An official with a local police union said it is unacceptable not to pay the police officers and firefighters of Fairfield. Fairfield City Council voted Friday to withhold first responders checks until more funds come in next week. David Crews, immediate past president of the Birmingham area Fraternal Order of Police, said other city employees received their pay.
Crews said first responders don't know what day next week they will be paid.
"How can you keep asking them to put their lives on the line but not pay them," Crews said. "That's unacceptable in their line of work." Mayor Kenneth Coachman did not attend Friday's emergency meeting. Coachman told AL.com over the phone the reason behind Friday's decision.
"It's simple. We don't have the money at this time," Coachman said.
While being asked about solutions to financial problems, Coachman hung up the phone.
Both first responders and city employees have been suffering through a series of delayed checks as the city grapples with financial issues and council disagreements with Coachman. Pay checks were delivered to employees four hours late in March. Last month, checks were four days late.