Reinstate deputy to law enforcement role, suit demand.

The Police Officers Association of Michigan has filed suit against Leelanau County and Sheriff Michael Oltersdorf because of how the sheriff has handled disciplinary issues involving deputy Bruce Beeker.

The suit, filed Nov. 13 in Circuit Court in Leelanau County, calls on the court to enforce an arbitrator’s award “requiring reinstatement” of Beeker to law enforcement duties, according to court documents. The police union’s suit also calls on the county to pay Beeker an unspecified amount that was awarded to him by the arbitrator, plus other costs.

In April 2006, Oltersdorf fired Beeker after the deputy was accused of “severe misconduct” for befriending a woman who was under investigation in a domestic violence case. Beeker appealed his firing through the police officers union.

Following a series of psychological exams ordered by a union arbitrator, Beeker returned to work in the Sheriff’s Office in August – but in a “desk job,” wearing civilian clothes and carrying neither a badge nor a gun.

“The demand to put Mr. Beeker in uniform and back on patrol is without legal authority,” Oltersdorf said Wednesday morning after he was served with a copy of the suit. “As sheriff, my responsibility is to sit in judgment of all employees and make decision based upon what is best for the citizens of Leelanau County. Mr. Beeker would still be assigned to patrol duties had he not violated rules and regulations … When officers make mistakes or use bad judgment, people get hurt,” the sheriff said.

In the suit, attorneys for the police officers union wrote that in February 2007 a union arbitrator ruled that Beeker “was to be made whole, including back pay benefits, seniority and any other emoluments of employment which he would have enjoyed had he not been terminated.”

The suit claims that the county has failed to live up to its requirements under a collective bargaining agreement with the union, and has refused to pay its contractual share of the arbitration costs.

“The economic demands in this suit will be handled by the county administrator who will confer with the county’s attorney regarding the legal requirements,” Oltersdorf said.

Oltersdorf said that in September Beeker filed a grievance demanding overtime compensation for patrol shifts even though he is assigned to desk duty.

“During my 36 years of law enforcement service, including 11 years as sheriff,” Oltersdorf added, “I have never been sued by a prisoner or a member of the public. It is very disappointing to be sued by the deputies union whose attorneys are located in southeast Michigan representing the interests of one employee who cannot have his way,” the sheriff said.

Neither Beeker nor a union representative could immediately be reached for comment.