The university stands behind acting University Police Department Chief Adam Due, while stating it’s “extremely disappointed” with representatives from the Fraternal Order of Police.

The order, which issued a press release to media outlets Friday, outlined numerous problems it had with Due. In reply, the university issued a press release that stated: “The administration genuinely respects all of the Eastern Illinois University police officers and acting Police Chief Adam Due.”

Bob Wayland, director of employee and labor relations, said the fraternal order’s decision to use the media to discuss potential collective bargaining matters is inconsistent with normal practice.

“They are required by law to bring those issues to the bargaining table, but they have chosen to go out to the general public without discussing this,” Wayland said. “We’re extremely disappointed.”

On March 3, officials of the fraternal order notified the university they wished to open the current collective bargaining agreement to negotiate a successor agreement, the press release stated.

Wayland said negotiations with the fraternal order had not taken place in more than a year and a set date has not been created.

“We have a labor agreement with them,” he said. “They have opened labor discussions for a new contract. That is where we should be discussing those issues.”

The fraternal order’s press release stated police morale was at “an all-time low” and “the pot was ready to boil over.” In two meetings over the past year and half, one question was posed at each meeting: “Please indicate your confidence in the current chief.”

Some 17 of the 18 UPD officers voted they had “no confidence” in Due Jan. 7, 2002, 13 members voted “no confidence” April 3 and two members voted they have confidence in Due, stated another fraternal order press release.

Wayland said he’s not sure he can trust those numbers.

“I do know many of the officers personally, and many of them don’t agree with it,” he said.

Three UPD officers did not submit a ballot for the April 3 vote.

Due and multiple UPD officers declined comment Wednesday.

“You’ll be hard pressed to have any officer talk to you,” one UPD officer said before declining further comment.

The fraternal order press release Friday cited three reasons for the frustrations: officer safety, interdepartmental communications and attitude/interpersonal relations. In a separate press release received by The Daily Eastern News Tuesday, specific examples were cited.

Examples of officer safety are the lack of emergency equipment such as police radios and a functioning spotlight, the lack of a secure place for firearms when escorting a prisoner into a building and the restriction of only having two patrol cars on duty at one time.

Examples of interdepartmental communication, or lack thereof, is Due’s alleged lack of consultation to officers when rearranging their schedules.

“At least a ‘heads-up’ to allow the officer to raise any concerns was warranted,” the release stated.

The release accused Due of making several comments to officers illustrating his unwillingness to seek compromise or build working relationships with members of the department.

An example of the accusations, according to the release, was an instance when a member of the UPD mentioned officers were doing a good job on issuing alcohol tickets.

To which, the release alleged: “(Acting Chief) Due stated he could teach a monkey to write tickets.”

Wayland defended Due stating, “Comments made publicly about anyone, particularly anyone – in this case, Due – to make comments like this publicly you have to consider their motives.

“What about his civil rights? That person also has certain civil rights and he has not been heard. This is not the appropriate place.”