Police And Mayor Young Reach Settlement

A settlement appears to have been reached in the controversy surrounding Detroit police layoffs. A proposal which would have each officer take 14 days off without pay during next year could save enough money to prevent the release of 825 officers.

While the settlement should be adopted by the two police unions involved within the next week, underlying conflicts between the predominantly white police force and Mayor Coleman Young's black-dominated administration are far from resolved. 

Although Detroit has an equal racial balance, the Police Department remains about 82 percent white. While blacks and other minorities have increased their representation with the help of pressure from Young, white officers hold most upper-level positions.

The current controversy began when Young announced the layoffs of a number of city employees, including 825 police officers, to balance the city budget. Young also stipulated the layoffs would have to come from the white police officers, as many of the blacks and women had been hired with federal funds that were part of an affirmative action grant. U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Freeman upheld the decision, stating layoffs of those hired with the federal funds would perpetuate past discriminatory practices.

About 1000 white officers demonstrated outside Freeman's court, protesting the decision which overruled contract stipulations of "last hired, first fired" layoffs by seniority. Despite the fact that the majority of blacks and women were recently hired, the white police officers with greater seniority would account for the majority of the layoffs. Racial tensions were high outside the courthouse, and a scuffle broke out between a black officer and several whites for control of a service revolver.

Mayor Young had earlier proposed that payless days off and elimination of a four percent increase contracted for July 1 could prevent layoffs, but initially, the police unions opposed this rule. Officers with seniority were unwilling to give up any pay, and insisted the contract covered the situation; those with lease seniority should be laid off if there was insufficient money.

With the court ruling, which meant most layoffs would come from white officers, the unions softened their stance, leading to the current agreement. In addition to the fourteen days off without pay, the police will be given seven additional paid vacation days to ease the blow. No new police officers will be hired, and some cuts in equipment purchases will be made to save the same amount the layoffs would have.

All sides seem temporarily appeased by the settlement. Police Commissioner Philip Tannian said the only problems will be with scheduling, as there will be less officers to work with because of the added 21 days off.