Government inspectors were due to
arrive in Rome's city hall Monday as part of a probe into
reports that hundreds of municipal policemen called in sick on
New Year's Eve.
First officers due to be quizzed were 44 police agents "who
provided no justification for absence from the shifts on the
night of New Year's Eve," Deputy Mayor Luigi Nieri said.
The inspectors from the Civil Service ministry were
dispatched by Public Service Marianna Madia to interrogate the
absenteeist agents as Premier Matteo Renzi called for serious
treatment of the case.
At the same time, Renzi quipped that the police officers'
mass sickness was unusual for "a country where people are cured
of Ebola" - a reference to an Italian doctor released from
hospital last week after he contracted the deadly disease while
working for a medial charity in Sierra Leone.
Madia said there would be "disciplinary actions" to "hit
the irresponsible people" as opposition parties claimed the 85%
absenteeism rate on Dec. 31 was "an affair concocted by the
media".
At the same time, the trade union representing police said
that Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino should resign for calling for
offending officers to be sacked.
As many as 905 municipal police were ordered on duty on
Dec. 31 but of those 767, or 85%, allegedly did not show up for
work.
Of those 571, or 75%, called in sick while the others
claimed they were giving blood.
"Obviously the overall figure of 85% absence is
unacceptable and has to be investigated in general," said Nieri.
The Rome police force also has started an internal inquiry
headed by deputy commanding office Raffaella Modafferi.
Police trade union leader Mauro Cordova counter-attacked
however by telling Marino to resign "if he really loves Rome."
Giancarlo Cosentino of the national CISL trade union
federation concurred, saying "the mayor continues to sling mud
at what he does not understand."
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
