Labor Dept. issues opinion that exempt employees cannot be docked for lost or broken equipment (including laptops and cell phones) and that exempt workers who fail to make up part of a personal absence on a workday cannot be disciplined. Wage and Hour Opinion Letter, FLSA2006-7. [2006 FP Jun]
     DoL rules that police lieutenants, police captains, and fire battalion chiefs are exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act because their primary duty is management, even though they do not make the ultimate decisions on hiring and firing. Wage & Hour Opin. Ltr. # FLSA2005-40, 2005 DOLWH Lexis 52 (10/14/05). {N/R}
     Iowa Supreme Court holds that sergeants were exempt from the overtime provisions of the FLSA, but meal time for officers was compensable. Raper v. Iowa Dept. Public Safety, #86/03-0255, 688 N.W.2d 29, 2004 Iowa Sup. Lexis 277, 10 WH Cases2d (BNA) 76 (2004). {N/R}
     First Circuit holds that police sergeants are exempt from FLSA overtime requirements.O'Brien v. Town of Agawam, #03-1685, 350 F.3d 279, 2003 U.S. App. Lexis 24220 (1st Cir. 2003). {N/R}
     The Supreme Court has declined to review an appellate court holding that supervisory Border Patrol agents are "executives," and are exempt from the FLSA's overtime provisions. Lotz v. United States, 322 F.3d 1328, 8 WH Cases2d 929 (Fed. Cir. 2003); cert. den. #03-146, 2003 U.S. Lexis 8016, 72 Law Week 3307 (2003). {N/R}
     Federal appeals court upholds an Office of Personnel Management definition of the executive exemption to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Billings v. U.S., #02-5069, 2003 U.S. App. Lexis 4547 (Fed Cir. 2003). {N/R}
     Appeals court finds that various city employees were exempt from the FLSA; the fact that the city docked plaintiffs' pay if they failed to work a full eight-hour day did not alter their exempt status. Demos v. City of Indianapolis, #01-2952, 2002 U.S. App. Lexis 17934 (7th Cir. 2002). {N/R}
     Although GS-12 first line supervisory border patrol agents were entitled to overtime, GS-13 Agents In Charge and Assistant Patrol Agents In Charge were exempt from the FLSA. Bates v. U.S., #96-931, 51 Fed. Cl. 460; 2002 U.S. Claims Lexis 7 (Ct.Cl. 2002). [N/R]
     Police Dept's disciplinary procedures did not establish an employment policy that effectively communicated a likelihood of pay docking for higher level law enforcement officers whom city claimed were exempt from FLSA overtime. Kelly v. City of New York, 2000 U.S. Dist. Lexis 11619, 6 WH Cases2d (BNA) 753 (Unpub., S.D.N.Y.). {N/R}
     Two lawyer-police officers who accepted executive assignments lost their right to claim overtime as nonexempt employees. The fact their pay stubs listed hourly pay and leave time was not determinative of their exempt status. Kavanagh v. City of Phoenix, 87 F.Supp.2d 958, 2000 U.S. Dist. Lexis 2776, 6 WH Cases2d (BNA) 661 (D. Ariz). [2000 FP 169]
     A city policy of salary reduction of police sergeants and lieutenants for absences of less than one day did not defeat their salaried status, where since 1989, no deductions have been made and no suspensions for less than one week have been imposed. FOP L-3 v. Baltimore City Police Dept., 1999 U.S. Dist. Lexis 15384, 5 WH Cases2d (BNA) 1383 (D.Md.). {N/R}
     The fact that police lieutenants often work alongside their subordinate officers does not qualify them for FLSA overtime. Anderson v. City of Cleveland, Tenn., 90 F.Supp.2d 906, 2000 U.S. Dist. Lexis 4705 (E.D. Tenn.). {N/R}
     Second Circuit holds that detective sergeants and lieutenants in a N.Y. police department were not exempt from FLSA overtime pay provisions. Kelly v. Mount Vernon, 1998 U.S. App. Lexis 31540 162 F.3d 552 (2d Cir.). {N/R}
     Appeals court upholds a former police captain's overtime demands. Senior officers were not exempt because they were subject to short-term disciplinary suspensions. Bowman v. Indianapolis, 133 F.3d 513, 1998 U.S. App. Lexis 212 (7th Cir.). [1998 FP 120]
     Supreme Court rejects St. Louis police sergeants" overtime suit and reaffirms the "salary test" for exempt employees. Justices avoid a constitutional attack on the FLSA. Auer v. Robbins, 1997 U.S. Lexis 1272, 117 S.Ct. 905. [1996 FP 4-5, 151-2 (prior decis.); 1997 FP 39]
     Federal appeals court holds that battalion chiefs were hourly workers because they were subject to disciplinary periods of less than one week. McGuire v. City of Portland, 91 F.3d 1293, 1996 U.S.App. Lexis 18997 (9th Cir.). [1996 FP 151]
     $2.9 million awarded to EMS personnel in Maryland. West v. Anne Arundel Co., Opinion: 1995 U.S.Dist. Lexis 15679; Order of final judgment (D.Md. 1996). Also see 4th Cir. opin. later. [1996 FP 56]
     7th Circuit awards double overtime rates to Illinois police sergeants. Bankston v. Illinois, 60 F.3d 1249 (7th Cir. 1995). [1996 FP 4]
     9th Circuit finds that pay docking test of salaried employees did not apply to the public sector before 1991. Service Empl. Intern. Union L-102 v. City of San Diego, 60 F.3d 1346, 1995 U.S.App. Lexis 40787 (9th Cir.), amending 35 F.3d 483. [1996 FP 5]
     7th Circuit upholds DOL regulation prohibiting disciplinary suspensions of FLSA exempt personnel. Mueller v. Reich, 54 F.3d 438 (7th Cir. 1995). [1996 FP 5]
     Article: "Exempt or not exempt under the administrative exemption of the FLSA," 11 (2) The Labor Lawyer (ABA) 209-230 (Summer 1995). {N/R}
     Fire captains in Michigan were not exempt as executive personnel. Abbey v. City of Jackson, 883 F.Supp. 182 (E.D.Mich. 1995). {N/R}
     Fire captains in Kansas were exempt as executive personnel. Aaron v. City of Wichita, 54 F.3d 652 (10th Cir. 1995). {N/R}
     Article: "Exempt or not exempt under the administrative exemption of the FLSA," 11 (2) The Labor Lawyer (ABA) 209-230 (Summer, 1995).
     City did not lose executive exemption because police commanders received comp. time per CBA. McGrath v. Philadelphia, 864 F.Supp. 466 (E.D.Pa. 1994). {N/R}
     Failure to submit wage and hour claims to arbitration did not bar suit under the FLSA. Tran v. Tran, 54 F.3d 115 (2d Cir. 1995). {N/R}
     Three-day suspension of a police lieutenant "destroyed his salaried status." Avery v. City of Talledega, 24 F.2d 1337 (11th Cir. 1994). [1995 FP 55]
     First sergeants, lieutenants and captains in the Oregon State Police were entitled to overtime pay because of their susceptibility to disciplinary suspensions of less than a pay period. Hurley v. St. of Oregon, 27 F.3d 392 (9th Cir. 1994). [1995 FP 55]
     Managerial employees who were subject to suspensions without pay of one to four days were not entitled to liquidated (double) damages, even though the city knew the policies were not in compliance with FLSA regulations. Yourman v. Dinkins, 865 F.Supp. 154 (S.D.N.Y. 1994). [1995 FP 55]
     Criminal investigators were not "administrative" employees exempt from overtime provisions. Ahern v. New York, 807 F.Supp. 919; aff'd Reich v. New York, 3 F.3d 581 (2nd Cir. 1993). {N/R}
     District and deputy fire chiefs were "executive employees" in a Texas fire dept. Simmons v. Fort Worth, 805 F.Supp. 419 (N.D.Tex. 1992). {N/R}
     Fire platoon supervisors were "executive employees." Amos v. Winston-Salem, 1 WH Cases (BNA) 578 (M.D.N.C. 1993). {N/R}
     Police officers with significant managerial authority over subordinates were "executive employees." Officers who spent half their time answering phone calls were not "administrative employees." Shockley v. Newport News, 997 F.2d 18 (4th Cir. 1993). {N/R}
     Claims by lieutenants, captains and battalion chiefs that they were misclassified as FLSA exempt executive/administrative employees was brought in a timely fashion. Operative date is not when they were classified; each time they receive a paycheck the law is broken. Knight v. City of Columbus, 19 F.3d 579 (11th Cir. 1994); cert. petit. #94-234. {N/R}
     D.C. police lieutenants and captains were exempt from overtime provisions of the FLSA. Hilbert v. Dist. of Columbia, 23 F.3d 429 (D.C. Cir. 1994). {N.R}
     Federal court in St. Louis denies overtime pay to police sergeants except those with the bomb & arson and accident reconstruction units. Auer v. Clarke, #88-2071-C (4),(E.D.Mo. 1994). Note: The exemption was affirmed as to all sergeants; see Auer v. Robbins, 65 F.3d 702. The U.S. Supreme Court granted review in 1996. [1994 FP 118-9]
     Ninth Circuit disallows overtime claim of police executives, even though their accumulated comp. time is docked for absences of less than one day. Their regular pay may not be reduced, however. Barner v. City of Novato, 17 F.3d 1256 (9th Cir. 1994). [1994 FP 89-90]
     Fire captains and lieutenants were "executives" exempt from FLSA overtime provisions. Keller v. City of Columbus, 778 F.2d 1480 (S.D.Ind. 1991). {N/R}
     Deputy fire chiefs and captains were exempt from overtime in Huntington WV; lieutenants were not. Masters v. City of Huntington, 800 F.Supp. 355 and 369 (S.D.W.Va. 1992). [1993 FP 87]
     Federal court in Texas holds that district and deputy fire chiefs were "salaried executives" exempt from overtime. Simmons v. City of Ft. Worth, 805 F.Supp. 420 (N.D.Tex. 1992). [1993 FP 104]
     Fire captains and lieutenants were "executives" exempt from FLSA overtime provisions. Keller v. City of Columbus, 778 F.2d 1480 (S.D.Ind. 1991). {N/R}
     Federal court rejects city's claim that sergeants were exempt from FLSA as supervisors, because it disciplined sergeants with pay suspensions of less than an entire pay period. Pautlitz v. City of Naperville, 781 F.Supp. 1368 (N.D.Ill. 1992). [1992 FP 168-9] Note: court later allowed sgts. to recover liquidated (double) damages; see 874 F.Supp. 833 (1994). {N/R}
     Fire lieutenants who were paid on an hourly basis were not exempt from FLSA overtime provisions. Thomas v. County of Fairfax, 758 F.Supp. 353 (E.D.Va. 1991). [1992 FP 71-2]
     Federal court declines to exclude police lieutenants from time and one-half overtime provisions of FLSA. Hilbert v. Dist. of Columbia, 788 F.Supp. 597 (D.D.C. 1992). [1992 FP 87]
     Federal appeals court in California includes battalion chiefs within overtime provisions of FLSA. They did not come under the "executive" exemption as "salaried" employees because their pay was subject to deductions for absences of less than a day. Abshire v. County of Kern, 908 F.2d 489 (9th Cir. 1990). Appeals court in New York concludes that Port Authority police officers are "hourly" and not "salaried" employees for the same reasons. Whitmore v. Port Auth. of N.Y. & N.J., 907 F.2d 20 (2d Cir. 1990).
     D.C. police sergeants were not exempt as "administrative" employees. Double (liquidated) damages awarded. D'Camera v. Dist. of Col., 693 F.Supp. 1208 (D.D.C. 1988) and 722 F.Supp. 799 (D.D.C. 1989). {N/R} Fire Dept. shift commanders were exempt from FLSA overtime provisions. Hartman v. Arlington Co., 903 F.2d 290 (4th Cir. 1990).
     Undersheriff, though second-in-command, was not exempt from FLSA overtime pay provisions. Duties were not "administrative." Dollison v. Osborne County, 763 P.2d 1101 (Kan. 1988).