Police Assoication Of New Orleans

Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Annual Leave / Deaths of Det Williams and Sergeant Poole.

Many officers have been asking about excess Furlough days and possible roll-overs for the coming year, based on the 12 hour shifts and manpower shortages which have compelled many officers to work more than they would have liked to, and therefore used less furlough than they have accrued.

The following memorandum was sent out by Civil Service which explains what is being done. Questions can be fielded to Mr. Hagmann at 658-3520.

Interoffice
CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM DEPARTMENT

from: Robert Hagmann Personnel Administrator subject:

Rollover of Excess Annual Leave to Sick Leave
date: December 19, 2007

At its meeting of December 17, 2007, the Civil Service Commission approved an exception to Rule VIII, Section 1.3, of the Civil Service Rules to allow for a one time exception for 2007 to convert all excess annual leave balances above the maximum leave accruals (i.e., 45 or 90 days) to Sick Leave Balances for all City Employees.

Once again, this is a one time exception and applies only to excess annual leave in employees’ accounts on December 31, 2007.

In the future, all retirement systems in which city employees participate should allow for excess annual leave to be converted to pension credits.

Please call me at 658-3520 if I can provide any additional information in this matter or be of any assistance to you.

I am saddened to report that Detective Robert Williams passed away at Tulane Medical Center, Monday evening, December 17, 2007. He was surrounded by his family and friends and fought off death bravely to the end. Those who knew Robert, knew that he truly lived his job, and only wished to be able to come to work and enjoy his family. A more dedicated officer does not exist. Robble struggled with Multiple Myeloma for about 5 years. I am personally familiar with this condition as my own brother suffers from the same affliction. Robbie stayed and worked during Katrina, at tremendous personal risk (almost any infection could have been fatal) and worked after. Long after he should have been home and resting, conserving his strength and recuperating from long bouts with Chemotherapy, he was at work, doing whatever he could. It was heartbreaking to watch, but encouraging to see demonstrated what
genuine courage and determination are in the face of tragedy.

Robbie and his wife, Debbie, fought very hard to get the lifetime ceiling on our Medical Coverage doubled from the $1 MILLION Cap to the present $2 MILLION. Had it not been for their efforts, it would not have happened, which benefits all City employees, not just Police Officers. Robbie's case demonstrated how easily and quickly, with today's rising medical costs, one can reach that ceiling, and have no more major medical coverage. Even someone as young as Robbie, only in his 30's, could not predict his tragic illness and the financial consequences of the necessary treatment regimens. Robbie and Debbie fought for an improvement to our medical Coverage that they themselves would never get to benefit from. We all owe him a debt of gratitude. Robbie will be terribly missed, but never forgotten.

WE were saddened to learn that Sergeant Sam Poole, recently retired, just passed away from an apparent Heart Attack yesterday. Sam was a good friend and colleague, and will be sorely missed, another good man lost way too soon.

Funeral Arrangements will be announced.