bcpba.org happy holidays › pdf › centurion › 2009 › the broward centurion... ·...

Broward CenturionBroward CenturionTheThe

the official publication of the broward county police benevolent association

bcpba.org

Inside BSO .......................................................................... 4Officer Deaths Trending Down For 2009 .................... 5Care Packages For Soldiers ............................................ 6

Are You Being Represented? ........................................... 8Need To Know: Scanner Apps ........................................ 9What’s Up? ......................................................................... 12

In this issue...

Volume 12, Issue 12 December 2009

Happy HolidaysNo Changes To Executive BoardNominations Taken At BOD Meeting

Nominations for spots on the Broward PBA’s Executive Board were held at the Board of Directors meeting on

November 10. The Board chose to have the current Executive Board remain in place for the next three years.

Each of our current officers were nominated again for their positions; no other candidates were named, so no election was necessary. Your board is:

PresidentPatrick HanrahanSenior Vice PresidentJeff MaranoVice PresidentNeil VaughanTreasurerDebbie ReggioSecretaryRod Skirvin

The Broward County PBA has contacted the U.S. Department of Labor for their assistance with a grievance for Deputy Den-nis Lichtenberg, a first sergeant in the Army Reserves, after the

Broward Sheriff’s Office denied him full pay and leave accruals while he was deployed in Germany for 26 days.

Lichtenberg received written orders to report military service beginning August 22, 2009. When he returned home in September, he discovered that BSO had used vacation time rather than military leave, as pre-scribed by Florida law, to cover his absence. The Sheriff’s Office legal department has taken the position that Lichtenberg was on a training exercise and therefore not entitled to paid military leave. The PBA at-tempted to resolve this issue directly with Human Resources to no avail. Both Deputy Lichtenberg and the Broward County PBA have asked the United States Department of Labor to intervene in this matter.

The PBA maintains that the Sheriff’s Office decision is a violation of Florida State Statutes, Sections 115.07-09 and 115.14 as well as a viola-tion of BSO’s Policy and Procedures manual and the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Broward County PBA and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Deputies and Sergeants’ Unit.

Lichtenberg is requesting that BSO reinstate the leave accruals it im-properly docked him during his active military service.

PBA Asks Feds To Intervene For DeputyMilitary leave benefits in question

December 2009

The Broward Centurion

The Official Publication of the Broward County PBA

(A Charter of the Florida PBA)2650 West State Road 84

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312Telephone: 954/584-7600

Fax: 954/583-0405

Megan Gordon, Editor

E-mail: [email protected]

The Broward Centurion is published by the Broward County Police Benevolent Association for the sole benefit of its members. The Broward Centurion is dedicated to the advancement of the law enforcement profession through better and stronger community relations. The opinions expressed in the publication of The Broward Centurion are not necessarily those of the Broward County PBA, its Executive Board or the Board of Directors.

Members or readers submitting letters to the editor or articles for publication are requested to adhere to the following:

• Submissions should be sent to:

Broward County PBA Attn: Centurion 2650 West State Road 84 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312

• Letters or articles must be accompanied by the writer’s true name and address.

• All articles submitted for publication must be accompanied by a statement giving permission to publish.

• All submissions must be legible.

• The Broward County PBA reserves the right of the Executive Board or Editor to amend or to add

an editor’s comment to any article or letter submitted.

• Advertisement in this publication does not imply endorsement by the Broward County PBA unless otherwise specified.

2

President’s Letter

Pat Hanrahan

I would like to thank the Board of Directors for their confidence and sup-port in reelecting the entire Executive Board. At the November 10 board meeting nominations were taken and no offices were challenged.

In November Treasurer Debbie Reggio, Secretary Rod Skirvin and I appeared before the Florida Parole Commission regarding parole for John Gombos, who brutally murdered Deputy Joseph Conte on 6/11/79. The plan was for Gombos and Dawn Sobel to help Gary Eaton escape during a trip to the dentist, for which Gombos was offered $15,000. He shot Deputy Conte in the head and chest seven times with a shotgun. Treasurer Reggio wanted to testify, and she did an excellent job. The Commission affirmed no change in the parole release date. Vice President Neil Vaughan and I will be testify-ing at Dawn Sobel’s hearing on December 2. That will be the fourth parole hearing I have attended as your president this year. I will continue to attend every parole hearing I can to ensure that this scum serves every day possible in prison. Apparently there is talk again at BSO about another group. Perhaps they have forgotten November 11, 2007: PBA 758, other group 331. They say the PBA “dropped the ball” on our last contract: a 3% COLA each of the three years (2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10), a new 2% twenty-year longevity step effective October 2009, and a 2% first responder pay effective April 2009 and again in October 2009 (this one has not taken effect yet), and our health insurance cost remained the same. Apparently this other group is still asking questions about the 2% longevity, which went into effect in October. Given the economy, if this contract is dropping the ball, I’d like to drop it again. The bargaining unit voted to accept this contract 1140 to 63. That vote says that the PBA attorneys did a good job and that my membership wanted that contract. This other group’s president, who is not a PBA member, did not refuse these “bad” pay increases and in other unions, a person who is not a union member but takes advantage of union benefits is called a SCAB! As for “where was the PBA when budget cuts were going to force deputies to be laid off for the first time in BSO history?” I would ask, “ Where were you?” If you look at the County Commission budget hearing and workshop videos, you will see me and others in PBA shirts. In the October Centurion, I thanked Treasurer Debbie Reggio, BSO Rep Bob Lahiff, and members Nick Masters, Jeff Beculhimer, Steven Briggs, and Lorainne Szczepanic for attend-ing. I believe Walt Dix (Firefighters Pres.) and Dan Reynolds (FOPE Pres.) can verify my presence. Lastly, I will not be president for 29 years; that would make me 96 years old. And, by the way, how many of you voted for him to be president of the other group?

The Broward Centurion

Executive Board

Board of DirectorsBSO (Support)

Paul WeissBSO – At Large (LE)

Jonathan BailenMichael Joseph Catalano

Ronnie DeAngeloArmando Enrique

Robert LahiffJay Leiner

Jim PendergastRich Pisanti

Jeff PooleBSO – District (LE)

Craig BachanMatt Baldwin

Christopher BradleyMichael John Catalano

Joseph CapuaKelli Covet

James DematoIan Doriot

Rich EngelsTom McPartland

Dean MirraRobert Petoskey

James SnellMike SweeneyOsvaldo Tianga Jerry Vosburgh

Eric WeinerBSO (Lts)

Linda Canada-StuckBroward Schools Investigative Unit

Gary RoweBobby Spence - Alt.

Coconut CreekDan Eberly

Jason KohlhorstCoconut Creek (Sgts)

Curt Cuddeback

Hallandale Beach Gary McVey

Michel MichelAlex Vera

Ralph Matias - Alt.Hillsboro Beach

David ClarkHollywood

Steven BolgerChris Christianson

Billy FergusonKeith Wadsworth

Wilbur Fernander - Alt.Lighthouse Point

Daniel JamesLaura Tyler

Margate (Spvrs)Andy Zettek

MiramarWayne Dunlap

Marc GreensteinGeorge Mankowski

Ro Durney - Alt.Adam Lerner - Alt.

Pembroke PinesAndrew Brooks

Adam Feiner Al Xiques

Sea Ranch LakesJames O’Brien

Mike Tarr - Alt.Sunrise

John JaslowskiSunrise (Lts)

Bob DornWilton Manors

Shawn ChadwickGrant Gundle

Chuck Howard

Welcome New Members

December 2009

3bcpba.org

Charter SecretaryLinda

Receptionist/MembershipLynn

Secretary/Detail CoordinatorKim

Legal Assistant Maryann

Communications DirectorMegan

Information TechnologyChris

Office Staff

Senior Vice PresidentJeff Marano

Vice PresidentNeil Vaughan

TreasurerDebbie Reggio

SecretaryRodney Skirvin

General CounselBarbara Duffy

Assistant General CounselClaudia I. Estrada

Immediate Past PresidentDick Brickman

Retired

PresidentPatrick Hanrahan

Gordon A. Black BSOSteven Fernandez Hollywood PDRichard Hennery BSOJess A. Horn Coconut CreekSteven R. James Coconut CreekLouis Kattou BSOMichael Malone HollywoodRaul Toledo Hollywood PDDwayne Valentin Hollywood PD

Abraham Brevda Thomas Harvey Eugene McCloud Jr. Thomas W. Murray Stephen P. Walker

AssociateKarla McCurley

December 2009The Broward Centurion

4

Recently many issues have come up at the Broward Sheriff’s Of-fice. The PBA has been trying to work these issues out without filing for arbitrations or unfair labor practices, but there comes a

point when these issues must be resolved. Here’s what we’re currently dealing with:

Holiday PayThe Sheriff/District chiefs have been ordering members who are regu-larly scheduled to work on holidays to take the day off; some that did work were denied their choice of getting paid or accruing time. This started with Memorial Day and continued with July 4th, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day and probably Thanksgiving. The PBA has filed for arbi-tration on this for the Deputies/Sergeants Unit and the Lieuten-ants Unit has demanded impact bargaining.

Tuition Reimbursement ProgramThe Sheriff reduced the budget for the tuition re-imbursement program; PBA has demanded impact bargaining. The first meeting was October 13th. We have requested financial information which BSO has not provided yet. No other meetings have been scheduled.

Lieutenants’ Annual Leave Buy BackIn August, this contract article which is “at the sole dis-cretion of the Sheriff” was denied to the lieutenants.

Hazardous Duty PayHuman Resources determined that certain members could receive supplement pay and hazardous duty pay. The Sheriff ordered that hazardous duty pay will not be treated as a salary supplement but as an assignment pay. Additionally those assigned to SWAT, Dive Team, K-9 and Field Training Deputies will receive hazardous duty pay in addition to their salary supplement. The issue now is the amount of the hazard-ous duty pay. We are waiting for a response from BSO before filing for arbitration.

Policy Chapter 9The Sheriff has proposed changes to internal affairs investigations policy due to the PBA’s new LEO Bill of Rights Legislation. Part of BSO’s proposed changes: “employees may be required to... submit to various tests, (…chemical, blood analysis, urinalysis, etc.) whenever it is mate-rial to an administrative/Internal Affairs investigation or evaluation of fitness for duty.” The PBA has filed objections to some of the proposed changes. BSO has not yet responded.

Shift VoteThe Sheriff asked the PBA bargaining unit to vote on whether they wanted to work 8-hour or 12-hour shifts (12 hour shift won over-whelmingly). The Sheriff then asked the PBA bargaining unit to vote

between the North Lauderdale 12-hour shift or the Pompano Beach 12-hour shift (the Pompano 12-hour shift won). The Sheriff chose to go to the Central Broward 12-hour shift because he believes it is important to honor seniority. Under Article 3—Manage-ment Rights—in the current CBA, the Sher-iff has the right to determine “the number of hours and shifts to be worked per week, including starting and quitting times of all employees.”

First Responder PayEarlier in the year, during the

budget process, the Sheriff asked if the PBA would delay the 2% First Responder Pay that was to have taken ef-fect in Octoer 2009. The sheriff first asked about de-laying it for three months. With the possibility of lay-offs coming, the PBA stated

that the membership would have to vote on that issue but

the PBA could support that to the membership.

After calculating the financial impact, the Sheriff asked about delaying the 2% for six months. In October when the vote to delay went out, the BSO/PBA Reps determined they could not support the delay due to the many outstanding issues that had not been resolved at BSO. The vote was 809 not to delay and 234 to delay. The PBA is filing an unfair labor practice against the Sheriff with PERC.

Pompano BeachThere have been meetings, a workshop, a study and the Sheriff’s rebuttal to the study on the possibility of the City of Pompano Beach returning to their own city police department. A staff study is currently being prepared while negotiations continue between the city and the Sheriff.

Inside BSO


bcpba.org 5

6

The Broward Centurion December 2009

Officer Fatalities Down For 2009Preliminary reports show encouraging trend

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) has released a report that shows LEO deaths down seven percent

from last year.

The numbers, gathered through October 1, show 92 fatalities this year compared with 99 in the same time period in 2008. Last year saw the lowest annual total, 133, since 1960, when the count was 127 officer deaths. If the current trend contin-ues, the NLEOMF estimates that the 2009 numbers would break a fifty-year low.

According to NLEOMF:Traffic-related incidents, the leading •cause of LEO deaths in the U.S., have declined more than 12 percent.

The number of officers killed by gunfire is up slightly, •from 34 in 2008 to 36 during the same time period this

year. The jump may be due to three multi-ple-officer shootings in California, Pennsyl-vania and Florida.

No female officers have been killed in 2009; •nearly 10 percent of fatalities in 2008 were women.

For more information on these preliminary figures, visit lawmemorial.org and click on “Facts & Figures.”Source: NLEOMF, The Rose & Shield, Winter 2009-10


7bcpba.org

Club Donating Care Packages To TroopsNotre Dame Alumni Association looking for recipients

The Notre Dame Club of Ft. Lau-derdale has prepared over 100 care packages with toiletries,

food and goodies for our men and women serving in Iraq, Afganistan and other areas overseas. They are requesting APO names and ad-dresses for people serving whom you think should receive a care package for the holidays.

You can forward the information to Harry Durking, Notre Dame Senior Coordinator, at [email protected] or call him at 954/771-6773.

Executive Board Meets & Greets

Above: Broward PBA Executive Board Members with Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum.

Above: President Pat Hanrahan and Vice Presi-dent Neil Vaughan thank Humana’s Rosanne Robertelli for their sponsorship of the Memo-rial Golf Tournament.

Above: Broward PBA Executive Board Members with Florida CFO Alex Sink.

One man with courage makes a majority.

—Attributed to Andrew Jackson


8

June09

BSO (Support)

Paul Weiss X

BSO – At Large (LE)Jonathan Bailen X

Michael Joseph Catalano XRonnie DeAngelo EArmando Enrique X

Robert Lahiff XJay Leiner X

Jim Pendergast ERich Pistanti X

Jeff Poole XBSO – District (LE)

Craig Bachan XMatt Baldwin X

Christopher Bradley N/AMichael John Catalano U

Joseph Capua UKelli Covet E

James Demato EIan Doriot X

Rich Engels ETom McPartland U

Dean Mirra ERobert Petoskey X

James Snell UOsvaldo Tianga XJerry Vosburgh X

Eric Weiner EBSO (Lts)

Linda Canada-Stuck N/ABroward Schools Investigative Unit

Gary Rowe XBobby Spence - Alt. X

Coconut CreekDan Eberly X

Jason Kohlhorst XCoconut Creek (Sgts)

Curt Cuddeback X

June09

Hallandale BeachGary McVey X

Michel Michel XAlex Vera X

Ralph Matias - Alt. EHillsboro Beach

David Clark UHollywood

Steven Bolger XChris Christianson E

Billy Ferguson XKeith Wadsworth X

Wilbur Fernander - Alt. ELighthouse Point

Daniel James XLaura Tyler X

Margate (Spvrs)Andy Zettek X

MiramarWayne Dunlap E

Marc Greenstein XGeorge Mankowski X

Ro Durney - Alt. XAdam Lerner - Alt. X

Pembroke PinesAndrew Brooks E

Adam Feiner EAl Xiques E

Sea Ranch LakesJames O’Brien U

Mike Tarr - Alt. USunrise

John Jaslowski ESunrise (Lts)

Bob Dorn N/AWilton Manors

Shawn Chadwick XGrant Gundle X

Chuck Howard X

Immediate Past President

Dick Brickman X

Board of Directors Meeting Attendance

X = Present E = Excused U=Unexcused N/A = Not a rep

Are You Being Represented?


9bcpba.org

Miami-Dade Police Academy looking for Director

Job Available

administrative/managerial experience in criminal justice or public safety.

For more information about the job or to apply, log on to the school’s Web site at: https://wape.mdc.edu/MDC-JobPositions/. The position is listed under Director of Basic Training, School of Justice.

Please pass this informa-tion on to anyone you think would be interested.

Miami Dade College’s School Of Justice, which houses the largest police

academy in South Florida, is looking for a Director of Basic Training.

The position is full-time and entails the management and administration of all func-tions of the academy, includ-ing oversight of recruits and training.

Applicants need a Master’s Degree in a related field and at least five years of

Need To Know: Scanner AppsSeveral smart phone applications

make it possible for people to listen in to law enforcement and

emergency radio transmission any-where they have an Internet connection.

Applications like Police Scanner, EmergencyRadio, 5-0 Radio, Scanner911 and others can tap into live streams of local police dispatch frequencies. Some ap-plications use location-aware technology to help users find streams close to their location.

The apps make cell phones act like tra-ditional police scanners and often are able to work in the background, letting users listen in while using other phone functions.

BSO and Ft. Lauderdale are among the agencies whose frequencies are being moni-tored on these applications, with more being added regu-larly.

The PBA is concerned that these applications are a safety

hazard for our members.

Fewer Troopers On The RoadState police forces down across the country

The number of highway patrol officers has shrunk in about twelve states—including

Florida—in the past 13 years.

Budget cuts and trimming of state government are to blame for the diminishing number of state police. Fewer cops are being hired and remaining forces are being stretched thin.

The shortages have left highways unpatrolled during the late-night and early morning hours. Some states have limited how many miles a trooper can drive in a day, while oth-ers have cut down on 24-hour patrol.

Further straining patrols are federal regulations that require the assign-ment of troopers to duties such as truck safety and weigh stations in or-der to receive federal highway funds, leaving fewer police on patrol.

Other states with shrinking state police forces are Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michi-gan, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, South Carolina and South Dakota.Source: USA Today

10



What’s Up?

11bcpba.org

Weddings • Birthdays • Reunions • Retirements

Book Your Next Event At

The PBA Hall

Book Your Next Event At

The PBA Hall

For reservations, call 954.584.7600

2901 SW 26th Terrace • Dania Beach(behind the PBA office)

Special Rates For PBA Members

Pines Announces Promotions

The Pembroke Pines Police Department held a promotional ceremony during the November 17 city commission meeting.

The following members were promoted:

CaptainSgt. John SammarcoSgt. Bryan Davis

SergeantOfc. Jose VargasOfc. Christopher Sengelmann

Congratulations to all.

Hollywood Officer Of The Month

Congratulations to Detective Bryan Rous-sell on his selection as Hollywood PD’s Officer of the Month for September

2009.

Detective Roussell was recognized at an awards cer-emony held on November 18 in the City Commission Cham-bers.

In Memory

The Broward County PBA sends condolences to the family of retired Wilton Manors detective Tony Lewis, who lost his battle with cancer in

November.

Tony served 26 years with the department. He will be missed. ?

New Baby? Promotion?

Award?Let us know!

[email protected]


12

Letters & Thanks

“ December 2009The Broward Centurion

13bcpba.org

14


Member Marketplace

2501 NW 34th Place, Suite 27Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Office: 954-971-1018Fax: 954-971-1019

Kevin Bolling, PresidentCell: [email protected]

• Silk Screening • Numbering

• Custom Work • Personalized Gifts• Fundraising Items

20% Off For PBA Members

NTTINotice That Tee, Inc.


15bcpba.org

Are You Up To Date?

To update your personal information, please contact the PBA office Monday

through Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm at 954.584.7600 or stop by in person.

Michael Braverman, P.A.2650 West State Road 84

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

954/791-2010For Broward PBA Members

Prepaid Legal

Services

Prepaid Legal

ServicesFor Broward PBA Members

Unlawful Use of Badges, Etc.

Reminder...

817.311, Florida Statutes

(1)(817.311 SS) from and after May 9, 1949, any person who shall wear or display a badge, button, insignia or other emblem, or shall use the name of or claim to be a member of any benevolent, fraternal, social, humane, or charitable organizations, which organization is en-titled to the exclusive use of such name and such badge, button, insignia or em-blem either in the identical form or in such near resemblance thereto as to be colorable imitation thereof, unless such person is entitled so to do under the laws, rules and regulations or such organiza-tion, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in S.75.082 or S.775.083.

(2) This section shall be cumulative to any and all laws now in force in the state.Florida Statutes (1987)

Non Profit Organization

U.S. Postage PaidPermit #1677

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Broward County PBA2650 West State Road 84

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312

©2009 Broward County PBA

bcpba.org happy holidays › pdf › centurion › 2009 › the broward centurion... ·...

Documents