After the pension bill passed the committees last week, Arizona Police Association (APA) members groups agreed that the solutions we (police and fire organizations) proposed to sustain the retirement fund fell on deaf ears. We have taken every step to be proactive in sustaining PSPRS, and be a part of a solution. It is clear that the political careers of a few elected officials weighed far heavier than taking care of the promises made to the men and women in blue that put their lives on the line every day. APA affiliates voted last week to roll out a campaign in order help educate the public on the truth about our benefits and pensions. Help us engage the community! Encourage family and friends to understand and advocate for our profession. GLEA is proud to be a part of positive program to help the citizens we serve understand SB 1609. The impact of this bill will have lasting effects on public safety services and financially strain retirees and the families of fallen officers. Help save our pension!

www.Respond4AZPolice.com

How you, your family, retirees and friends can help:

1. Check for updates and new content on www.Respond4AZPolice.com regularly.

2. Contact all members of the legislature & the Governor’s office. Help advocate for our profession. Let them know SB 1609 is unconstitutional, breaks promises to all current and retired PSPRS fund employees and will create costly lawsuits for Arizona. The impact of this bill will have lasting effects on public safety services and financially strain public safety retirees and the families of fallen officers.

3. Retirees & Veterans: Know a retired officer or a veteran with Arizona law enforcement experience?  They should consider calling or emailing their elected official and schedule a meeting. We are encouraging as many retirees and veterans as possible to meet face-to-face with their elected officials. CLICK HERE FOR YOUR DISTRICT & ELECTED OFFICIALS. If they are interested in speaking at a hearing, please email info@respond4azpolice.com.

4. Suggest our social media applications to friends and family.

Facebook:Respond4AZPolice

Twitter: @Respond4AZPolice #Respond4AZPolice

Youtube: www.youtube.com/Respond4AZPolice

5. Download graphics and posters to help display your support. You can find them on the website: www.Respond4AZPolice.com.

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ARIZONA COPS AND FIRE FIGHTERS SPEAK OUT:

SB 1609 HURTS PUBLIC SAFETY

PHOENIX – First responders from public safety and law enforcement associations across Arizona are voicing their aversion to SB 1609, a pension bill moving through the Legislature. The bill would force pay cuts upon police officers and fire fighters. It also would end for 15 to 20years the cost of living allowances public safety retirees depend on to pay their bills.

The average public safety employee in Arizona earns about $39,000 per year, according to estimates.

While they may wear different uniforms, members of the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona (PFFA), the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police (AZFOP), the Arizona Police Association (APA), the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association (PPSLA) and the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs (AZCOPS) stand unified in their goal: To protect the people of Arizona. And while taxpayers have long valued public safety, the same cannot be said of lawmakers who threaten to raise pension contributions and gut the middle-class benefits so many public safety retirees depend on to make ends meet.

The joint press conference will be held at: Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, 1700 W. Washington Street in Phoenix. It will begin at 2:00pm, Wednesday, March 23.

Available for media interviews:

Tim Hill, PFFA President

Jim Mann, Executive Director, AZFOP Arizona Labor Council

Jimmy Chavez, President, APA & AHPA

Mark Hafke, PPSLA President

Larry Lopez, AZCOPS President

Watch the “Rescue the Rescuer” TV Advertisment – Airing NOW!

Pension Overhaul Makes Way to Arizona: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

UNIVISION 33: ARIZONA POLICE & FIRE REJECT SB 1609

WATCH APA TESTIFY ON SB 1609 ON YOUR BEHALF MARCH 22ND:

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF SB 1609:

Current Employees and Retirees:

The COLA is based on a market value assumption. This is important because the existing Excess Earnings Fund will be able to pay out a COLA for the next two years but after that it may 15-20 years before another COLA is issued. (Retirees and Current Members)

Employees will be expected to pay 11.65% contribution rate in three years. 2% July 2011, 1% July 2012, 1% July 2013.

Drop is eliminated for those with 5 years or less service. Those between 5-20 years will have to pay contributions into the fund when they enter DROP with interest rates dropping on these accounts. Those with 20 years of more service no change in DROP.

Return to work – Penalty payment assessed.

New Hires:

Many changes to the system for people not yet employed.

Other Issues for ALL:

Commission of a class five felony (not conviction) – This would result in forfeiture of your pension.

Military and in-state service – prior service purchase restriction (Not much info on this provision as of yet)

They are also going to study disability payments to all persons so classified in the next two years. This means there is a possibility that disability pensions will be targeted in the future for reduction or elimination

No other Arizona police organization can provide a conference with the magnitude of these guest speakers.  This three day educational conference provides the most up-to-date police issues…everything from use-of-force, legal and labor information.  Please contact a GLEA board member if you would like to attend or for more information.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE APA CONFERENCE BROCHURE 2010

The Arizona Republic

by Dustin Gardiner – Apr. 20, 2010 08:27 AM

CLICK HERE FOR A RELATED ARTICLE FROM THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

One of Glendale’s police officer unions is endorsing an effort by state lawmakers to give Arizona some of the toughest immigration laws in the nation.

Senate Bill 1070 would make illegal immigration a misdemeanor offense under state law, allowing local law enforcement officers to detain individuals on suspicion of being in the country illegally if they cannot produce a valid government ID or registration card. The bill is expected to head toward Gov. Jan Brewer’s desk for a signature within the coming days.

Officer Justin Harris, president of the Glendale Law Enforcement Association, said the bill gives police, who are only charged with enforcing state laws, the power to detain undocumented immigrants.

and turn them over to federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents.

“It takes the handcuffs off law enforcement,” he said. “Our hands are tied without these laws in place.”

Harris said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Russell Pearce of Mesa, approached GLEA and other police unions at the start of the legislative session to secure their support.

Opponents of the bill say it would promote racial profiling and prevent potential witnesses from coming forward or cooperating with police out of fear they could be deported.

“I get calls from mothers whose 15-year-old daughters get raped and they’re afraid to call police,” said Hector Yturralde, a Latino activist and former president of the Arizona Hispanic Community Forum.

“All these laws being passed are nothing but Jim Crow wannabes,” he added, referring to laws in the Old South enforcing white supremacy.

Harris said the undocumented community has no reason to fear police will be overzealous to the point of arresting victims or witnesses.

“We’re not going to treat the victim as a criminal,” he said.

Given the budget cuts facing Glendale and other cities, Yturralde questions why police would use their limited resources to pursue people for “minor” immigration violations when they could be going after hardened criminals.

Harris argues that by taking illegal immigrants off the streets, police will be preventing future crimes they might commit.

He said someone who “sneaks past border agents through the desert and under fences” knows they’re doing something illegal and is more likely to commit other crimes.

“If we can focus on stopping the less serious crime, that in itself stops crime,” Harris said.

Yturralde said there’s no clear evidence to support claims that illegal immigrants commit crimes in higher numbers.

“Not even the FBI has these statistics,” he said. “This is absolutely insane.”

Glendale’s other law enforcement union, the Fraternal Order of Police, has not taken a position on the legislation.

Tracy, and her two boys, Christopher and Kyle, were adopted by the members of GLEA this Christmas.  The single mother works with a few off-duty officers at Fry’s Grocery Store and supports her two boys, including one with special needs. On December 21st, GLEA members and their “Blue Santa” delivered much needed clothes and toys for the family, along with a food gift certificate to make sure they had a nice Christmas meal.

“When you meet Tracy, you know she has a great heart and would do anything for her two boys,” states Justin Harris, President of the Glendale Law Enforcement Association.  “It was very fulfilling for Glendale police officers to make sure a Glendale family received special Christmas gifts for the holidays.”

This was the first GLEA Adopt-a-Family Christmas project, but it will not be the last.  GLEA plans to do this every year for a special Glendale family in efforts to further a positive rapport with our community.  “It is important that law enforcement build lasting relationships with our Glendale children.  They should always know we are here for them, now and later in life,” adds Harris.

GLEA’s mission is to promote the positive role of Law Enforcement Professionals, and to protect and secure rights and benefits for our members through effective representation with local, state, and national governments.  The organization is currently the largest association representing active Glendale Police Officers.

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