Police strikers mob own H.Q.

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 8

Police strikers mob own H.Q.

NZPA Memphis Tactical squad members of the Memphis Police Department armed themselves with Ml 6 rifles and donned gas masks on Saturday night as an estimated 500 striking members of the Memphis Police Association massed outside police headquarters for a rally. All of the building’s doors and windows were locked as strikers congregated beneath the window of the police director’s office shouting obscenities and waving huge sticks. No confrontations occurred, but it was apparent working policemen inside the building were readying themselves for one. Shortly before attending the mass midnight M.P.A.

membership meeting, the union president, David Baker said: “We are now in the situation where we’ve got to order (union members) back to work. From what I’ve seen today,'personally, they probably won’t go back to work.”

Police spokesman reported no problems with the nighttime curfew ordered by Mayor Wyeth Chandler, despite the presence of thousands of Elvis Presley fans gathering for the August 16 anniversary of the superstar’s death.

Chancery Court Judge, George Lewis, ruled on Saturday that Memphis faced an “extraordinary emergency” and ordered striking policemen to return to work or turn in their badges. He set a midnight deadline for compliance.