By Eileen Buckley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-573589.mp3
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Police staffing levels have remained normal despite ongoing rumors of a job action.
It had been rumored that officers would call in sick in protest of the control board's wage freeze. A so-called "blue flu" was expected to begin at the start of Thursday's NCAA Tournament.
But just as thousands of visitors arrived at HSBC Arena, Buffalo Police Commissioner McCarthy Gipson said there were no significant numbers of officers calling in sick. Gipson says he believes officers may have backed off from staging a job action because they realize it won't resolve their labor issues.
"Their concerns about the control board and the wage freeze exist and will continue to exist until the issue is resolved," Gipson said. "I would hope that we will be able to get beyond this point.
"For now, we will have a safe weekend for everyone."
Gipson says some officers were denied taking single vacations days this week, but personal days were granted.