Canine Officer Sues City For Lack of Pay

Rebecca Rosenblatt, Millbrae’s canine officer, filed a lawsuit on April 20 seeking about $80,000 in compensation for the time she spent caring for the dog while off duty.

For the last three years, Rosenblatt has asked her superiors at the police department to pay her for the personal time and money spent feeding, bathing and training the department’s German shepherd, Reese. Under federal law, the police department should have paid her about $1,000 a month, according to her lawyer Dale Nowicki. 

Her superiors were aware of the issue, and told her about three months ago they were looking into it and would discuss it along with the other police officer’s salary negotiations, which are set to begin next week, according to the Millbrae Police Department.

But, according to legal documents, Rosenblatt’s attorney said the police department “refused to address the concerns or comply with the application compensation provisions.” 

Although the city owes her about $39,000, Nowicki said that because the city breached her contract, she is also entitled to liquid damages, which would double the $39,000 and add any incurred legal fees.

“Her supervisors told her I don’t care what the law says, you’re not going to get that money,’” said Nowicki.

However, her supervisors claim they were investigating the issue and would have paid her if there was any back pay, according to the police department. 

Rosenblatt has been with the police department since 2005 and started working with Reese in 2007. 

Several police officers did not return phone messages, and the city declined to comment.