Public Employee Press

NYPD is the perp in TEA harassment

Local 983 leaders are charging the New York Police Dept. with improper retaliation against Traffic Enforcement Agent Steve Douglass for the union's lawsuit against their illegal towing quotas.

DC 37, Local 983 and four TEAs filed a lawsuit against the NYPD last year over quotas demanding that TEA 3s tow three to four illegally parked vehicles per shift or face harsh penalties. The union charged that the quota system violates state labor laws and asked the court to order NYPD to end the illegal practice, reinstate workers who were disciplined or terminated under the policy and compensate the TEAs for lost wages, time and benefits.

"The pressure NYPD puts on TEA 3s is harassment, and Steve Douglass, a plaintiff in the case, is now being harassed for standing up," Local 983 President Joe Puleo said.

The union is now considering filing improper practice charges against the Police Dept. over the harassment, said DC 37 General Counsel Robin Roach.

"The NYPD has tailed Douglass for months," Puleo said, trying to create a "paper trail" to use to demote him.

Supervisors have written Douglass up on demonstrably false charges, such as running a red light at 34th Street and 12th Avenue in Manhattan.

"That is one of the busiest inter- sections in the city. There are traffic cameras, and if he went through on red he would have gotten a ticket," Puleo said. "But he didn't. That proves that these trumped-up charges are bogus."

Charges filed against Douglass in July allege that he "failed to notify his supervisor of his location." But at the time, Douglass was at Police Dept. headquarters answering earlier accusations, union officials said.

"Everyone - including Douglass's NYPD supervisors - knows you cannot bring a radio into Police headquarters; so how was Douglass supposed to answer their radio call?" Puleo asked.

Douglass and Local 983 leaders are waiting for a hearing on the allegations against him, which could lead to severe penalties. "They can take away up to 30 days' pay, it's that serious," Puleo said. And even if he is vindicated, the charges would remain on his record, according to Local 983 leaders. "NYPD can cross it out, but they never remove anything once it's written into the record."