By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Three Buffalo Common Council members have introduced a bill that seeks a detailed plan from the police commissioner for dealing with a possible "sick out" by city police officers.
Neither the police union or rank-and-file officers will publicly acknowledge the so-called "blue flu" during the weekend of the St. Patrick's Day Parade and N-C-Double-A basketball tournament. But South District Council Member Michael Kearns tells WBFO News the city needs to be prepared if officers do call in sick.
"We should plan. You have to plan for the worst and hope for the best," Kearns said. "I've heard some positive response from police officers that this is not going to happen.
"But I sit on the committee for the St. Patrick's Day Parade and there are real concerns out there. This is a real public safety issue."
Police Commissioner McCarthy Gipson said last week he would consider a contingency plan. In a WBFO News interview, Gipson discouraged officers from calling in sick. They're upset with the ongoing wage freeze imposed by the control board three years ago.