Burbank Says Political Envelope Stuffing Is Improper

Oct 25, 2007 by Bryan Schott

40,000 Letters Will Not Be Sent Out By Police Union

Next week, Salt Lake City voters will consider a $192 million bond for, among other things, a new headquarters for the Salt Lake City Police Department. However, it has come to light that emergency dispatch workers have been preparing mailings advocating a vote in favor of the bond issue. That work happened while the workers were on the clock.

Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank says it's improper for city employees to do political work for a cause that directly affects them during their shift.  He adds that no resources were taken away from the dispatch center, and all work was done during down time.

Burbank says workers routinely stuff envelopes for charitable causes when they have down time, but this situation was improper because the mailing was prepared by the police union. As a result, Burbank says the letters will not be sent out at all.

Burbank estimates the number of mailings the workers prepared is close to 40-thousand.

He also said he plans no disciplinary action against the workers.

Email to a friendPosted in Election 2007 and KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW