It's a Dog's Life, DART Cops Claim in Federal Lawsuit Over Alleged Overtime Violations

After the jump you'll find a lawsuit filed earlier this week in Dallas federal court in which three Dallas Area Rapid Transit cops are suing the agency over overtime pay they claim they're owed. But Derek Johnson, Ronald Lindsay and Tracy Vice (one of the best cop names ever) aren't just claiming they worked long, hard hours on the beat: The threesome are officers in DART's K-9 unit, which dates back to '07, and far as the officers concerned, having to take care of their doggies is hard work for which they have not been properly compensated per federal law.

According to the suit, the officers are "required to work in excess of forty hours per week to provide care for their assigned dogs," which are living with the trio -- right, sounds very Turner & Hooch. Says the complaint, "While the officers have been paid to care for the dogs on work days, there has been no compensation for time spent on weekdays, holidays, and reward days. Nevertheless, on these days, plaintiffs are required to kennel and care for the dogs at home. The activities of feeding, exercising, and otherwise maintaining each canine takes at least one hour each day. Plaintiffs have not received compensation for these activities in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act."

Morgan Lyons, spokesman for DART, tells Unfair Park that the agency can't comment on pending litigation. All he will say is that "we are not the only law enforcement agency around the state and the country faced with a similar lawsuit." Vice, incidentally, has been featured in at least one DART print advertisement. The suit follows.

DART K9 Officers Sue DART for Overtime