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Jul 15, 2008 5:50 pm US/Central
Labor Groups Criticize Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The battle over the Dallas County budget reached the steps of the courthouse Tuesday. Several Dallas County Sheriff's Department labor groups held a morning protest to criticize Sheriff Lupe Valdez.
Labor members say they need to know that the sheriff is on their side. Sheriff Valdez says they're fighting the same fight.
"We want her to be the leader of this department. We want her to fight for our rights, for our pay raises, our positions that we're losing to other outside sources," said Mike Ramirex with the National Latino Peace Officers Association. "We want her to fight for us."
Many labor members say they have given Valdez a chance but that she continues to disappoint them.
A budget deficit in the county is forcing the sheriff's department to tighten its belt - with approximately $7 million dollars in cuts. The cuts could include dozens of sheriff's department positions.
"My staff and I are working tirelessly to produce a budget that achieves our goals while preserving the jobs of the deputies and officers that protect the citizens of Dallas County," Valdez said.
Representatives from four labor groups say they want Valdez to meet with them and to address their concerns.
"Every year we hear the same rhetoric. We hear shortfall, shortfall, shortfall and their initial answer every time around is cut the sheriff's department. Cut the sheriff's department's budget. That's not acceptable," said Greg Porter with the Dallas County Sheriff's Association.
Late Tuesday afternoon CBS 11 News learned that Sheriff Valdez will meet with the employee groups tomorrow afternoon to discuss their concerns.
Labor members say they are also discouraged that Valdez filled a key administrative position with someone from outside the department. Members say it further proves the sheriff has no confidence in the current employees.
Valdez dismissed the claim saying, "We see that [outside hiring] as outgrowth, as a way to be more fresh in what we're doing. New ideas come from different areas."
The sheriff went on to say that in the last three years the department provided more than 300 opportunities for internal promotion and that she doesn't believe the majority of department employees share the same sentiment about her as the labor groups.
According to Valdez she is during everything she can during these tough economic times. "My team and I have been fighting for a safer Dallas County since day one, and today I am working to ensure that our 2009 budget provides the funding needed to continue that fight."
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