The Gettysburg Borough Council has informed the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 776 (the local police union) that it will furlough Officer Bo Taylor to reduce its police staff to the meet the number of officers budgeted for the 2020 fiscal year.
The furlough is required because the borough has been mandated by court order to rehire Officer Michael Carricato who was terminated by the borough council on November 13, 2017.
Carricato’s dismissal was successfully challenged in court and his reinstatement was backed by the union.
Following the court mandate, the borough rehired Carricato in June and he is currently employed a patrol officer but is on a paid medical leave.
In their statement, the borough council said “during the past two months, the Gettysburg Borough Council has delayed remedying this situation by not furloughing a patrol officer in the hope that a furlough would become unnecessary. Unfortunately, this has not occurred. The members of the borough council do not relish the concept of furloughing a valued patrol officer from the police department. However, the Gettysburg Borough Council has a responsibility to the taxpayers to ensure the fiscal health of the municipality.”
In accordance with Civil Service regulations, Officer Bo Taylor, the least senior employee in the department, was notified of this action at 3:30 PM on Monday, August 24, 2020. The full police department joined the Borough Council in an executive session at 4 PM on Monday, August 24, 2020 to inform all departmental employees of Council’s action.
The borough said Officer Taylor’s furlough began on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 and that officer Taylor will be reinstated when it is economically feasible to do so.
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.