An attempt to start a statewide union for police and correctional officers is being met with “sabotage” by the Baltimore police union, according to the president of the new Police Benevolent Association of Maryland.
Former Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police President Lt. Frederick Roussey this month created the new union, which he said will provide “better services” than the FOP.
But Roussey said the leaders of the city FOP are attempting to foil the new organization.
“They?re trying to sabotage us. They?ve torn down our fliers,” Roussey said. “They even had somebody stand outside our meeting to try to turn people away.”
Roussey said the new union had 78 people sign up at its first meeting earlier this month ? and “dozens” more have applied since then. He also is working to recruit Baltimore County?s 300 correctional officers into the labor organization.
“It?s becoming very successful,” he said. “We?re making waves. The officers aren?t getting the services they need from the FOP ? so we?ve started our own organization.”
Paul Blair, president of the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3, said his leadership has not used dirty tactics against the new group.
“The majority of the board of directors were in Louisville during their first meeting,” he said. “Fred constantly spreads half-truths. If he?s so against the FOP, why does he still have a car with FOP license plates?”
But Blair warned that the FOP could kick out any officer who joins Roussey?s union.
Roussey was elected president of the city FOP in 2004, but the union?s board of directors forced him out of that role in 2006.
Roussey said a “good old boy” network in the union?s board of directors disliked his reforming style and suspended him after he called for an audit of the union?s books.
“We did an audit,” Blair said. “Do you know what it proved? That we were honest.”
Blair said Roussey?s violations as FOP president were serious and included Roussey undermining the organization by attempting to find another union to represent the rank and file. He also predicted the new union would not catch on.
“I don?t see the rank and file running out to join Fred?s organization,” he said. “He thinks he?ll do everything we can?t do. But people will get tired of Fred?s rhetoric.”
But Roussey said his organization is just picking up steam.
“Eventually, when we get enough members, we?ll decertify the FOP,” he said.
