Current and former Navajo Nation police officers and commanders waiting for their hearing to begin in Window Rock, Ariz., on Sept. 23, 2013. Photo by Marley Shebala
I had to get set up pretty fast because Navajo Nation Labor Commission was in a meeting prior to hearing labor complaint filed by 11 Navajo Nation police officers against Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety Director John Billison. And when Commission’s staff announced that the hearing was going to start, everyone rushed into hearing room which is very small.
But I arrived early and asked if I could leave my back pack on one of the chairs and Office of Navajo Labor staff said Yes. But I had to wait for wifi to open and so I had to type the names and rank/position of individuals in the room. I’m sure than many of my blog readers are having a difficult time deciphering that portion of my blog. I’ll try to clarify names while attorneys for both sides are allowed a recess to clarify some issues in the complaint, which is about 100 pages.
The attorneys are: David Jordan of Gallup, NM, who is representing 11 police officers. It is 10:08 am and Jordan just walked into room and asked for all his “guys” to meet with him. Henry Howe, who is representing DPS Director Billison, also asked Billison to meet with him.
The Labor Commission Chairperson is Casey Watchman and he is doing all the talking on behalf of the Commission, except for when Commissioner Ben Smith disclosed that one of the witnesses, tribal DPS Criminal Investigator Director Ron Silversmith, for DPS Director Billison was his former son-in-law, which is why the Labor Commission called for a recess.
Attorney Henry Howe asked to speak with Silversmith before making a decision on whether to ask Commissioer Smith to recuse himself.
