Our wonderful commissioners took notes and learned valuable lessons from the City of Atlanta when the city furloughed their police officers. You see, Atlanta forced their officers to take one non-paid off day every two weeks. That caused shortages in police coverage which outraged the public and some members of the city counsel. The pressure from the public was intense enough to force the city to end furloughs.
Burrell Ellis and the Gang of 7 have taken away our paid holidays and are forcing us to work at a reduced pay instead of taking a very public furlough day. The reduction in pay is 10 percent for the pay period.
So far this year our pay has been docked 3 times, twice now in back to back pay periods. There are 6 non-paid holidays remaining in the year. 3 of those holidays are in November. In November, one check will be reduced 10 percent with the following check reduced 20 percent. And yet another 10 percent in December.
The commissioners are screwing us very quietly, out of public view and without a kiss. If they forced us to take a non-paid off day, that would cause shortages and the public would be outraged, just as in Atlanta.
Burrell Ellis, the commissioners and their staff continue to get paid holidays. Did you read that? The commissioners, and their staff, who are county employees, continue to receive paid holidays!
If the public is aware of what is going on, they are silent because there is not a shortage in police coverage, so they are turning a blind eye. Our pubic safety director, whose mouth is controlled by Burrell’s hand, is silent. Chief Bill O’Brien, who appears more and more to be nothing more than a token, is silent. Not one commissioner has spoken out for us. The F.O.P. and I.B.O.P are silent.
And what have we done for ourselves? On Memorial Day, which we all worked at a 10 precinct reduction, our traffic citations INCREASED 32 percent compared to Memorial Day 2009. Then it looks like our short pay check got some officer's attention. July 4 traffic citations were down 31 percent compared to July 4 2009.
The F.O.P. and I.B.O.P can’t do much. Because of state law, Georgia being a right to work state, they are powerless. We have been quiet for too long. It is time to step up to the plate. We have only one recourse against the commissioners, and that is a “Ticket Furlough”.
At the very least, the commissioners and their staff must play by the same rules as the rest of us. Until they, the commissioners and their staff, are required to take non-paid holidays, or until we get our paid holidays back, we are calling for a ticket stoppage, or “Ticket Furlough”. Not a ticket furlough just on holidays, but every day. We will hit them where it hurts, in the county coffers.
Continue to answer your 911 calls expediently and professionally. Follow rules and regulations. But no where in the rules and regulations does it require that you must issue a court appearing traffic citation (excepting traffic accidents). Traffic enforcement is the desertion of the police officer. We highly recommend writing warning citations instead of court appearing citations. If you turn in warnings, your superiors can not say a word about production. And we seriously doubt most supervisors would say anything because they too are docked pay. Don’t confuse the “Ticket Furlough” with a work slow down. We are not advocating a work slow down.
Continue to be the finest police officers DeKalb County has to offer, but stand up for yourself!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
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24 comments:
I'm down for a Ticket Furlough.
Anyone else in?
Where is the news media when u need them....
I fully support you, guys. If Burrell Ellis and the Commissioners had made the same sacrifice they've asked YOU to make, it might be a different story. We're ALL suffering because of the economic downturn. But they are NOT special to me, and I am outraged by their arrogant behavior. When all else fails, YOU, in my humble opinion, should be stepped UP, not stepped ON. Good luck guys.
Ima Citizen
For the record, the FOP has been involved. In fact, our President, Jeff Wiggs, is in attendance in today's meeting and has previously spoken to them on this issue.
Help may be on the way. Congress is currently considering the "Public Safety Employer Employee Cooperation Act" which would have public safety employees certain collective bargaining rights in EVERY state. The FOP has been on board with this legislation from the beginning. It has passed the House and is moving through the Senate.
Why won't all the Chiefs get together and hold a press conference denouncing the CEO's pay reduction on holidays? Leadership from the top, right? All Chief OBrien has to do is produce a manpower plan to show the public that there will not be a reduction of police services by giving the officers a furlough day (3 day work week) as opposed to a reduction in pay and making us work four days. All he has to do is supplement manpower by having SOD, ICP/NET, etc, supplement the watches during that holiday pay period. Is it asking to much for us to ask the Chiefs to stick their necks out for us? What is Ellis going to do, get rid of the entire command staff?
I wouldn't expect much support from Obrien. Forget that. The BOC is just like the US congress. What's good for the goose isn't good for the gander.
TO BOB: Just so you know and everyone else knows, the Georgia Chief's Association sent out today an urgent e-mail urging it's members to voice opposition to their legislators to vote against this. So, looks like this is going to pit the little guys against the Chiefs. Go figure.....
what the hell are you guys talking about? I havent been writing tickets since 2001!
Outside a 41, I haven't been writing tickets for a while...... the 2800 and 2900's are the problem.
What are the badge #'s up to now? Mine was 1305. I remember 3 digit badge #'s. Are any of those left?
If nothing else follow the manual... correct me if I'm wrong........cite the worst violation and issue warnings for the rest. No one can fault you for following the employee manual. NO MULTIPLE CITATIONS!
When are we going to get serious? This ticket thing is not gonna work, if EVERYONE is not on board!
Someone needs to call 46 News back to DeKalb to cover this story. Remember last time they came to Ask the Tough Questions. Mr. Ellis ran away because he could not answer the questions asked of him. I do believe you guys will be docked 10 % in November but they can not take 20% from you on one check that would be illegal and grounds for a Class Action Law case against the DeKalb County BOC which would only hurt the Citizens. Regarding the comment why don't the Chiefs sticking their necks out for the officers well YES I do think Mr. Ellis would fire or replace every last one of them. It is all about Power and he who has the most power will win. My Sister says that all persons in those high-ranking positions are appointed and can be replaced at the discretion of the CEO. I have heard that the Sheriff is seriously thinking about taking over all Police Duties in DeKalb and according to Law he is an elected official and the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the County so what could stop him if he persisted and wanted to take on that task?
Good Luck to you all.
Supportive Citizen
Give Chief O'Brien a break. He's being cautious in the Dekalb County minefield. Just remember the last few guys to hold that position. Better the devil you know....
The BOC and CEO will never relinquish control of PD to SO.
They control PD now. If you try to deny it, you don't have a clue what you're talking about. If PD was dissolved and absorbed by SO, since the Sheriff is an elected official, he doesn't answer to the BOC or the CEO.
The BOC and CEO will never relinquish control of PD to SO.
They control PD now. If you try to deny it, you don't have a clue what you're talking about. If PD was dissolved and absorbed by SO, since the Sheriff is an elected official, he doesn't answer to the BOC or the CEO.
"We are 7 percent above where we were last year at this time,” said Shelia Edwards, a spokeswoman for the county CEO....
With all the specialized units with special perks and special uniforms, I could believe that. From a uniform perspective....... not a chance in hell!...... The media needs to submit a freedom of information act request.
I would like to say the FOP is trying and Jeff has been to meetings,and spoke with the BOC one on one. It is sorry to say we have over 1100 officers and we only have 200-300 members in the FOP. Thats like bitching about the president when you didnt vote. Lets stand together get in the FOP and show the BOC we wont put up with this crap.
Tickets, if they are going 85mph or are just asking for one write it if not write a warning.
I was in court and a 2800 badge # wrote a ticket for a guy for no license, HE WAS THE FREAKEN PASSENGER!!!! Think about it.
IBPO/FOP....paids dues to both. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?
@anonymous 4:20: The FOP is a member run organization. If YOU are a member, then what have YOU done lately for everyone else who is a member?
The FOP president has been at the forefront and continues to be a voice for the officers. When was the last time you were at a FOP meeting to discuss the issues? Do you even know where the lodge is?
I doubt very seriously you are even a member with that "what have YOU done for ME lately" attitude. Get with the program and get involved with the FOP and you, as a part of the membership, help make a difference to the rest of the officers out there. Look at what is happening in the national level with the Cooperation Act that will hopefully go through. The National FOP has been working on that for more than 10 years. On a local level, what is the FOP doing? Seems to me there is an event coming up this weekend with a political candidate. I bet you wont even be there. Go, get involved and be a part of the FOP team. Then you will see how frustrating it is when officers say "What have you done for ME lately?"
The FOP wants us all to participate. Thats how we show that we are together on issues and we become a strong group that the BOC must recognize.
www.dekalbfop.org - get an application and join! Get off the sideline and get in the game.
To FOP President Wiggs, Thanks for the hard work you do for the officers of this department. Thanks for being our voice.
Oh I love how some of you want to bash the FOP and the other support groups. Figure it out Georgia is a Right to Work State which leaves these groups with very little to bargain with. If you had any since at all you would belong to one of these units for the life insurance and the legal defense fund. I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before one of you dump asses get sued for misuse of the TASER or something along those lines. So stop paying your dues who needs you anyhow all you do is bitch and complain. Our FOP President has attended every BOC meeting representing us the troops. WHERE WERE YOU IF YOUR BALLS ARE SO BIG. PAMF.
To the anonymous poster who said, "IBPO/FOP....paids dues to both. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?":
I am not sure of the dues dispersion of the IBPO, but I can tell you what your FOP dues cover. It basically covers the cost of YOUR life insurance. The rest of the Lodge's expenses are generally covered by donations and fundraisers.
If you're unaware of what the FOP has done for you lately, I'd suggest you start researching. It wouldn't be hard to find. Jeff Wiggs has been pounding the pavement meeting with Commissioners and command staff. Other members have been supporting that effort in other ways. No one in the DeKalb FOP is paid... it's all volunteer work by people who CARE about their fellow officers.
So, in the same respect you answered your question, "What have you done for your fellow officers lately?"
What happened to the influence veteran officers use to have on new officers -- or those with at least less than 2 years on the road. When the vets. hinted on anything like a blue flu or warning tickets only, the newbies followed, even if they didn't agree - understand the brotherhood. Oh well, you know what they say about DeKalb Police now --nothing.
"What happened to the influence veteran officers use to have on new officers"?
We gave badges to rookies who know everything and don't want to hear anything.
When I started, the veterans gave us a heads up and made sure we didn't get ourselves killed or do something stupid.... we listened to them and thank them for their taking the time.
Today's rookie....I gave up long ago and don't even take the time. They prefer to learn the hard way and have an "f" you attitude when you try and help them.
Veteran, Uniform officers have become the new Rodney Dangerfield: No respect from rookies and no respect from the department.
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