During the meeting, held Feb. 25 at Springfield Gardens High School for 850 safety officers, Nelson reputedly called some elementary school mothers “real bitches” that interfered with school security and needed to be “body slammed”
Gregory Floyd, the secretary treasurer of the union, Local 237, said the alleged comments came while Nelson was commending an officer for handling a troublesome parent.”They were appalled,” Floyd said of the trainees. “Some parents do act inappropriately, but that does not justify the profanity.” He noted that he had received 50 phone calls and four letters from officers complaining about Nelson's alleged conduct, and said the police department had begun an internal investigation.Floyd also said Nelson reputedly told the officers, who are negotiating a new contract, that while the union was not representing them in an effective manner, he was down at City Hall at least once week trying to get them a better deal. The chief allegedly promised more money if officers attended gas mask training.Responding to the profanity charge, a police spokeswoman said, “Chief Nelson recalls congratulating a school safety officer for dealing with an unruly adult, but not in the language described. We are looking into the matter.”The union demanded Nelson be admonished and issue an apology. Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) called for his termination.-Michael Morton
