Labor_Day_parade_Buffalo_NY

 

Monday September 6th is Labor Day

The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.  In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.  Cleveland was also concerned that aligning an American labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair.  All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.  Pictured at right is a photo of a Labor Day parade on Main St. in Buffalo NY in 1900.

 


Update On PLEA's Letter Of Concern To The FBI

On Wednesday September 2, 2009, PLEA returned a call to the FBI after being contacted by them the week prior regarding our letter of concern with regard to Lt. Joe Knott being selected for attendance at the FBI's prestigious National Academy.

During our conversation with Agent Capetta of the National Academy, he stated that they have received several letters of complaint with regard to Lt. Knott being allowed to attend and that all are being looked into.  He further stated that they had spoken with the Chief and had been told that Lt. Knott was not under investigation.  We explained that while Lt. Knott may not be under internal investigation by the Police Department, EEO complaints/investigations are handled by a separate City entity outside of the police department.  During the course of our conversation we explained what PPD policy says with regard to temporary transfers as well as transfers involving Lt"s.  We also explained that the issue is not with the person but with the conduct.

PLEA also re-iterated that any rank and file officer or detective under investigation is denied the ability to transfer, are sometimes transferred for punitive reasons, are denied overtime, have off duty work privileges suspended, are often assigned to desk duty and in serious cases, are sometimes assigned to home and they would definitely not be allowed to attend lengthy, out of state schools or seminars paid for by the city.

Agent Capetta stated that it is a privilege to attend the National Academy and they ultimately make the decision on who is allowed to attend.  He further stated that the head of the Phoenix field office had been tasked with looking into the complaints.