Explanation
Police Officer Kraig Gibson was critically injured, on October 11, 2023, while working traffic when an excavator backed into him. Since the incident, Officer Gibson has had multiple surgical procedures. Although he has made significant strides, there have been complications. He is currently in physical therapy, but may require an additional surgery and further physical therapy. Officer Gibson has exhausted his initial injury leave and a subsequent injury leave extension as provided in Article 30 of the collective bargaining agreement between the City and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Capital City Lodge No. 9.
Officer Gibson requested an extension of injury leave through the Board of Industrial Relations as provided in Rule 5 of the Rules of the Board of Industrial Relations. At the October 21, 2024 Industrial Relations Board meeting, and at the recommendation of the Police Chief and Director of Public Safety, the Board voted to recommend to City Council the approval of an extension of injury leave for Officer Gibson.
Title
To grant an extension of injury leave for Officer Kraig Gibson for the period October 8, 2024 to April 5, 2025, as recommended by the Board of Industrial Relations; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Officer Kraig Gibson was injured working traffic on October 11, 2023, and had complications from his injuries requiring him to exhaust injury leave and a subsequent extension as provided in Article 30 of the collective bargaining agreement between the City and FOP, Capital City Lodge No. 9; and
WHEREAS, Officer Kraig Gibson required additional care and the Police Chief and Public Safety Director requested an additional extension of injury leave from October 8, 2024 to April 5, 2025, through the Board of Industrial Relations pursuant to Rule 5 of the Rules of the Board of Industrial Relations.
WHEREAS, the Board of Industrial Relations reviewed the request at its meeting of October 21, 2024 and voted unanimously to recommend to City Council the approval of an extension of injury leave for Officer Kraig Gibson, in accordance with Rule 5 of the Industrial Relations Board Rules; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City such that it is immediately necessary, in order for Officer Gibson to receive additional injury leave as his initial injury leave and subsequent extension have expired, to grant an extension of injury leave to Officer Kraig Gibson as recommended by the Industrial Relations Board, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now, Therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That City Council hereby approves the recommendation of the Industrial Relations Board to provide an extension of injury leave for Officer Kraig Gibson, Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, from October 8, 2024 to April 5, 2025.
SECTION 2. If any section of this Ordinance, including any article, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of the attachment hereto, for any reason, is held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions or sections of this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed the ordinance, and each section hereof, including any article, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of the attachment hereto, irrespective of the fact that any one or more articles, sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases may be declared unconstitutional or invalid.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure which shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.