Attorneys for the union representing Denver sheriff’s deputies are seeking to block the firing of 11 deputies by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.
The mayor fired the deputies this month after the union rejected his request that it accept a 2 percent in concessions to the negotiated contract to help the city close a projected $56 million budget gap.
Denver District Court Judge Robert McGahey will hold a hearing at 1:30 p.m. today to determine if a preliminary injunction should be issued to prevent the firing.
The last day of employment for the fired deputies is scheduled for Thursday, and the hearing is expected to last several days. McGahey is expected to rule on the request for an injunction before Thursday.
“We believe that the firing of these officers compromises security and safety in this community and is not only unnecessary, but violates these officers’ rights under the Career Service Authority rules,” said the union’s president, Mike Jackson, in a prepared statement.
Hickenlooper asked the unions representing the deputies, the firefighters and police to reduce their negotiated contracts this year.
The union representing the deputies rejected the request, but the unions for the firefighters and police accepted the 2 percent cut.
The cuts to the safety agencies were part of a series of more than 100 budget cuts pushed by the mayor to close the projected $56 million budget deficit, which has the potential to grow if sales tax revenues continue to stagnate.
Hickenlooper’s office has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
