An arbitrator has ruled against the West Windsor, N.J., township in a battle over who should pay for helicopter flying lessons taken by two police officers, but an appeal is already under way, officials said.
Owing to a loophole in their contract, two West Windsor officers were able to go to helicopter training school and bill it all to the township. The contract stated the officers could be reimbursed with money available to help them achieve a higher academic standing, but it didn't specify that the courses had to be job related.
An arbitrator recently ruled that the contract language was clear enough and that the township must reimburse the officers for the $38,112 in helicopter tuition for 2012.
The township has already repaid the officers $14,860 for flying classes taken in 2011, said business administrator Marlena Schmid.
Read the full Times of Trenton story.