| President’s
Message June 19, 2006
A General membership Meeting was conducted on Tuesday, June 13,
2006 at 7:00pm. The following issues were discussed.
PANO Website:
Communication within our membership is vital to our sucess, and
the website has been updated. Although it is still a work in progress
and not yet finished, it is nearly there. In addition to being a
souce of CURRENT information on all matters of interest, regular
emails will be going out to all members who subscribe with their
email address, and a new threaded forum will up and running very
soon. All members, non-member officers, and civilians alike, are
encouraged to visit the website and susbscribe with their email
address. The information is being posted and is dated, so that you
will know just how recent and contemporary the information is. Remember
also, that email is a two-way street. We can receive emails from
you as well as send them.
60 Day Rule:
At a hearing before the State Senate Judiciary C Committee on Tuesday,
June 13, 2006, House Bill 169, a measure attempting to amend the
Police Officer’s Bill of Rights, was deferred - effectively
killing the bill for this legislative session.
Severance Pay (Sick and Furlough):
State Law mandates that the City MUST pay severance (Furlough) within
15 days of separation from the department, whether through retirement,
firing, or resignaiton. There are some rather significant penalties
for the City's failure to pay within 15 days. For any PANO member
who has retired, been fired, or has resigned, and has not been paid
their severance, you may wish to consult with PANO Attorney Frank
DeSalvo relative to discussing options, possibly including a law
suit. The next PANO Attroney Day will be Thursday, June 22, 2006,
at the PANO Office. Frank will be there to discuss the law and your
options. If you are affected by this issue or have another issue
you wish to discuss with Frank, Please be there between 2:00 PM
and 4:00 PM.
Recent MOF (Member of the Force) Arrests:
As you are probably aware, there have been several officers arrested
in conjunction with a Police Department/FBI investigation. The incidents
in question occurred off-duty, and the officers arrested thus far
have resigned. PANO and Attorney Frank DeSalvo asisted the affected
officers in securing bond and being released from LockUp, but will
not be representaing the officers in further criminal proceedings.
P/O II, III, IV Promotions:
In an effort to expedite the promotion of as many officers as possible
when the City elects to make the promotions, PANO is acquiring this
week from Civil Service, a current list of eligible officers at
each rank (II, III, & IV) which will be posted and made available.
PANO is in the process of trying to set up new P/O II, III, and
IV classes with volunteer instructors, and hosted by PANO, to allow
any officer not on the current eligibility list or who has the required
tenure but has not been afforded an opportunity to receive the training
necessary to be eligible for promotion, to get the required training
and thus be eligible for promotion. We will keep you informed.
P.I.B. Email Investiagtions:
P.I.B. has often been overloaded with complaints that are very likely
to be NIM'ed (No Investigation Merited) and they have in the past
often sent 105's out to the district rank asking for some minimal
information with which the "complaint" can be closed and
NIMed. Lately, rather than 105's, P.I.B. has been using email to
accomplish this exchange of information. There have been some cases
lately, that are very questionable as to whether they should be
handled in the fashion they have been requested. There are some
issues which skirt becoming a criminal investigation or have already
been very adequately addressed through a comprehensive police report.
In those instances, an interview with the affected officer(s) by
a ranking officer should merit a formal statement and the execution
of Appendix A (the notice of a formal investigation) and the start
of the 60 Day "clock" . I do not believe that P.I.B. is
attempting some underhanded strategy to circumvent the 60 Day Rule,
but I do believe that their screening process needs to be refined.
I expect to meet with the P.I.B. Command this week, and until the
matter can be resolved, I would recommend that all rank and officers
be aware that some of these requested "interviews" might
be better handled as a formal statement. If there is any question,
I recommend you call your PANO representative or PANO Attorney Frank
DSalvo for advise before proceeding.
Other FLSA and LABOR Issues:
Currently bening researched are the following issues, which will
be discussed with the appropriate City and Police managers for resolution:
Code of Federal Regulatoins (CFR) pertaining to the U.S. Department
of Labor, Title 29
29 CFR 785.28 Involuntary Attendance
When you are required to attend outside normal working hours (such
as picking up uniforms on your own time) the City must pay you.
29 CFR 785.43 Medical Attention
When you are required to remain at a hospital past your tour of
duty if you are being treated, the City must pay you.
There are other issues also being researched and you will be informed
as which laws they are and how it affects you, and what action PANO
takes and accomplishes.
ONE NOPD
Michael Glasser
President, PANO
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