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WSU students and Pullman Police on the same side (for now) |
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Written by cougster1
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Monday, 15 September 2008 |
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The proposed U-District has drawn a lot of opposition from students. The university is already a Big Brother in a lot of ways (and not in the mentoring good way) and they are opposed to it having an increased role in their lives. The students are getting an unexpected ally in their fight, the Pullman Police Officers' Guild. Seems their self interest aligns, at least for now, with the interest of many students. The Guild sees the expansion of WSU authority as a threat to their jobs, if WSU officers take over it might mean less work for Pullman Police.
From the Dnews.com:
The Pullman Police Officers' Guild has threatened legal action against the City Council if it enters into an agreement with Washington State University that would "allow the university police department to morph outside their boundaries."
Guild attorney Mark Makler recently sent letters to Pullman officials opposing an interlocal agreement for the proposed University District on College Hill.
Makler said language in the proposal dictating shared work between the city and university police departments is unlawful. He plans to file an administrative lawsuit with the Public Employees Relations Commission if the city signs an agreement that doesn't include additional bargaining with the Pullman guild.
"The WSU police are not going to be policing on Kamiaken (Street) and Grand (Avenue.) But they are going to come out on College Hill," he said. "It hasn't gotten agreement from the police guild that someone else can work within the police guild's territory.
"What stops WSU from policing the whole city?"
Guild President Scott Patrick agreed.
"However semantically the university wants to put it or the city administration wants to put it ... they're contracting out bargained work, and you have to bargain for that," he said of the proposal.
Funny how the people who generally are not students' friends, the Pullman PD, are in this case are because of self interest.
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