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PRESIDENT'S NEWSLETTER
January 2012
Happy New Year to all the members of Fresno
Deputy Sheriff’s Association! I hope all of
you had a memorable holiday season.
With the 2011 now history, this allows us a
time of reflection on our accomplishments
and look to ways we can improve in the new
year. The great thing about welcoming a new
year, it's a refreshing start- to make new
goals and resolutions, both personally and
professionally. Of course, the biggest
challenge is holding yourself to these
goals. Although change is sometimes
difficult, it offers us a great opportunity
to grow.
There are going to be many exciting
challenges for the Fresno Deputy Sheriff’s
Association in 2012. Politically, we will be
joining forces with many others across the
State of California to stop the “Paycheck
Deception,” initiative that will be going on
the ballot in November of 2012.
Paycheck Deception gathered enough
signatures to take the issue to California
voters. Most of the signatures were
generated from Orange County, where the
battles of pension and high salaries come
into play with public employees vs. private
sector (big-business). The basis for the
initiative is basically to silence the voice
of public employees. This would require each
Association/Union to annually reinitiate the
members who pay into their respective
Political Action Committee by having them
sign up again, and write a personal check to
the fund. Currently, we deduct PAC dues
through payroll deductions. Payroll
deductions would not be allowed any longer.
We all know how time consuming and difficult
this process would be each year. The
initiative is written to show the private
sector must follow the same rules for its
employees, when it comes to PAC dues. The
question becomes, when is the last time a
private sector employee of a large
corporation paid into PAC? The answer is
simple, this practice does not exist.
Corporate executives and company boards do
the bidding of the Corporation. The
employees are there to work. This affects us
greatly for endorsements to political
candidates/friends within local government
who we endorse. I will continue to keep you
informed about this in future editions of
The Goldstar.
I would also like to say Congratulations to
a few Sheriff’s Department employees and
longtime members of the FDSA. Arley Terrence
and Steve McCommas, both Sergeants, were
recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
I have known them both for many years and
know they have the skills and leadership to
perform well in this position. On behalf of
the entire FDSA, I want to congratulate both
of you and wish you well in your new ranks.
During 2011, I received both praise and
criticism for speaking out about heated
issues facing this agency.
As the leader of your organization, my job
is to protect the hours, wages, and working
conditions at the Fresno County Sheriff's
Office. The members elect me to provide them
a voice; of both pleasure and displeasure.
The membership of this organization has been
clear about areas to focus on improving
during the last couple of years. It sees
major room for change in the areas of hours,
wages, and working conditions.
I am excited and looking forward to 2012. As
always, you can expect my utmost attention.
I am here for all of you and your individual
needs. I realize these continue to be tough
times, economically for many people and
agencies. We continue to face many
challenges.
I would like to take a moment to remember a
great employee we lost a day after
Christmas. Longtime dispatcher, Denise
Depew's died after she went home sick
Christmas night. Her unexpected death
surprised and saddened so many people in our
department. Denise was the voice behind the
hot calls many of us deputies would respond
to. She was there giving us critical
information and keeping us in line. Many
deputies have shared stories of their
occasional ‘Denise,’ scolding- for talking
crazy over the radio. ABC30 did a story
about her and I have posted that on the FDSA
website under, FDSA NEWS for those to visit
and see. Denise was truly one of a kind and
we will miss her.
Hope this year is a great one for you!
Stay Safe. |
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Ten years
have passed the day the United States was
attacked by terrorists. On that fateful day,
September 11, 2001- our great nation lost
many Americans. Children lost mothers or
fathers, mothers and fathers lost a child.
And thousands more, lost friends. This was
a day that will forever be a dark and
devastating one for this nation. But, in the
midst of such an overwhelming tragedy- this
was also a defining day for this country. It
was also a day heroes were born and will
live forever. Those police and fire
personnel who went above and beyond to save
innocent lives. Some of the first responders
died trying to save others during the
collapse of the World Trade Center. Ordinary
citizens, who signed up to serve their
community, stepped up that day. Some saved
lives, many ended up giving their own- in a
desperate attempt to rescue others. They are
hailed as heroes and will never be
forgotten.
The
Fresno County Sheriff's Office was operating
with a heavy heart during this tragic time
for our nation, as well. Twenty days prior
to the WTC attacks, we lost our friend
and co-worker Erik Telen.
Telen responded to a call in the foothill
community of Dunlap, when a violent
confrontation with an armed suspect ended
his life. Erik’s memory has not been
forgotten by the Fresno Deputy Sheriff’s
Association. We have memorialized Erik
through the dedication of highway signs, a
bridge in Dunlap, and his named etched in
stone across the nation.
When life
altering incidents like this happen, you
always remember where you were the moment
you got the news. I remember getting the
call that a fellow deputy had been shot in
the mountains. I was working in OSS
(Operation Safe Streets) at the time, and on
surveillance. We were ordered to put on our
uniforms and begin handling calls in
Metropolitan Fresno, or Area Two. Since
there were literally no deputies in the
area, five of us rallied up and starting
clearing the screen for dispatch on several
priority one calls that were holding.
At the
end of every August, and the beginning of
September- I am constantly reminded of the
tragic series of events that changed
America, and many of us at the Fresno County
Sheriff's Office. Erik Telen, Jeff Isaac
(Sept 8, 1997) and the 9/11 attacks, are a
few losses that personally, I feel very
moved by. It's almost as if the memories
take me back to the time that life changed
because of those events. But, through
tragedy, I believe that we have the
opportunity to grow and learn. We have the
opportunity to honor and find strength in
legacies. Hopefully, we also find peace.
For the
10 year anniversary of the WTC attacks, the
FDSA purchased an ad to appear in the
special edition of The Fresno Bee. We opted
to go with a non-traditional approach to
mark the monumental occasion. Our message
was simple and intended to reach out to
every citizen in Fresno County. We are here
and have been here, everyday- and every call
for help, since 1856. From land and air, we
are here to ensure their safety from all
attacks, both domestic and foreign that may
occur in our community. The public needs to
know the efforts of our Deputy Sheriffs,
that we give beyond what they expect from
us.
It's
clear this agency has been through a lot
during the last ten years. Four deputies
have been killed, we've undergone a change
in leadership within the department, and are
currently dealing with an economic downturn
that may- in fact, just be the 'new normal'.
Budget
times are tough and getting tougher.
Unfortunately, the department did not
receive any money from the Federal COPS
grant that was given to several agencies on
September 28, 2011. The Sheriff submitted
the grant in May of 2011. Over 2700
agencies, from throughout the nation applied
for the grant, with $240 million being given
to law enforcement agencies. 238 agencies
were funded under this grant; and while, our
department was not put in a category of
denied, it was given 'pending status'. This
means if more funds become available, we
would be eligible.
During
budget hearings, the department had budgeted
38 deputy sheriff positions. This was based
on the assumption we would be receiving this
grant. At that time, during budget hearings,
I raised some concerns publicly about the
budget being based on a ‘hope and wish,’ of
receiving a competitive grant. The
department remained optimistic that FCSO had
a real good chance at receiving the grant,
especially since we didn’t even apply for
the last grant. The CAO and Board of
Supervisors agreed to budget money,
anticipating we would receive the grant.
One
positive step taken during budget hearings
was the Board of Supervisors voted to put
$3.9 million aside in an ‘Interest and
Miscellaneous’ fund, just in case we didn’t
receive this grant. Fortunately, having that
money aside will cover the cost of our
positions.
I am
constantly meeting and speaking out at Board
of Supervisors meetings about how important
keeping each and every deputy sheriff
working in this department is to us and our
community. I meet personally with the CAO,
Board and Sheriff to re-iterate the
importance of our jobs. This has everything
to do with keeping the people of Fresno
County safe in their homes.
I go back
to WTC attacks that are memorialized
throughout the nation. This is a constant
reminder to all of us of what occurred. The
same holds true for the last decade, within
this department. Although we remember the
fallen through memorials, and dedications of
bridges and highways- we can never let the
memory of our deputies, and the sacrifices
they made go unnoticed. Our everyday lives
are busy, and often times, we all get
caught up in our own day to day activities
and challenges. I hope we all can reflect
and remember where we have been and where we
are going.
Stay
Safe. |
