Burrell Ellis Sides Against Us

For years we have suffered through no pay raises, no cost of living increases, forced work for no pay, furlough days, loss of paid holidays, loss of promotional pay and the possibility of our pension contribution increasing by 100%. Burrell Ellis and the commissioners have done nothing but take, take and take.

For once, some of the county commissioners listened to us about our choice of healthcare options. Collectively, we told them we are willing to pay more out of our pockets for more, and to some, better healthcare options, in particularly, Cigna HMO. Burrell Ellis says no!

Even Bonita Ransom, Director of Human Resources, an outsider, says “Employees have not gotten a salary increase; there have been no new perks.” “We wanted to find a way to make an effort to do something for employees that at the same time minimizes the county’s cost.”

Burrell Ellis has shown time and time again his total disregard for the police and other county employees. Even when we say we are willing to pay more for a “perk”, he says no. It makes us wonder if he lays awake at night thinking of ways to screw us.

Even Commissioner Elaine Boyer says “The employees will think that we have duped them and jerked the insurance out from under them.”

No kidding.

Click here for AJC article.

Hardcore Pension Reform On The Horizon

Commissioner Elaine Boyer spoke at Perimeter Community Improvement Districts luncheon and as per a tweet mentioned pension reform.

"From: @SpaceyG
Sent: Sep 23, 2011 12:34p

DeKalb Commish Elaine Boyer warning that hardcore pension reform is on
the horizon for DeKalb County, GA too. Welcome to the stock market!"

http://twitter.com/SpaceyG/status/117275743892946944

Yes folks, it is going to get worse before it better.

WOW! Just What Is Going On With Our Pay? Did We Get Furlouged?

Is our pay screwed up or what? Did the county make a lame attempt to furlough us in the dark?

Some officers were docked 20 hours pay. Some had their pension contributions deceased or increased. Some 4-3 officers have been paid as 5-2 employees. Others have a reduction in pay, while some have an increase. How will this effect our pension at the end of the day?

When inquires were made to personnel, they pointed to Bonita Ransom and Human Resources.

Looks like Ms. Ransom needs to be dragged in front of the commissioners and explain to Lil' Larry why some of us not only lost a holiday, but received a reduction in pay!

Cop Killer To Be Executed

Finally, after more then 20 years and millions and millions of wasted dollars, Troy Davis will be executed for the murder of Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail.

Read more here.

Open Comments

Good Gobbledygook! What Happened To The Stroke of The Pen?

Yes folks, we have been lied too once again! Lil' Larry said our holiday time could be changed with a stroke of a pen.

Now it's official. Even though we work 10 hour shifts, we are only getting paid 8 hours when we work holidays.

We called for a ticket strike. The chief asked us to let him work with the commissioners. So, we there that get us?

Here is Chief O'Brien's email to all the chiefs:

Chief’s…..If you have not already done so, please let employees know that in regard to the unresolved holiday pay issue concerning 8 or 10 hours of leave, the decision has been made.
 
If an employee works 10 hrs on a holiday, they will bank 8 hrs of holiday time and 2 hrs of comp time.
 
If they are on a scheduled off day when the holiday falls, they will only receive 8 hrs of banked time
 
All suspension time will reflect 8hrs.  If a 10 hr employee is suspended for 8hrs, they can either use accrued vac., holiday, or comp time in order to take the entire day off.
 
Please keep in mind that this does not apply to the two remaining unfunded holidays this year.
 
William O’Brien
Chief of Police

We don't fault Chief O'Brien, we fault the commissioners.

How much longer will you trust the commissioners and the propaganda being dished out at roll call? "Come on guys, if you'll just write more tickets, the commissioners will love us, we promise."

The madness continues.

They Are Coming For Our Pension

We have gotten word from a reliable source the commissioners are trying to tap into the county pension and reduce all pensions (retired and current employees) to balance the out of hand county budget. This information comes directly from a commissioner.

People, this is very serious, disturbing news. It will effect each and everyone of us, including our friends at the fire department. It is going to take the effort of each and every current employee and retiree to stop this. We simply cannot allow this to happen. Period.

To all you vested officers, who have worked hard and long, trying to whittle out a career, even while be attacked and abused by the commission. What will lay at the end of our career? Will there be any type of pension waiting for us?

Can you imagine doing your 30 years with defined benefits and having that number reduced? Our retirees are already under attack. For the retirees that are 65 years old and over, their health insurance premiums are being increased by 6%. No one can remember when the last time they had a cost of living adjustment was, and it sure as hell wasn't 6%.

We have to ban together and stop this in its tracks or our pension will cease to exist.

The next pension board meeting is November 3, 2011 at 9:30 AM. We need you to attend. We need all the retirees to attend, not just public safety, but all county retirees. We need to show force by numbers.

We are asking Jeff Wiggs of the F.O.P., what are the plans of the F.O.P.? Will there be any leadership on this?

Here is the link to all the pension board members email addresses. Voice your out rage to each and everyone on them. Sign your name. We need to be heard.

Remember, November 3, 2011 at 9:30 AM

What Is The County Hiding About Our Health Insurance?

This from one of our readers:

"Regarding the post concerning the health benefit meeting: Well, it was pretty sad. I can say without hesitation that Mercer Healthcare - who put together this poo - didn't really come that prepared. Also, someone from the audience pointed out that the handouts did not contain the full info regarding deductibles. 

I for one came out of there feeling like the Finance Department and Mercer were playing some sort of shell game. It was made clear that we would not get the full story until open enrollment. 

Plus - retiree information for people over 65 was not made available...makes you wonder what is going to happen to this group."

Makes us worried that we will loose even more of our benefits when open enrollment comes around.  Rumor has it, our retirees, or at least those 65 and over, will see an increase in their health insurance premiums by as much a 6%. Sounds as if Benita Ransom suddenly realized she has screwed everybody but our retirees. Now it's their time.

Nothing like rewarding loyalty and dedication, huh?

Once Again We Ask: When Will The Criminal Investigation Begin?

So far, there is no word if a criminal investigation will be initiated against the very apparent theft commented by Commissioner Sutton.

In the meantime, we believe, at the very least, there should be an investigation by the DeKalb County Board of Ethnics Board. Should it be left up to one person to file a complaint? No. It will take many people to get their attention. That is why we have posted the procedures for filing a complaint against Commissioner Sutton.

We haven't been able to locate a telephone number for the ethics board, but here is the email address: dekalbethicsboard@gmail.com

Please put your complainant in letter form and mail it to:

Board of Ethics
Clerk of the Governing Authority
Clark Harrison Building
330 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030

Procedures for Filing An Ethics Complaint.

Although informal inquiries regarding the possible lodging of complaints are welcome, formal complaints must be made in writing. The complaint must be addressed to the Chair of the Board of Ethics, and may be filed with the Clerk of the Governing Authority, Manuel Maloof Center, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030. The clerk will forward a copy of the complaint to the Chair of the Board of Ethics, who shall in turn forward copies to each of the Board members. Although the filing need not be in a specified format, a proposed form is available at this site for the use of a complaining party. (Complaint form)


A written complaint must be received by the clerk of the governing authority at least seven (7) days prior to a meeting of the Board of Ethics to be placed on the agenda for that meeting. If received within one week of a scheduled meeting, the complaint will be addressed at that meeting. If the complaint is received in the interim between quarterly meetings, the chair may schedule a called meeting at a time convenient for all parties to the complaint to address the matter.


An oral complaint may be received at any scheduled meeting of the Board of Ethics, but will not be acted upon at the same meeting at which it is introduced. An oral complaint must be reduced to writing and signed by the complainant in order for the Board to act upon it.


The Board of Ethics has the statutory duty to render an advisory opinion with respect to the interpretation and application of the Code of Ethics to all persons who seek advice as to whether a particular course of conduct would constitute a violation of the standards imposed by the Code of Ethics. The Board may also consider a request for an advisory opinion based upon hypothetical facts or circumstances. Advisory opinions of the Board are binding on the Board with regard to any subsequent complaint concerning the person who sought the opinion and acted in good faith based on that opinion, unless material facts were omitted or misstated in the request for the advisory opinion. Any person can request an advisory opinion concerning the interpretation and application not only of the Code of Ethics but also any other applicable ethical standards. A request for an advisory opinion must be in writing and signed by the requestor, and submitted in the same manner as a complaint. However, a request for an advisory opinion must be received at least ten (10) days in advance of a scheduled meeting to be considered at that meeting.

Open Comments

Judge Ann Workman Dies

Long time DeKalb County judge dies. Click here to read further.

DeKalb District Attorney Intiminated by Thugs, Drops Charges

It seems our D.A. is easily intimidated by our resident thugs. During a recent court hearing, the defense attorney for a shooting thug, requested the names of the witnesses. In fear, the D.A. abruptly dropped the charges.

The insane reasoning is, the witnesses may become a victim of retaliation by the shooter. So rather than chance that, he let the shooter free to prey on other victims.

Sure, relation is more of problem now than in the past. Mainly because our courts refuse to hand out harsh punishment to those seeking retaliation.

Thanks to our District Attorney, our streets have become even more lawless.

Read more here.