Dallas Authorities Say City Is Breaking Overtime Promise

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - North Texas is still more than two weeks away from the Super Bowl at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, but a court battle is already brewing over the big game in Dallas. Police and firefighters are upset with the city over what they are calling a broken promise.

All of the major police and fire associations in Dallas have joined together in filing a petition, asking a court to investigate whether or not the city is backing out of a promise to offer overtime jobs at special events on the week of the Super Bowl.

There are numerous events planned in the days leading up to the big game, including several at the Dallas Convention Center and Hyatt Hotel. But public safety workers have accused the city of flexing their hours and shuffling desk employees into field positions so that most of the work will be covered by on-duty staff.

According to Haakon Donnelly, attorney for the Fraternal Order of Police, such a move not only breaks a promise, but also compromises safety. "When these officers are rescheduled to go somewhere else, what happens to that work load? Whether they be detectives or some sort of on-patrol officer, other officers are going to have to pick up the slack," Donnelly said.

City officials said that the allegations are unfounded, and that $500,000 is already budgeted toward such overtime pay for police department and fire department employees.

If a court finds the city at fault, it could lead to a lawsuit.