The cases in this book show examples of police officers disputing with
their employer over discipline, employee rights, and contract language.
These cases were actually decided by arbitrators, but they are not typical
of normal police employment relationships. Arbitrations are exceptional,
and most police departments operate year after year without a single
grievance going to arbitration. Most disagreements are settled through
relatively amicable discussions.

Still, one can learn from exceptions. These cases are informative, but
what was there about these disputes that made them so difficult to settle?
The issues do not seem unusually complicated, thereby making compro-
mise impossible. Conflicting personalities may have blocked normal
negotiations, or political considerations may have been involved. Com-
munity pressures may have given a difficult spin to the situation, or some
other unexplained problem may have inhibited the particular parties.

One must admit that many of the grievances in this book seem remark-
ably trivial. A one or two day suspension can hardly be identified as major
jurisprudence. Some of the grievants seem to be the Bozos of their
departments, shooting bullets into the floor, failing to file reports, and
wandering off in a patrol car without permission. Why were their unions
willing to arbitrate on their behalf? Sometimes this is a mystery, because
the cost of arbitration greatly exceeds the importance of some of these

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