Police department statues center of lawsuit

SUGAR LAND, TX (KTRK) -- It's a tribute to police officers - a statue outside Sugar Land's police department. But, the sculptor is claiming that a company copied his idea - and now he's suing.

He claims a second likeness of his statue is standing in Pearland and he says the way he found out about it was surprising.

If you've been by the Sugar Land and Pearland police departments, you might have seen the statues out in front of both buildings. Well now the artist who made the Sugar Land statue is suing the man who made the Pearland statue saying it was copied without permission.

When Sugar Land artist bob Pack made this statue, called "The Guardian" back in the 1990s, he was paid $124,000 for his work.

"I wanted to emphasis the fact it's a great place for family and it's a great place to raise children," he said.

Pack says "The Guardian" is copyrighted, a one-of-a-kind made only for the people of Sugar Land -- one of a kind, that is, until 2010.

"It's ridiculous," he said.

Then one day, Pack's son, who was the model for the little boy in The Guardian, was in Pearland and saw this:

"They took the book out and they put it on his back in the way of a backpack. Other than that, it's substantially similar," Pack said.

Another similar statue is now in front of the Pearland Police Department, commissioned by the city of Pearland and made by a man named Matt Glenn in Utah.

Wednesday, Pack's attorney filed a federal lawsuit against Glenn, alleging copyright infringement.

And the proof that this is not an accidental copy, says Pack, is in these emails between a Pearland city worker and Glenn. In one, Glenn asks if he should draw a new statue or " if you are happy with the officer in the other statue." And in another email dated February 3, 2010, Glenn asks "Should we make some changes so it is not a copy of the other statues?"

"They came over and took photographs of the piece, copious photographs and used that to send to the foundry in Utah," Pack said.

A Pearland police spokesman told me over the phone that no one from the city would talk on camera.

Glenn received $29,000 for the Pearland statue, according to the emails. But Pack says Pearland should pay him.

"Did they ever contact you?" we asked Pack.

"No, no. Had they contacted me I would have told them no. This is for Sugar Land," he said.

Late Friday, Glenn sent Eyewitness News a statement that only said, "I deny all of the allegations being made against me in the pending litigation."

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Houston Fire Department - Saving the City From Fire Damage

Houston fire department trying to avoid layoffs

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Intense negotiations between Houston city leaders and the firefighters union are entering the 11th hour and firefighters' jobs are at stake. The cash-strapped city and the union both agree that concessions are in order, but so far they have yet to reach a compromise on the nature of those concessions.

The talks got underway at around 10am. The union is worried that hundreds of firefighters could lose their jobs today.

At least 238 firefighters have already been put on notice that if the city and the union cannot come to an agreement, they will be laid off. The fight is over the nature of cuts that had already been agreed upon last week.

On Friday, it appeared the city and the union were in agreement over an estimated $13 million in cuts, but the union says it wants the cuts to be temporary, and to be reversed as the city's financial situation improves. The city says it wants them to be permanent.

Firefighters say any reduction in their numbers will put lives at risk.

"I need every one of those men and women with me on the job and on the line and so in that respect, I would be at risk, very much so, as would all of my other firefighters on scene with me," said Houston Firefighter Scott Wilke.

"It really doesn't make sense when you are saying we're going to do badly for two years and then by the city's own estimates and by their five year projection, we are going to do better in years 3, 4 and 5," said Jeffrey Caynon with the Houston Professional Firefighter's Union. "So why do you still need concessions from firefighters if you're going to do better?"

These talks could go on all day if a handshake agreement isn't reached the mayor has said layoffs will follow.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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