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Officer seeks compensation for K-9 care

COLUMBIANA — Patrolman Bryan Granchie, a police dog handler in the Columbiana Police Department, has filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming he hasn’t been compensated for the time spent caring for Csuti outside of work.

Granchie filed the civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The law recognizes that police departments are required to compensate a police officer for time spent caring for a police dog outside of work, which includes feeding, training, grooming and more.

The lawsuit asks for a jury trial and states that the city has not paid Granchie the time-and-a-half for work beyond his 40-hour week. It seeks unspecified wages and attorney fees.

The lawsuit alleges that police Chief Tim Gladis has acknowledged several times over the past two years that Granchie should be receiving compensation for the time he spends taking care of Csuti at home.

Gladis and the city manager, Lance Willard, have elected not to comment because it is an active lawsuit.

Granchie has been a dog handler for the department for more than two years. In August, the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, which represents all full-time sergeants, patrolmen and dispatchers employed by the city, became aware of the matter.

The OPBA stated, “Patrolman Granchie started the K-9 program because of his love for dogs and his desire to make a difference in his community. But that does not change the fact that the law considers caring for a police K-9 compensable work under the Fair Labor Standard Act.”

news@tribtoday.com

Officer seeks compensation for K-9 care

COLUMBIANA — Patrolman Bryan Granchie, a police dog handler in the Columbiana Police Department, has filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming he hasn’t been compensated for the time spent caring for Csuti outside of work.

Granchie filed the civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The law recognizes that police departments are required to compensate a police officer for time spent caring for a police dog outside of work, which includes feeding, training, grooming and more.

The lawsuit asks for a jury trial and states that the city has not paid Granchie the time-and-a-half for work beyond his 40-hour week. It seeks unspecified wages and attorney fees.

The lawsuit alleges that police Chief Tim Gladis has acknowledged several times over the past two years that Granchie should be receiving compensation for the time he spends taking care of Csuti at home.

Gladis and the city manager, Lance Willard, have elected not to comment because it is an active lawsuit.

Granchie has been a dog handler for the department for more than two years. In August, the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, which represents all full-time sergeants, patrolmen and dispatchers employed by the city, became aware of the matter.

The OPBA stated, “Patrolman Granchie started the K-9 program because of his love for dogs and his desire to make a difference in his community. But that does not change the fact that the law considers caring for a police K-9 compensable work under the Fair Labor Standard Act.”

news@tribtoday.com

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