Belle Fourche police have filed a petition with the South Dakota Department of Labor to have the Teamsters union represent them in discussions with city government, Mayor Gloria Landphere said Monday.
James Heeren, business agent for the Teamsters in South Dakota, based in Sioux Falls, said Monday that he had filed the petition for recognition of the union on behalf of "100 percent of the currently employed officers."
He would not say how many officers that was, but the department has had 10 officers, including the chief. At a recent city council police committee meeting, the council members were told that only seven officers were on the patrol rotation schedule.
Heeren said the city could immediately recognize the union and begin negotiations on everything from work rules to pay rates, or request a union election date, or question the union's request on technical grounds.
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"Basically it's in the city's hands," Heeren said.
The Teamsters union has been a frequent representative for police departments in South Dakota and other states.
Heeren said he became a member of the union while working at the North Sioux City Police Department.
In other business, the city council approved hiring a Spearfish law firm last week "as a special counsel for the mayor regarding an employment grievance."
The action followed a closed-door executive session.
Personnel issues are not usually discussed in governing boards' open session, and are not normally considered public record unless there is litigation involved.
The council's action was to hire the Nies and Karras firm in Spearfish. It lists civil litigation among its services.
Although the mayor and council did not mention particular employment grievance, it came at a time when the police chief resigned and apparently there are two officers who are not on the department's patrol rotation.
Butte County Sheriff Fred Lamphere was at the council meeting and apparently was in the executive session.
His office is contracted to supervise the Belle Fourche Police Department until a police chief is hired.
Monday's Legal Finance Committee meeting included an executive session with the mayor, but no action was taken.
The committee's agenda did include a new city policy for employees on "insubordination."
The new policy includes a definition "as a willful or intentional refusal by an employee to obey a lawful and reasonable request given by a supervisor. It may also be an action which constitutes lack of respect or harassment directed toward a supervisor."
Insubordination under the policy would be a cause for disciplinary action up to, and including, termination.
Meanwhile, the council's police committee members are working on applications for police chief.
Mayor Landphere said the applications are in a pool of seven people who are tentatively set for interviews Dec. 28 or 29.
She said the committee also has been looking at policies in the police department policy handbook.
The police committee has a scheduled meeting at noon Monday at City Hall.
