The Dispatcher Volume 3 Issue 3 October 2009

October 2, 2009 Volume 3, Issue 3

The Dispatcher Edited and Distributed by S. Hall

Special Interest Articles:

News from the Surprise Police Employees Association

Things you should know:

• A Tale of Two Videos • Block Party • Recent and Future Meeting Items

Individual Highlights: Things you should know

1

DAB Policy

2

Test your OIT

2

Fundraisers

4

Facebook

5

Trivia

6

Recent items that have been discussed and approved with the City and Command Staff include the extension of the uniform limitations for the wear of shorts. The time period for shorts has been extended to February 1. A more prescient change in policy will be the

expansion of the off duty policy. The City Risk Management Department has recently signed off on a SPEA proposal to add security details to our off duty policy, with the exception of banks and liquor establishments, within 10 miles of any border of the City. The Board has also

reviewed several PSU investigations and successfully petitioned the Chief to reduce the severity of certain punishments in regards to the suspension of off duty privileges. Keep in mind, meet and confer is upon us and suggestions are being considered at this time.

The Tale of Two Videos: A unique training opportunity Street Survival Insights with Dave Smith I’ve received dozens of e-mails lately — from all points on the compass — containing a variety of comments about two recent incidents where it may appear there has been failure of a TASER to stop an individual. In fact, in both of these instances, the simple truth is the tool didn’t get deployed effectively and just didn’t stop the

intended target. Before I go any further, you should check out the two videos in the sidebar to the right. Go ahead, click and watch — I’ll wait here for a few minutes. This is neither a condemnation of the officers involved nor the tool used, but proof that our job is done under great stress and usually with great ambiguity. Sometimes we are

fighting for our lives and sometimes we are simply to control a subject who just wants to escape. The problem is, we never know the ending of the story until the incident is over! Read the rest of the article, and watch the videos at: The Tale of Two Videos

***Remember, your equipment should compliment your

The Dispatcher

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DAB Policy and Officer Complaints

“Learn how to be a policeman, because that cannot be improvised. As regards being pope, you will see later. Anybody can be pope; the proof of this is that I have become one.”

-Pope John XXIII

The SPEA Board was recently asked to look into the allegations regarding the Disciplinary Advisory Board. The Board was informed and has since confirmed that the DAB is adding their own charges during the review of PSU cases prior to a recommendation for disciplinary actions. The DAB meets to discuss PSU Investigations that may result in unpaid leave, reviews the sustained charges,

and makes a recommendation to the Chief of Police for an appropriate punishment. It appears that the DAB has been taking more liberty than authorized in SPD Policy and adding charges to the PSU file prior to making a recommendation. Know that the SPEA Board is Investigation this issue and will report our findings soon.

Immediately prior to dispatching this issue it has been learned that the matter has been corrected, and the DAB will no longer have the power to add charges that were not already sustained in the initial investigation. SPEA President Doug Lynch has recently resolved the concerns in an open door meeting with Chief Hughes.

Answers from the previous issue:

2. Command Staff has recently extended the wear period for shorts from May 1 through October 31, to February 1 through October 31.

Test your OIT Question: 1. What is the culpable mental state required to prove possession of dangerous drugs? True or false: 2. Pursuits are not authorized by SPD Policy.

1. Per SPD Policy a rotational wrecker is allowed 30 minutes to respond to the scene of a police call, and is allowed an additional 5 minute grace period. After 35 minutes the tow will be canceled and the next wrecker off the rotation can be called.

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The Dispatcher

Recent Meeting Items At the Meeting on August 26, 2009 several items were discussed regarding work conditions, discipline, PTO time and work related injuries. The off duty policy was discussed as was the aforementioned item regarding the DAB adding charges to completed investigations. We also discussed, at great length, potential changes to the pay

structure for Supervisors as well as methods for increasing the awareness of the Association and bolstering our numbers. If you have any suggestions please feel free to email the editor. Browse the newsletter for in depth articles related to the items mentioned in this section.

“We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” -Thomas Jefferson

Future Meeting Items We will be having a meeting to discuss and finalize the proposals for meet and confer. Items will be discussed but the bulk of the meeting will be focused on reaching a consensus in regards to the pay structure. Amendments to the supervisor pay scale include, making MPO applicable to qualifying Sergeants

but restricting the program disallowing Sergeants who promoted prior to entry into the MPO program; raising the base pay rate for Sergeants, and allowing take home vehicles for patrol Sergeants. Again, other items will be considered if time allows. If you would like to have an item

considered at the meeting, please have a succinct proposal prepared for presentation at the meeting so that as much time as possible can be spared in the event that we fall behind schedule.

“Police Officers are the instillers of order, enforcers of justice, and the purveyors of peace.” --S. Hall

The Dispatcher

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SPEA Block Party The Board has noticed a lack of family feeling and cohesion within the Department and would like to host a block party within the city for all SPEA members and nonmembers to attend so that we may bring a feeling of cohesion to the organization. All members are encouraged to attend

the party and even air concerns with the Association as the Board members will be in attendance to address the crowd. The Board, at this point, is considering a Sunday lunch within the next 30 days. The Board is still taking suggestions on locations and times for the event; 11001400 has been

floated as a potential time frame for the occasion. Food will be provided and family is encouraged to attend. If you have any suggestions for the, day of the week, location, time, or even to suggest a particular type of food, visit the SPEA facebook discussion board and let us know about it.

husband passed away and left her widowed with five children to care for. If there are any worthy causes you can think of and have a method in which SPEA could donate time, or work the field to raise money for worthy causes the membership and board are more than willing to assist. Several options have already been submitted including trying to acquire a

vehicle from a local automotive dealer to be auctioned. Also mentioned has been the thought of petitioning the local restaurants to donate a certain percentage of its proceeds from a particular night’s service to help raise additional funds for the Victim’s Advocate Unit. If you can think of a worthy cause and method, please contact the editor via e-mail or in person.

Fundraisers

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” -Martin Luther King Jr.

SPEA has worked diligently in the past to raise funds for worthy causes. We have, on one prior occasion, attempted to raise money for the Victim’s Advocate unit. The ladies who run the unit usually purchase things for needy victims, such as diapers and formula, out of their own pockets. We have also helped raise funds for the Sullivan family, a City Hall employee whose

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The Dispatcher

SPEA on Facebook A facebook page has recently been constructed for the membership to air concerns. The page has now been made private and only accessible by invitation to members or eligible members of the Association. To become a member of the SPEA facebook page, and have access to the discussion boards, links, membership documents, paperwork, and the

wall, please contact the editor so that arrangements can be made to grant access to the page. Please keep in mind that the purpose of the page is to promote our mutual goal of creating a just work environment for all employees of the Surprise Police Department. Any members posting inappropriate materials, links, or comments to the

discussion board may face sanctions in accordance with the SPEA Bylaws. Feel free to login and comment on any of the current discussion topics including meet and confer, the block party, or create your own topic. You can also take the poll regarding the best days for the Board to convene a meeting for the membership or your preference for a lightweight uniform. It’s just a click away.

Restaurant Beat This section of the newsletter will be utilized to recognize certain establishments for their contributions to the Department and the Association. SPEA would like to thank Culver’s for their partnership in creating an incentive program in regards to bicycle safety. SPEA would also like to thank Outback and Carrabba’s for their endless support

during DUI task forces. These restaurants routinely supply food for about 100 people per event when the Department hosts a West Valley DUI Task Force. Next time you stop by one of these establishments be sure to thank them for their support.

“Part of the secret of a success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.” --Mark Twain

Win Movie Tickets Surprise Police Employees Association E-MAIL: [email protected] Editor

Be one of the first four (4) people to return the correct answer to the following questions and you could win two (2) tickets to an Ultra Star Cinema feature presentation. Just email the correct answers to the editor and win…it’s that easy. You must correctly answer all 3 questions.

1. What 2 numbers concerning alcohol concentration are specifically mention in regards to presumption of intoxication in Arizona DUI law?

retention level for this holster? 3. What current branch of the U.S. military was a corps of only 50 soldiers when World War I broke out?

2. In order to carry a secondary weapon you must purchase a holster. What is the minimum

New Logo The Surprise Police Employees Association has a new logo, and at an unbeatable price… free! SPEA would like to thank all of

We’re on the Web! See us online at: Facebook.com

Classifieds Post your News or items for sale in the Newsletter!!! Submit entries to [email protected].

those who played a part in acquiring the new logo, which can be seen directly under this article. The new logo is also the focal point for the

two newest additions to the SPEA family… Facebook and Twitter. When you logon to either page you will see the logo as it appears below.