City and Statewide Police Union Settle Dispute

Sources say the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas and the city of Austin have settled a dispute about who should pay for union-work leave time.

Under the terms of the new agreement, CLEAT will pay the city the salary and benefits for Sgt. Todd Harrison to be on full-time leave while working for the statewide police union.

Harrison was elected CLEAT president in 2009; he is also a board member of the Austin Police union, the Austin Police Association.

Harrison had been using a pool of time set up under the police contract with the city, known as association business leave, in order to be paid his city salary while off doing work for CLEAT. Whether that was a proper use of ABL pool, made up of sick time donated by Austin officers last month was called into question by Austin Police officers.

After the officers filed a formal complaint, Chief Art Acevedo said he would reconsider the use of leave time and recalled Harrison to full-time department duty – a move that prompted CLEAT to seek a temporary restraining order. The agreement between the city and CLEAT also means that complaint will be dismissed.

You can read more about the use of ABL time here.