The counties and cities are fighting this based on Local Control” i.e. Home rule etc.  That is an extremely weak argument and one without foundation.  The simple fact is there are several state statutes in place that Home Rule cities and counties must use as a foundation for policy and procedure. This is no different.  This bill is constitutionally sound and does not interfere with local control of personnel matters. 

The FOP and other police labor organizations would not be fighting so hard for a minimum standard of due process if we felt “local control” statewide adequately represented a fair due process system in each jurisdiction that protected the employee from abuse and wrongful termination.  The fact of the matter is that in many jurisdictions there is little if any due process in place; or for that matter any system that provides fairness and protection from abuse.  Passage of this bill will in no way hamper management’s right to discipline or remove employees from the workforce who have committed offenses or violations that justify such an action.  In fact those jurisdictions that are doing it properly now have little to fear from this bill.