about it or want some type of sympathy. I respect your profession, but don't expect a hug or kiss when something goes wrong with your job. We all have problems with our jobs.

Posted by: Jarod Location: Ardmore on Jul 25, 2008 at 12:46 AM
This police chief needs to go back where he came from and leave everyone else alone. If the officer's want a second job so let them have it. They may need more money. Note they must ask him to work a second job, no way he is not there daddy. This guy has a hot head go back were u came from.no one around here wants u here leave

Posted by: hardTimes Location: TX on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:22 PM
If half of the department's officers have second jobs, shouldn't that be a pretty good clue that they need more money?? I know, who doesn't need more money? I understand this. It's frustrating that men and women leave their own homes to protect honest, hard working, innocent people and literally put their lives on the line throughout their whole shift day after day and get paid, how can I put this nicely,... SQUAT! These men and women have a calling and they do their jobs because they WANT to. They definately know well before they start the academy that it isn't a high paying job, it's no secret. A football player will make millions yearly for playing a game but we can't pay our emergency workers (police, fire, ems) enough money to survive on. Am I the only one that finds this bizzare? (a little off the subject, but hopefully you get my drift)

Posted by: Insider Location: Outstide Ardmore on Jul 24, 2008 at 10:04 PM
This Chief is an idiot and needs to be ran out of town. The policies he's putting in place is making the patrol officers job almost impossible to do. He's being protected by someone on the Council ... we all wonder why. He's a joke. Go get him FOP .. you're jobs and careers depend on him leaving!!

Posted by: ARDMOREITE Location: ARDMORE on Jul 24, 2008 at 05:48 PM
The chief needs to have a Doughnut Day for his officers to easy the tensions in the department!

Posted by: Les Location: Texas on Jul 24, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Another example of the union trying to dictate how the department is run. This policy is in place in nearly ALL police departments as a protection for lawsuits involving officers on outside employment. Let the Chief run the department and don't allow the union to 'ruin' the department. Isn't it funny that Texas police officers make 30-60% higher wages without a useless union....

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