Updates from NYSTPBA President Tom Mungeer

NYSTPBA Newsletter Updates from NYSTPBA President Tom Mungeer NYSTPBA Secures Additional Leave Time! As I reported in March, last year legislation was signed that made Juneteenth (June 19) a public holiday and the state determined that it will observe that holiday as an employer. Who wouldn’t want another day off, right? However, unlike other state workers, 12-hour Troopers and 10-hour NCOs have set pass days, so the concept of giving everyone an extra pass day simply does not work for an overwhelming majority of our members. As a result, we proposed that our members be given an extra 8 hours of vacation instead. Our reasoning was that annual leave, unlike personal leave, can be carried over to the following year and also has a monetary value at retirement. I am happy to announce that the state accepted our proposal. The following is the agreed upon language between the NYSTPBA and the state: In recognition of the State’s observance of Juneteenth as an employer observed holiday, all members of each bargaining unit shall be credited with 8 hours of vacation leave on or about June 19 of each year. Such vacation leave shall be subject to the usual and customary rules surrounding use and accumulation of vacation leave for members of the bargaining unit. Anger or Satisfaction? I’m conflicted as to whether to feel anger that our member(s) continue to forward our internal union communications to the media, or satisfaction that what I wrote has been deemed newsworthy to a larger and more diverse readership. Here’s a recent example from the Times Union newspaper of Albany: Other unions — such as the Police Benevolent Associations (PBAs) for both state troopers and corrections officers — are more certain their constituents won’t be allowed to use cannabis. “To me, it’s a no-brainer,” Tom Mungeer, president of the New York State Troopers PBA, told the Times Union. A couple of weeks after the legislation was passed, he wrote an email to fellow members saying that since cannabis was still illegal at the federal level, “we, as New York state troopers, cannot possess or use it.” https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Workers-new-right-to-pot-off-the-clock-won-t-16137551.php Wheel of Fortune As Gov. Andrew Cuomo was touting the signing into law of the NY Hero Act, which establishes standards related to workplace protocols including providing proper safety and personal protective equipment as well as proper ventilation, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he will sign a state budget that includes one-time $1,000 bonuses for emergency first responders. The Florida payouts will go to approximately 175,000 sworn law enforcement officers, fire department personnel and emergency medical workers. Florida Troopers will greatly benefit from this measure as they are among the lowest paid state police members in the nation. I bring this up not because of the amount of the bonus, but because of the gesture itself, which is refreshing. You see, the NY Heroes Act does not apply to public employees. Thank you, governor. While apparently - as reported in some news media - we are good enough to transport COVID samples with the name Cuomo written on them, we are not worthy of being deemed NY Heroes. Pat, I would like to buy a vowel and solve the puzzle - S U C H B U L L S H _ T Reading Between the Lines First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me. Martin Niemöller There is currently a bill in the New York State Legislature - A5402/S4615 – that “prohibits the selling or displaying of symbols of hate by municipal corporations, fire districts, volunteer fire companies, police departments and school districts.” Make no mistake about this, it is not about Confederate battle flags or neo-Nazi ideology, but rather about Thin Blue Line and Thin Red Line flags. That’s why they specifically target fire and police departments. One of the co-sponsors on the Senate side is our old friend (sarcasm) Alessandra Biaggi. Surprise, surprise. Update - The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is still languishing in the Senate where Democrats and Republicans are trying to come to a compromise, the most prominent issues being that of qualified immunity, no knock warrants, the 1033 program (federal equipment surplus) and chokeholds. Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) have been holding conversations about coming to a compromise on these issues, and meanwhile our interests are being represented by NAPO directly with the aforementioned politicians. Although I am hearing that there might be some movement on compromise regarding most of the above issues, qualified immunity remains an issue that the two sides are very far apart on. Democrats are determined that officers must be held individually financially accountable for their actions, a concept the Republicans are very much opposed to. Bring out your Dead! The sight of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver being wheeled into his Manhattan apartment earlier this week during his ever-so-tantalizing short release from prison instantly brought a scene from Monty Python’s “The Holy Grail” to mind - I'm not dead! Yes he is. I'm not! Well... he will be soon - he's very ill... I'm getting better! No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment. All joking aside, Shelly Silver was certainly not an enemy to the NYSTPBA and did indeed play a pivotal part in helping stop then-Gov. David Paterson’s attempt to abolish the 20-year retirement for our new members. But that is another story.... It is my hope that the Black Plague cart master does not make his rounds through Otisville Correctional Facility anytime soon. Recipe for Disaster Politicians bash cops - cops leave - can’t hire cops because no one wants the job - violence spikes. Seattle - At least 249 people have left the force over the past year alone as the city struggles with “the highest number of murders in 26 years.” Louisville – 233 cops have left the Louisville Metro Police Department during the same time span as the murder rate has increased 75%. San Antonio Some good news from San Antonio where the police union was successful in helping defeat Proposition B, a charter amendment that would have stripped the police union of its right to collectively bargain with the city. Although the margin was small (51 to 49), the union’s hard work in getting its message heard over the clamor of police reform rhetoric was apparent. Meanwhile in Utopia According to Rhiana Gunn-Wright, director of climate policy at the liberal think tank Roosevelt Institute, a big part of achieving “environmental justice” involves dealing with “police brutality,” which she says is an “environmental justice issue.” “It’s not just about how close or far you are from a fossil fuel facility,” Gunn-Wright states. “It’s also about what makes up your physical environment, including policing, public safety, education, clean water. All of that is part of a person’s physical environment.” Ms. Gunn-Wright aims to abolish all police and institute a system of “community” policing where people basically police themselves which will ensure that children can not only grow up without breathing “toxic air from steel smoke stacks spewing polluted particulates,” but also grow up in “a future without police,” which would result in “less crime and more safety.” The Folly of Youth An organization dubbed the Cops Off Campus Coalition that is “committed to abolishing police on campuses” recently organized the "National Day of Refusal" and asked "students, professors, and faculty members to pledge to be absent; from work, class, teaching, and more on that day." Some of their ideas they are proposing are - · Repurpose Your School's Cafeteria & Serve the Food to People in Need · Squat Your School's Residences & House Folks in Need of Housing · Redecorate your campus police station I may be naïve but after the implementation of the first two proposals, I think the police will be needed more than ever. I am sure there are a lot of proud parents out there knowing their son’s or daughter’s tuition is funding a homeless shelter. Ladies and gentlemen, this is your stewardess speaking... We regret any inconvenience the sudden cabin movement might have caused, this is due to periodic air pockets we encountered, there's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you enjoy the rest of your flight... By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane? Quote of the Week When asked to comment on the fact that the ACLU has stated that Florida’s new law that places restrictions and penalties on violent protests “chills speech, silences dissent and criminalizes peaceful protesters advocating for racial justice,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said, "We all know the difference between a peaceful protester and a rioter. We protect peaceful protesters. We arrest rioters. Zero tolerance means zero tolerance." G.O.A.T. Bellevue (Idaho) Deputy Marshal Nate Silvester has made the news these last two weeks after he posted a TikTok video mocking LeBron James. Unfortunately, he did it in uniform and apparently on duty, so he was subsequently suspended by his department. In it, he pretends to take advice from James at an imaginary ongoing stabbing scene stating, "I mean it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but then again you are really good at basketball so I guess I'll take your word for it." My favorite part, however, is when he slips in “Michael Jordan is the G.O.A.T.”[1] Thus far, Silvester’s video has garnered over 5 million views, a GoFundMe page in his name has raised almost $500,000 to support him and he has signed a book deal. (Disclaimer - Past performance is no guarantee of future results.) NYSTPBA App We are aware that iPhone users who installed the latest ios software update this week are experiencing difficulties accessing the NYSPBA app. The app developers are working on a solution to this problem, and we will keep you posted when the issue has been resolved. [1] Greatest of All-Time This email is an automated notification, which is unable to receive replies. To send a comment to the PBA, please contact us at nystpba@nystpba.org.

The Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers 120 State St. Albany, New York 12207 (518) 462-7448 http://www.nystpba.org