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#FOUPO5XQ 1BSFOUT4VQQPSU 1SPKFDU4BGFLJET QH The Police Officers Journal

Some of the pre-school- age youngsters showed a bit of apprehension which quickly turned into curiosity as parents 70-6.& /6.#&3 46..&3 lined up to have them fingerprinted and photographed. Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP©) Send Address Changes to: 667 E. Big Beaver Road, Suite 205, Troy, MI 48083. (248) 524-3200 • FAX: 248 524-2752 www//leepusa.com S.O.S. Program: (800) 451-1220 www//polc.org

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR: Greg Huggett Battle Creek Police Dept. 1BSFOUT David J. VanHouten Grand Rapids Communications Paul C. Combs Berkley Public Safety Dept. 1SPKFDU Rick Bleich By A.J. Malta Muskegon Police Dept. Richard Hetherington Flint Police Dept. Brett D. McGrew Berrien County Sheriffs Dept. Brian P. Miller Lincoln Park Police Dept. Richard Prince Grand Rapids Police Dept. Thomas Wilk Macomb County Community College DIRECTOR, Richard Weiler PD (Retired)

PUBLICATIONS Danny Bartley • John Viviano

Postmaster: Please send returns and all other communications to the Law Enforcement Education Program Business Office: 667 E. Big Beaver Road, Suite 205, Troy, MI 48083.

Published by The Dale Corp., (248) 542-2400 Berrien County Sheriff’s deputy Brett McGrew and his daughter Executive Editor, Dale Z. Jablonski Hannah, 8, were among the first arrivals to take part in Project Safekids. Production staff: Diané E. Bertoli, A.J. Malta 2 • SUMMER 2007 The Police Officers Journal

T'MPDLUP 4BGFLJET-BVODI

bout 100 concerned western Mich- Sheriff’s deputy and POLC Board member, McGrew pointed to the national news igan families were on hand in May Brett McGrew, along with several of the coverage about the disappearance and Ato have free Identity packages area’s school districts. search for a Missouri teen, who was made up for their children thanks to the It was the first program done in found safe four days later in a suburban Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP). since LEEP took on the national leadership St. Louis apartment house along with The occasion was the first LEEP-sponsored role for Project Safekids activities. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 ´ Project Safekids event, held in Berrien County at the Point Blank Sports Club. The child identification kits, including fingerprints and current photo were all re- corded to an “Amber Alert-compatible” per- sonal computer disk, and given to the par- ents for safekeeping. The Amber Alert system is active in all 50 states and used by a majority of law enforcement agen- cies for missing children reports. Oversee- ing all of the activity at the Point Blank event was Scott Woods, Director of the Project Safekids child safety program. “It didn’t take much convincing for this effort to get under way, and I am really pleased at the public response it got,” said Hannah McGrew LEEP Executive Director Richard R. Weiler, shows a printout who was also on hand for the event – of her own Identity disk’s data record. held with the assistance of Berrien County

www.polc.org • 3 The Police Officers Journal

_ Roy was happy to help make the event a success by hosting it at his new Sports facility in Benton Township.

to the child’s parents or guardian. This permanent ID format easily interfaces with all police needs in the event an “Amber Alert” is ever required. One parent acknowledged “this is some- thing every parent just has to do,” and most expressed gratitude for the chance b Project Safekids director Scott Woods, at left, explains the process to (from left) Berrien to stop in and get it done. Most of the County Sheriff’s deputy Brett McGrew, and youngsters were fascinated by the ease LEEP’s Dale Jablonski and Richard Weiler. and speed of the process. Both LEEP and Project Safekids have the another abducted teen who had been The “Project Safekids” child safety same goal: To form partnerships between missing for four years. “This is the kind program enhances the national “Amber Law Enforcement agencies, communities of stuff that weighs very heavy on every Alert” program in use by most police agen- parents’ mind,” said the Berrien deputy. cies in Michigan. At each sponsored “Having a permanent record of their “event,” professionals collect fingerprints children’s identity is one of the things of each child through electronic scanners every parent should do,” he explained and take a digital photograph of each child – when asked why he had helped bring storing all information collected on a this event to Berrien County. single CD-ROM disk – which is given only

4 • SUMMER 2007 The Police Officers Journal

and corporate sponsors to offer needed Point Blank Sports Club owner services and programs at little or no cost Roy Daugherty and his wife to participants. Edie, make sure that daughter Mercedes, 7, is part of Project Point Blank Sports Club owner Roy Safekids. Daugherty said he was happy to sponsor the event at his new Benton Township business location as a site for Project Safekids and he helped promote the event throughout the community. “It was first of all an opportunity to be part of a real community service, and I was grateful for the chance to introduce the folks who showed up to all the aspects of our new building,” he explained. The Point Blank Sports Club has a health and fitness center with gymnasium, locker rooms weights and exercise equipment as well as indoor target ranges and a full service hunting and fishing equipment store. "1BSFOU LEEP is planning additional Project Safekids events in several Michigan communities this year. To help sponsor or bring an event to /FFET1SPKFDU your area, or for further information about Project Safekids programs, call 1-800-451- 1220 or go to wwww.projectsafekids.org 4BGFLJET,JUT or www.leepusa.com/home./html. d t’s every parent’s worst nightmare: A child who disappears in a crowd during

Berrien County youngsters show a picnic outing. A toddler wanders out of a store’s open door. A teen doesn’t a wide variety of reactions to the Icome back from the mall. Another child is missing, and it’s YOUR’s. Project Safekids process, as their According to the FBI, about 797,500 kids are reported missing each year. personal identity kits are prepared. Though most are found safe, the headlines tell of the tragic incidents that weigh all too heavily on the minds of parents. The FBI suggests that all parents should have the needed information to help identify their child ready to hand to law enforcement the instant they report a child missing. The best way to do that is with a child identification kit, like the one provided free to parents at any LEEP Project Safekids activity. Using the latest electronic technology the LEEP Project Safekids kits provide a police network-compatible permanent record in one complete package: • Electronically scanned, inkless, fingerprints. • A current photo • A detailed physical description Recording a child’s fingerprints is particularly important. Not only are everyone’s fingerprints unique, but also because they don’t change over time, as do physical appearance. LEEP Project Safekids kits are also completely compatible with police needs and the Amber Alert Network. Parents are the keepers of all information recorded for each child. No other copies are kept or maintained or accessible by any agency unless the parents provide it and give their permission. To help schedule a LEEP-supported Project Safekids event in your community, call 1-800-451-1220. d

www.polc.org • 5 $BMMJOHBMM $SVJT *OUFSOBUJPOBM1PMJ BU/PSUI"NFSJDB¤ By Brad Lindberg, Special Writer Photos courtesy Ed Ungerman, Ferndale PD; Woodwar

olice officers from almost every- where plan to keep the Woodward PDream Cruise from becoming an overwhelming nightmare. “Last year, even the Alabama High- way Patrol sent motorcycle officers to help,” Royal Oak Police Chief Theodore Quisenberry said. As befits the geography of the event, the Royal Oak Department assumes a central role in coordinating law enforcement needs for the 12th annual Cruise on Saturday, August 19, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Detroit suburb in one of the nine communities lining the Dream Cruise route and encom- passes about 25 percent of the 16-mile Woodward Ave. (US-1) route running north from 8 Mile Rd. at the Detroit-Ferndale border through Pleasant Ridge, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township to Wide Track Drive in the city of Pontiac. 6 • SUMMER 2007 The Police Officers Journal

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d Dream Cruise Committee, and Royal Oak PD

“The epicenter is at Woodward and Departments from areas outside the Cruise agency along the route without the co- 13 Mile,” Quisenberry noted. zone use the event as a chance to bone up operation and extra help provided by The Alabama officers were among an on contending with an overflow crowd. other departments. international police contingent from nearly “You can’t duplicate a situation like “Police aren’t trying to be party poopers,” 60 jurisdictions –mainly representing this,” Quisenberry said. “The only way to said Bob North, chief of the Berkley public but also including experience it is to be here. The Alabama safety department. “We have to make sure Minneapolis, Minn.; Ohio and even Windsor, officers said some of their NASCAR events this event is as safe as possible so people Ont. Canada – providing needed men and come close.” can enjoy it.” equipment to oversee the 2006 Cruise, This year, 1.7 million fans are anticipated SECOND GEAR when an estimated 1.5 million muscle to attend as 40,000 official classic cruisers The main threats to a smooth Cruise car mavens disregarded rainstorms and strut their stuff during what organizers are alcohol and knucklehead driving. bellied up curbside to ogle thousands of claim is the largest one-day automotive “We stress that this is an alcohol-free, horsepower heavyweights rumble up and catwalk on the planet. There are also family event,” Quissenberrry said. “We are down the route. the unofficial home-builts and personal very aggressively enforcing unsafe acts and The police motorcycle contingent alone custom cars and antiques joining the driving. Cars and alcohol have never mixed.” totaled 103 officers, Quisenberry pointed daylong drive-by’s on Woodward adding He said he’s never had a major mishap out with no small measure of gratefulness to the show. during his years with the Cruise. for all of the help they provided. With that level of participation, the Cruise “Every time we say that, we knock on FIRST GEAR threatens to become a gridlocked crawl wood,” Quisenberry said. “But for the most Mutual aid yields mutual benefits. without law and order. The demands of part, it’s a good crowd. People are here The Woodward Dream Cruise is a ready- the crowds along Woodward could easily to see cars and have a good time.” made training ground for crowd control. overwhelm the efforts of every police CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 ´

2006 Woodward Dream Cruise Motor Unit, Royal Oak, Michigan Royal Oak PD Photo www.polc.org • 7 The Police Officers Journal

Photos courtesy Ed Ungerman, Ferndale PD and the Woodward Dream Cruise Committee $MBTTJD$PQ$BST  $MBTTJD$PQT $SVJT By Brad Lindberg

ubble tops and black & whites are a special part of the Woodward Cruise slated to lead the pack in this event devoted entirely to police and Byear’s Woodward Dream Cruise. other emergency vehicles. . A collection of classic police cars and “We traditionally get 70 to 80 vehicles,” emergency vehicles will mark the official he said. “The Ferndale parade is a mile long start of Cruise weekend Friday, Aug. 18, sometimes.” Following the Ferndale parade, at 5 p.m., with a lights and sirens parade the emergency vehicles are displayed near on Woodward in Ferndale. city hall. “Most cops are just a bunch of kids Ungerman took on extra duty planning anyway,” explains Officer Ed Ungerman of this year’s parade and show. A national the Ferndale Police Department. “Any time association of old-time police car collectors we get the chance to drive and play with scheduled their annual convention in South- lights and sirens, we love it.” Ungerman, east Michigan to coincide with Ferndale’s 36, a car buff and owner of a 1955 Mercury twist on the 12th annual cruise. hot rod, is in his seventh year organizing CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 ´ The Police Officers Journal

$SVJTJO¤8PPEXBSECONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 City of Birmingham Photo

Officers are on the lookout for burnouts, It was a time of chrome grills and crazy drag racing and unsafe stops. tail fins, bench seats and ragtops, little “If someone hotrods their car, loses deuce coupes and doo-wop, Holly carbu- control and goes into these crowds, you’re retors and Buddy Holly. talking about 50 people getting seriously Police remember about 1,000 participants inured or killed,” Quisenberry said. “We turning out for that inaugural event which tolerate absolutely no unsafe driving.” is about equivalent to one good Saturday THIRD GEAR night in the early ‘60s according to one The first Woodward Dream Cruise in 1995 grizzled veteran of those “Good old nights” grew from musings by a group of area along the Woodward strip. business owners reminiscing about occu- “We handled the whole thing with three pying idle evenings during the 1950s through or four guys,” said Karl Swieczkowski, chief mid-1970s Woodward in Royal of the seven-member Pleasant Ridge police Oak between 11 Mile and 14 mile roads department, one of the smaller depart- F 5PP in classic cars. ments along the route. Think “American Graffiti.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 ´

In 2006 this chopped, channeled and chromed “little deuce coupe” from Troy came in full police regalia.

www.polc.org • 9 The Police Officers Journal

_The Michigan State Police often bring their fully restored ‘37 Ford flathead V-8 to the show

$MBTTJD$PQ$BSTCONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 “I expect to have another 40 to 50 cars The sheriff brings boats. We have all kinds The show honors public service and law from across the United States,” Ungerman of stuff – dragoons, armored vehicles and enforcement technology. said. “We’ll have police cars from the 1930s command center vehicles. I expect this year “Every police car is a custom car in its own up to today.” to be bigger and better than ever.” right,” Ungerman said. “Every one is differ- Last year, fire truck owners started show- “It’s a family event,” Ungerman said. ent and has tradition. One of my favorites ing up. Participation has broadened to “We’ll have K9 and SWAT demonstrations. is a 1940 Ford that was a Detroit police car include SWAT vehicles, bomb disposal The Detroit Police Blue Pigs play music.” that has been restored to original condition.” trucks and more. No longer just for police Public reaction runs the gamut. Kitchen and Ungerman would rather look cars, the event is now called the Ferndale “A lot of old folks remember these types at vintage police cars than work in them. International Police, Military and Emer- of cars driving around town,” Ungerman aid. “Can you imagine?” Kitchen said. “You’d gency Vehicle Show. “Kids like the K9 demonstration and the be out there all day in 90-degree heat shifting “There’s a little of everything,” said Fern- specialty equipment.” three-on-the-tree without air conditioning.” dale Chief Michael Kitchen. “The FBI comes. “It’s like driving a tank,” Ungerman said. d

10 • SUMMER 2007 The Police Officers Journal

$SVJTJO¤8PPEXBSECONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 But it wasn’t long before pent-up nostalgia In neighboring Berkley, Deputy Chief combined with a ready supply of pre-1975 Bob North puts his staff in gear starting Detroit sheet metal to lure 250,000 spec- Thursday before the Cruise. tators. It seemed like just about every- “We have to prepare for normal road body had an old classic car hiding out in patrols, a Classic Car parade on Friday their garages, just waiting for a chance night before the Cruise and the Dream to show it off by just cruising on Wood- Cruise on Saturday,” North said. ward again or putting it into one of the Overlapping the shifts of officers and official shows. dispatchers boosts manpower. Reserve “It’s really grown in popularity,” units are activated. Coordination extends Swieczkowski said. to the city’s ambulance contractor. Officially, the Cruise remains a one-night Public works employees block some celebration. In reality, it has sprouted into neighborhood streets intersecting Wood- a nearly weeklong happening that fills ward. The sides of feeder streets having the streets with spectators, and drivers fire hydrants are designated no parking basking in the appreciative applause of zones to make room for fire trucks and the onlookers watching the drive-bys. other emergency vehicles. The days are gone when Swieczkowski, “Everybody’s working those three days,” who has been on hand for every Cruise so North said. far, could grant half of his officers time Officers reserve the wide median islands off to watch beefed-up cars roll by. along the split-lane Woodward strip for Now, everybody works – not only on mini field stations every ¼ to ½ mile. Cruise day, but also on days leading up to it. “We set up a triage area close to the The same goes for all departments along command post and rest center on Saturday,” b Some of the classic police “hemi V-8 the expanded corridor. North said. “We also provide food, water Mopar monsters” on “Our staffing goes up,” added Sgt. Van and Gatorade for nearby agencies.” display during the 2006 Woodward Cruise easily Simaeys of the Bloomfield Hills police depart- Patrol units are deployed on golf carts out-horsepowered the ment. “We put more people on the road.” outfitted with blue emergency lights and street rods they chased. OVERDRIVE stocked with first aid kits and fire extin- Preparations for this year’s Cruise be- guishers. c Ferndale’s 2006 Woodward Cruise show gan two months after last year’s ended, Officers are dispatched into the field event had some classic police iron from Idaho “early and often,” North said. Foot and and from Canada’s RCMP. Most of the communi- according to Quisenberry, who represents ties along the from Detroit law enforcement on the Cruise planning bicycle patrols mingle with the public to to Pontiac have a full slate of activities and establish a tone of prevention, enforcement displays during the Woodward Dream Cruise. committee. and interaction. Traffic enforcement begins early that week. “It tends to have a trickle-down effect,” North said. “The crowd has become more cooperative over the years. Drinking that char- acterized the first few years has dried up.” It takes bicycles and motorcycles to allow officers to scoot in and out of traffic and monitor the crowd. Surveillance even comes from above. “We have police on horses and in he- licopters,” Quisenberry said. “After noon, traffic backs up so far that driving a patrol car is limited.” d www.polc.org • 11 'VMMBHFOEBDPNJOHVQ BUUIFBOOVBM10-$ $POGFSFODF4FNJOBS 'SJEBZŸ4BUVSEBZ  "VH4FQU Grand Traverse Resort Seminar sessions 100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd. • Labor Relations update • A look at pending Police Legislation PO Box 404 • Acme, MI 49610-0404 • Public Sector issues explained Only registered delegates and • Financial /Retirement planning tips invited guests may attend • Details of Grievance/Arbitration procedures POLC Agenda Questions? • LEEP Dream Scholarship awards Call the POLC Office: 248/524-3200 • POLC Business meeting, elections

3&4&37&300.4/08$BMMPS'"9

%FMFHBUF3FHJTUSBUJPO "OOVBM10-$.FFUJOH BOE-BCPS4FNJOBS ARTICLE V (By-laws) DELEGATES TO ANNUAL MEETING ® 'SJEBZ "VHVTU  SECTION 1. Each participating bargaining unit in the Labor Council shall be entitled to one (1) delegate to the Annual Meeting for each ten (10) BNŸQN members or major portion thereof in their unit, provided however, that each participating unit shall have at least one (1) delegate. 4BUVSEBZ 4FQUFNCFS  SECTION 7. Any delegate from a bargaining unit that is delinquent in BNŸ$PODMVTJPO payment of dues shall not be admitted or seated at the Annul Meeting.

Please fill out and return this registration form with non-refundable $50 per person fee. Make conference checks payable to POLC. ______Name of your unit and its current enrollment. Number of delegates allowed List names of all unit delegates here: (Please type or print neatly) ______This registration must be returned before Tuesday, August 14, 2007 to: Police Officers Labor Council • 667 E. Big Beaver Rd, Ste. 205. • Troy, MI 48083-1413

12 • SUMMER 2007 The Police Officers Journal

The scenic Grand Traverse Resort awaits attendees of the Police Officers Labor Council annual business conference/seminar in Traverse City Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 2007. Register now. The distinctive tower and its well-equipped, newly refurbished Photos courtesy Grand Traverse Resort Photos courtesy Grand Traverse conference facilities are already a northern Michigan landmark.

Grand Traverse Resort’s block of POLC reserved rooms are on an availability-only basis. Reserve yours now at 800/748-0303. UI"OOVBM 10-$(PMG0VUJOH

'PVSQFSTPO4DSBNCMF Golf attire is required by the course; all golfers must be in a collared -JNJUFEUPªSTUHPMGFST shirt, walking shorts or long pants. Denim jeans or denim shorts are NOT permitted. NO tank tops, NO tee shirts, NO spikes. 5IF8PMWFSJOF Cost: $67 per person (SBOE5SBWFSTF3FTPSUDPVSTF Includes 18 holes with cart (non-refundable) 'SJEBZ "VHVTU  Reservations guaranteed only when golf is paid in full. 5FFPGGUJNFQN 4IPUHVO4UBSU For information or questions call 248/534-3200.

RETURN REGISTRATION FORM: Make checks payable to POLC/Golf Golfer’s Names Phone # and Department Name ______This registration must be returned before Wednesday, August 15, 2007 to: POLC Golf Outing • Police Officers Labor Council • 667 E. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 205 • Troy, MI 48083-1413

www.polc.org • 13 The Police Officers Journal .FNCFS/FXT $POUSBDU4FUUMFNFOUT Cheboygan County Corrections Mediated settlement for Kalkaska Village Police Four-year agreement Three-year contract. • Wages: • Wages: 3% effective Jan. 1, 2007 3% effective Mar. 1, 2007 4% effective Jan. 1, 2008 3% effective Mar. 1, 2008 4% effective Jan. 1, 2009 3% effective Mar. 1, 2009 5% effective Jan. 1, 2010 • Sergeant’s wages remain $2 above Patrol wages. Vacation increases to • Cleaning allowance increased to $350. All employees moved to the Correction 160 hours at 8-14 years; to 180 hours at 15 years; and 200 hours at 20 years. Officer’s pay rate. Retirement increased from B-3 to B-4 with employer paying Longevity pay increased to $125 per year starting at year one, instead of $100 full costs. A voluntary Physical Fitness Incentive program allows employees increases paid at five-year intervals. Clothing allowance increased by $10. to earn from one to three personal days for completing different levels. • Health care: Insurance coverage changes allow employer to change providers • Health care: A long term Disability Policy covering 60% of employee’s so long as benefits remain consistent and equivalent to current benefits. pay from the 91st day to the employee’s 65th birthday replaces existing Employer pays all Co-pay health insurance premiums through 2007, all practice of payment for up to half of 560 hours at retirement. employees pays 5% in 2008 and 10% in 2009, changing current practice Bargaining team: Mike Hielman, Brenda Straight, aided by POLC Labor where half of the unit pays 10% of premiums. 2007 prescription co-pay Rep. Ken Nash. $10/40 reimbursed back to $3. And for 2008 reimbursed back to $10. In 2009, $10/20 co-pay - no reimbursement. Gladstone Department of Public Safety • Retirees: Health Insurance coverage adds language that coverage is for spouse and dependants at time of retirement. Three-year contract Bargaining Committee: Glenn Artress, Kevin Rohn, assisted by POLC • Wages Labor Rep. Ken Nash. 3% effective Jan. 1, 2007 3% effective Jan. 1, 2008 State mediator: Tom Kries. 3% effective Jan. 1, 2009 • Shift premium increases to .30¢/hr. for second shift, and to .50¢/hr. for third shift. Birthday becomes a floating holiday. Funeral leave increased to 48 hours. • New hires: will be in the MERS CD retirement plan with employer contributing 8% and up to an additional 3% match for a total 11% contribution. Medical coverage opt-out for new employees will be $200 per pay period. Probation period increased from 6 months to one year. • Health care: Employees receive health insurance coverage for 12 years after retirement; Employer pays premium increases for years 1-5, employees pay increases for years 6-12. Bargaining team: Gary LeClaire, Todd Crow, aided by POLC Labor Rep. Ken Nash. ® 4UJMMPOUIF#PPLT

hat do you think about enforcing some of the weird In Kansas … laws still on the books in your own jurisdictions? ¢It’s against the law to catch fish with bare hands. W Drop us a note with samples, please. Meanwhile (Only bears can catch fish with bear hands) take a look at these examples and imagine what your job would In Kentucky... be like if they had to be stringently enforced: ¢By law, anyone who has been drinking is “sober” until he or she In Indiana … “cannot hold onto the ground.” (When ordering a suspect out ¢Liquor stores may not sell milk. of the car, officers must check to make sure it’s the hands, (Not even Cream Sherr, crème de menthe, or Irish Cream?) and only the hands, that are up in the air. Nothing else) ¢Bathing is prohibited during the winter. ¢It is illegal to transport an ice cream cone in your pocket. (Use warm water to free suspect from the ice before arrest) (And messy) d

14 • SUMMER 2007 The Police Officers Journal

"SCJUSBUJPO +PJOT Holiday pay grievances resolved in Berrien County $PNNVOJUZ&GGPSU Settlement of grievances from the halting of Berrien County’s longstanding policy of paying triple time to holiday workers have been reached. The triple UP"JE"MMFHBO time pay was halted on Jan. 1, 2006 by the current Sheriff, resulting in the filing of three grievances from both the dispatchers and deputies units. 0GªDFSJO/FFE The dispatchers grievances were settled during contract negotiations. During contract negotiations for the deputies, POLC Labor Rep Tom Reed, on April 3, he Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) prior to his untimely death earlier this year, proposed payment of triple time to joined with Sheriff’s Deputies and local police offi- all officers for Holiday hours worked back to Jan 1, 2006 and acceptance of a cers in Allegan County by providing $1,000 in June double time Holiday pay provision effective with the new contract. With the T settlement acceptance, arbitration was cancelled. to assist the family of Sgt. Steve Kent of the Saugatuck- Douglas Police Department after fire completely destroyed Results of 312 Hearing headed for Court of Appeals their home earlier this year. Jackson County dispatchers got overall favorable results from an Act 312 Sgt. Kent, a 20-plus year veteran of the Saugatuck- hearing dealing with multiple issues involved in a preview of a major case Douglas Police Department, and a current part-time Marine which is already going to the Court of Appeals. Deputy with the Sheriff’s Office, has been active instruct- The panel ruled for the employees on most major issues including the length ing the D.A.R.E. program to elementary students along of the contract (three years), on a 3% wage increase with retroactivity back to 2005, a $400 increase in the Employer’s yearly contribution for Employee health with other educational programs in area schools. Kent care costs and an Employer-proposed drug testing policy allowing unlimited also coaches rocket football in Allegan and works for numbers of random, without reason drug tests; denied by the panel as a clear the Allegan City Police Department from time to time and unlimited invasion of employee privacy which was not justified. filling in when they are short staffed. The Employer’s proposed two-year contract, which, had it prevailed, would The blaze which destroyed their home is believed to have eliminated continued use of the arbitration clause – as the contract would have already expired. have been caused by faulty electrical. The family made it Uniform cleaning allowances were eliminated, as the Employer proposed. out of the home safely due to working smoke detectors, It should be noted that the Employer had stopped providing uniforms which it but it may be some time before the family of five can had discretion to do, in 2005. The loss of this money to employees helped return to a home of their own. They are currently residing justify the significant increase in health insurance costs. in a hotel until the insurance comes through. Command Unit gets quick settlement in In order to help fill the gaps, LEEP joined with local law combined cases enforcement and area businesses to help the family by Two 312 arbitrations and two fact findings were created when the Allegan purchasing food, clothing and other needed items. Donation County Deputies Road Patrol Unit and the Corrections Command Unit combined accounts are established at area banks in Allegan County. their cases. Panel hearings were held and a successful settlement came quickly • Macatawa Bank in Douglas and local branches. for the Command group. Monetary donations can be made to the “Kent The Command Unit was awarded a three-year contract for the years 2006– Family Fire Fund”. 2008, with annual 2.5% wage increases with full retroactivity. • National City Bank in Allegan with branches in The largest stumbling block was related to health care co-pays, which this group already paid. Additional new insurance choices brought in by the County Martin, Otsego and Gobles. Monetary donations will require a 5% co-pay, with remaining options requiring a 10% co-pay as previ- can be made here in the name of Steve & Lisa Kent ously paid. Opt out health insurance increased from $2,000 to $3,000 per year. for the Fire Fund effort. Retiree health insurance credit increased • Allegan County Community Federal from $10 per year of service to $12, cre- Credit Union has established an account to help ating a maximum benefit of $300 per month for each retiree to the family where donations can be made in the name spend on health care. The com- of the “Kent Family Fire Fund” pensatory time cap was reduced Contacts are Chief Ken Giles at the Saugatuck-Douglas from 180 hours to 150 hours maximum. Twelve other remaining Police Department 269-857-4339; Deputy Mark Lytle, Allegan issues mained status quo. d County Sheriff’s Office, 269-673-0500 ext. 4286 or Sgt. Todd Wagner, Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, 269-673-0500 ext. 4456. d

www.polc.org • 15 The Police Officers Journal

(JWFT  #PPTUUP4UVEFOUT¤(PBMT ive more Michigan students were selected to receive $1,000 enforcement family. She is pursuing a Political Science degree college grants to pursue law enforcement/public safety hoping to continue on to law school. She has been an active Fcareers by the Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) volunteer in community service charitable organizations serving scholarship committee in 2007. Now in its third year, the LEEP the disadvantaged. scholarship program has already awarded some $15,000 in • Elizabeth L. Leon of Ferndale, Mich., a Michigan State grants encouraging students to pursue public safety careers. University student and a 2004 graduate of Ferndale High School. is working toward a Criminal Justice degree at Named as this year’s winners of LEEP Dream Scholarships, were: Michigan State University. She has been an active volunteer • Ashley D. Maurice of Rockford, Mich., a student at Ferris for several community service charitable projects and a State University in Grand Rapids and a 2003 graduate of Cedar National Honor Society member. Springs High School. She has interned with the Grand Rapids • Christopher J. Haber of Iron Mountain, Mich., a 2007 Police Department and also the Kent County Probation Dept. graduate of Iron Mountain High School is heading to Northern She has completed police academy certification and is Michigan University this fall to begin work on a Criminal pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Justice degree, and follow in his father’s footsteps into a • Katrina A. Herrington of Battle Creek, Mich., a graduate of law enforcement career. He has been a long time community Pensacola Christian Academy will attend the Police Academy service volunteer at the Breen Senior Citizen Center in Iron at Kellogg Community College this fall to earn police officer Mountain. The five students will receive their grants at LEEP’s certification. A former Battle Creek Police Dept. Cadet, she has annual membership business meeting, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007 attended Law Enforcement classes at Kellogg and Kalamazoo in Traverse City. Valley community colleges and Grand Valley State University for the past three years. Richard R. Weiler, LEEP’s executive director said he was • Leah M. Kuharevicz of Muskegon, Mich., a student at heartened by the maturity and realistic idealism shown by this St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind., and a 2005 graduate year’s crop of applicants who sought the grants to pursue law of Muskegon Catholic Central High School, hails from a law enforcement/public safety degrees. d

Law Enforcement PRSRT STD Education Program (LEEP©) U.S. POSTAGE 667 E. Big Beaver Road, Suite 205 PAID Troy, MI 48083 Traverse City, MI Permit No. 29

Address Service Requested