The Fourword Volume 42 Number 9 September 2014

Maryland State FOP Biennial Conference

The Maryland State Fraternal Order of Police held their 24th Biennial Conference in Solomons, Maryland from August 10 – 13th. The delegates from Baltimore County Fraternal Order of Po- lice, Lodge #4 participated in the election of your state FOP representatives, state political en- dorsements, and changes to the state constitution and by – laws.

Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown received the state wide endorsement for Governor. Sena- tor Brian Frosh received the state wide endorsement for Attorney General. Comptroller Peter Franchot received the state wide endorsement for reelection.

Prince Georges County FOP Past President Vince Canales was elected to be the Maryland State FOP President, and former Maryland State President, Daryl Jones, also from Prince Georges County, was elected to the Conductor position. All other Maryland State Officers were unop- posed and retained their positions for an additional two years.

Representing the Professional Police Officers of Baltimore County The Fourword

Seminar. LODGE 4 OFFICE

 August 10 – 13 Attended the 9304 Harford Road Maryland State Fraternal Order Baltimore, Maryland 21234 Phone (410) 668-0004 of Police, Bi – Annual Confer- FAX (410) 668-8126 ence. Toll Free (888) 313-3501  August 14 Attended a Step 3, www.foplodge4.org

MEETING MINUTES Office of Administrative Hear- ELECTED OFFICERS August 2014 ings promotional posting griev- Cole B. Weston ance. President  The August General Business  August 15 Met with a represen- (443) 956-2679

meeting was held on August 25, tative from M & T Bank to up- Steven G. Comegna David M. Rose st nd 2014 at FOP Lodge 4. Presi- date and review the FOP Lodge 1 Vice President 2 Vice President dent Weston called the meeting F.O.P. Lodge 4 F.O.P Lodge 4 4 account. (410) 409-0293 (443) 956-2643 to order at 7:30 p.m. Chaplain  August 20 Met with a member Merkle gave the invocation. David J. Folderauer, Sr. Robert W. Caskey concerning resignation from the Lodge Secretary Treasurer President Weston led the Pledge department. RATT CID-Robbery of Allegiance. (410) 382-2075 (443) 956-2615  August 22 Participated in the

FOP Lodge #4 golf tournament. W. Donald Patterson Ryan Massey ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS State Trustee Sergeant at Arms  August 25 Met with a county PC12 CID - Homicide

 Past President Caslin was ex- employee in reference to a work Paul A. Merkle L. Timothy Caslin cused. Brother Mike DiCara related injury, attended meet- Chaplain Past President ings of the Political Action Retired Retired was on vacation. Brothers Massey, Rommel, and Joe Committee, the Executive EXECUTIVE BOARD of DIRECTORS

Caskey were working. All other Board of Directors, and chaired Kenneth F. Schubert Mike DiCara elected officers and Board the FOP Lodge #4 General Chairman Vice Chairman members were present. Legal Membership meeting. Retired PC 4 (410) 404-2788 advisor Mike Marshall was also in attendance. ~ 1st V. P. COMEGNA ~ Thomas G. Scally Lou Lagna CID - Arson Retired APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES  July 29 President Weston and I Donna Patterson Patrick Zito PC12 Retired OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING met with the Baltimore County James P. Rommel, Jr. Ryan Franks Director of Human Resources, PC11 CID - Gun Squad  A motion was made by Brother George Gay, in reference to the Joe Caskey Kathy Kraemer CID - Homicide PC 6 Grumbach to accept the minutes county’s failure to “post” the of the July, 2014 General Mem- LODGE STAFF application opening date for the bership Meeting. A second was Lt’s test. Juanita Bouthner—Administrative Assistant Nancy Skinner—Administrative Assistant made by Brother Folio. There  August 5 Attended a meeting of was no discussion. The motion the Maryland State Lodge Spe- LEGAL ADVISORS

passed. cial Investigations Committee. Schlachman, Belsky & Weiner, P.A.

 August 6 Attended another Phone (410) 685-2022 REPORTS OF OFFICERS IAS Cases Michael Marshall meeting of the Maryland State ~ PRESIDENT WESTON ~ Lodge Special Investigation ********************** Committee. The Fourword is the official monthly  July 29 Met with The Director publication of Baltimore County  August 7 Traveled to Prince of the Office of Human Re- Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 4. Georges County Lodge # 89 in sources, George Gay in refer- reference to a special investiga- ence to the promotional posting tion being conducted by the Fourword Editor grievance. Kathryn Greenbeck Maryland State Lodge.  July 31 Attended an EEOC Precinct 8  August 10 – 13 Attended the Technical Assistance Program

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Maryland State Biennial Confer- Association of ence at Solomon’s Island. Bereavements Baltimore County  August 14 Attended a Step #3 Retired Police grievance hearing regarding the Retired Brother Lieutenants’ test. Woodrow Harman Meeting  August 19 Met with a member ************ ***************** about an IAS case and another Retired Brother November 4, 2014 member about retirement op- James Zulauf ***************** tions. All meetings are held at  August 22 Participated in the ************ Parkville Heritage Gardens at FOP Golf Tournament. Keith T. Weber  Father of Brother Keith 7:30 p.m. August 25 Attended the Execu- tive Board of Directors and the Weber II General Business Meetings. th ************ 24 Maryland State FOP Bien- Margaret Mary Himpler nial Conference in Solomons, ~TREASURER CASKEY~ Mother of Brother Maryland. Henry “Butch” Himpler   August 8 Worked at the lodge to August 15 Reconciled and up- loaded our Campaign Finance prepare for the MD State FOP ************ Report that was due before Au- Conference. gust 26, 2014.  August 10-13 Attended the bien-  August 20 Transmitted and re- nial Maryland State FOP confer- corded our “Pre General Report ence in Solomons, MD. # 1”, to the State Office of Cam-  August 15 Met with our account paign Finance. manager from M&T Bank to dis-  August 21 Attended Phase II cuss our account. range.  August 18 Met with two repre-  August 22 Attended and played sentatives from BB&T Bank,  August 25 Attended a meeting in the FOP Lodge # 4 Annual who were trying to gain our busi- of the Political Action Commit- Golf Tournament. ness. tee, attended the Executive  August 25 Attended a meeting of  August 22 Participated in the Board of Directors Meeting, the Political Action Committee, FOP Lodge 4 Golf tournament at and attended the General Busi- attended the Executive Board of Rocky Point Golf course. ness Meeting. Directors and General Business  August 24 Worked at the lodge. Meetings.  August 25 Attended a P.A.C. EXECUTIVE BOARD meeting, the EBOD meeting, and OF DIRECTORS REPORT ~2nd V. P. ROSE~ the General Membership meet- ~ Kenny Schubert~ ing at the lodge, where I reported  August 6 Attended a fundraiser on the financial status of the  An Executive Board of Direc- for Delegate John Cluster. lodge. tors meeting was held on Au-  August 10-13 Attended the gust 25, 2014. The meeting was SECRETARY FOLDERAUER called to order at 5:00 p.m. Past

th President Caslin was excused.  August 10 – 13 Attended the 24 Brother Mike DiCara was on Maryland State FOP Biennial vacation. Brothers Massey, Conference in Solomons, Mary- Rommel, and Joe Caskey were land. working. All other elected offi-  August 22 Attended and played cers and Board members were in the FOP Lodge # 4 Annual present. Legal counsel Mike Golf Tournament.

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Lodge #4 "Fallen Heroes" Memorial Scholarship Awards

Applications for the Fall, 2015/Spring, 2016 scholarships are available now by contacting Lodge #4. Nine (9) $3,000.00 awards are made each year.

Applications for these awards are open to the sons, daughters, adopted children, step-children or legally court-appointed wards, who are citizens of the United States. The applicant’s parent or guardian shall have been an Active or Retired member in good standing of Baltimore County FOP Lodge #4 for at least one (1) full year prior to the date of application for the current year scholar- ship awards. The applicant must be or will be a full-time student at a recognized college or univer- sity.

The deadline to return the completed application with required attachments is February 1, 2015.

Marshall was also in attendance. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Course and was sold out.  Motions that were made, after receiving a proper second, were ATHLETIC COMMITTEE DONATION REVIEW discussed, voted upon, and ap- ~Don Patterson~ COMMITTEE pear in this issue under the ap-  The Lodge 4 Golf Tournament ~Paul Merkle~ propriate committee reports. was held on Friday, August 22,  The committee met and made 2014 at Rocky Point Golf the following motions: Page 4 The Fourword

 Motion to donate $ 100.00 to the sergeants however, did the Stahl advised he would have a Semper Fi Fund on behalf of a “mental gymnastics” to go on to decision by August 20, 2014. member who will be participat- the County website during the ap-  On August 8, 2014 the FOP filed ing in the Marine Corps mara- plication period and apply for the an application for a Preliminary thon. The event is to be held on test even though there was no no- Injunction in Baltimore County October 26, 2014. tification the application process Circuit Court to have the Lieuten-  Motion to be a Wish Sponsor at had been opened. ant exam postponed until the the second annual Summer Cele-  President Cole Weston and First grievance could be resolved. A bration benefiting Make-A-Wish Vice President Comegna met with hearing was held on August 27, Mid–Atlantic with a donation of the Director of Human Resources, 2014 in front of Judge Cox. At $1000.00, which provides a table George Gay to discuss the situa- the conclusion she stated she for eight guests at the event on tion and attempt to reach a fair would not rule until the Mr. Stahl Saturday, September 6, 2014. and amicable resolution. Director ruled on the grievance.  We received thank you letters Gay refused to accept any propos-  On August 28, 2014 near the from the Benedictine Sisters and als the FOP had to resolve the is- close of business on the last day the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for sue. he had to deliver a decision, Mr. the recent donations from FOP  A motion was made in committee Stahl issued a decision denying Lodge 4. to file a class action grievance on the grievance in favor of the behalf of the affected members. County. In addition, he ruled that GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE That motion passed unanimously. should the FOP file an appeal to ~Dave Rose~ That recommendation was pre- step #4, the grievance should be sented to the executive board of heard under paragraph (c) of the  The grievance committee met to directors. The board voted unani- grievance procedures which is discuss the upcoming Lieuten- mously to file the grievance. On advisory arbitration. ant’s promotional test. The July 30, 2014 a grievance was  On September 2, 2014 Judge Cox Lodge has received several calls filed and sent to the Director of issued an order denying the from members who missed the Human Resources George Gay. FOP’s request for a Preliminary application deadline. There are  On August 14, 2014 a grievance Injunction. 23 eligible sergeants who are hearing was held in front of Ad-  On September 3, 2014 the griev- affected. ministrative Hearing Officer ance committee members met to  The committee discovered that Stahl. The grievance lasted about discuss the two decisions with our the Administration did not fol- an hour. At the conclusion, Mr. low the procedures in article 7 of the Administrative Manual re- garding notification to candi- dates that the application process was open. The Department sent out a Personnel Announcement dated April 4, 2014 listing the study material for the Lieutenant exam. In the announcement there was paragraph which stated “Specific information re- garding the promotional posting, as well as the test date and loca- tion, will be sent out in a sepa- rate communication in the fu- ture.” There was no future com- munication of any kind sent out regarding the posting. Several

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legal counsel. At the conclusion a motion was made to not file an FOP Lodge 4 Members Recognized at appeal to step #4 because it would be advisory arbitration. Maryland State FOP Conference in Even if we were successful at Solomons, MD advisory arbitration, the test will have already taken place and the County could simply choose to ignore the decision. The motion passed unanimously in commit- tee. The recommendation was presented to the Executive Board of Directors and the mo- tion passed.

LEGAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ~Dave Rose~

 The County has filed an ap- peal to the Circuit Court of the October 23, 2013 Board of Ap- peals decision in the Brandt Bradford case. At this time Chaplain Paul Merkle President Cole Weston re- there is no hearing date. ceived the 2014 MD State received the 2014 MD State FOP Member of the Year FOP Lifetime Achievement  The County’s appeal to the award. award. Maryland Court of Appeals in the Absence Control Policy case was heard on June 4, 2014. On July 30, 2014 we received an unfavorable decision. The court reversed the Court of Special Appeals and ruled in favor of the County Administration.

 The County’s Briefs to the

Court of Special Appeals in the

Retiree Subsidy case were sub- mitted August 1, 2014.

PENSION COMMITTEE ~Dave Rose~

 At the August Pension Board of Trustees meeting the Board Brother John Cluster received the 2014 MD State FOP approved 18 total retirements. Legislator of the Year award. None of those were from the police department.

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POLICY REVIEW $45.00 each for a total expendi- COMMITTEE ture of $90.00. GOOD OF THE ORDER ~Dave Rose~  To purchase one (1) ticket to an event being held by State Senator  Brother Jeff Williams thanked the  There were five (5) new poli- Ed Kasemeyer (District # 12) on Lodge for our donation in memory cies to review this month. The September 17, 2014. The cost is of Woody Harman, who helped committee had no issues with $250.00. Brother Williams and his family any of them.  To act as a “Host” for an event during a time of great hardship. being held by Joe DiCara  Brother Grumbach advised that POLITICAL ACTION (candidate For Baltimore County the remaining 2014 Retirees’ As- COMMITTEE Council, District # 7) on Septem- sociation meeting will be held on ~Steve Comegna~ ber 18, 2014. The cost is November 4, 2014. $1000.00.  Brother John Cluster requested  The Political Action Committee  To purchase an $250.00 sponsor- assistance at the polling places on met on Monday August 25, ship for an event being held by November 4. 2014. The committee continued State Delegate Dana Stein  The Annual BCoPD reunion of to discuss our ongoing endorse- (District # 11) on September 23, both active and retired officers ment process as we approach 2014. will be held on September 19. the November 4, 2014 General  Each motion was approved by the  A crab feast fundraiser will be Election. The committee also Executive Board of Directors. held on September 20 at the Buc’s dealt with several fundraiser This report was presented to the Club. requests. Those requests were membership at the August 2014  Public Safety Day will be held on framed as motions and pre- General Business Meeting. Each September 27 at the North Plaza sented to the Executive Board motion was read and received a Shopping Center located at of Directors at the August 2014 proper “second.” The motions Waltham Woods Rd. and Joppa Board Meeting. Those motions were individually discussed and Rd. in Parkville. were as follows (each vote in voted upon. The expenditures  Brother Lou Lagna thanked the committee was unanimous): were approved by the member- lodge for the fruit basket that was  To purchase a $250.00 Char- ship. sent when he was in the hospital. donnay Sponsorship to an event  There were a couple of questions  Second Vice President Rose ad- being held by State Delegate asked about the endorsement vised that he worked with Nation- Susan Aumann (District # 42B) process for the 7th District Balti- wide to allow members to roll up on September 05, 2014. more County Council race. Presi- to 80% of the upcoming 3% bonus  To purchase a $500.00 ticket to dent Weston addressed those into deferred compensation ac- an event being held for Lt. Gov- questions and explained the proc- counts. ernor Anthony Brown on Sep-  During the month of August, FOP ess. tember 06, 2014. Lodge #4 sent four (4) cards and  To purchase up to six (6) tickets NEW BUSINESS flower arrangements to bereaving to an event being held by members. Two (2) thank you George Harman (candidate for  Brother Buzz Beeler spoke cards were received. Four (4) fruit Baltimore County Executive) against Lodge 4’s endorsement of baskets or flowers were sent to on September 14, 2014. The Joe DiCara for County Council. members for hospitalizations or ticket cost is $50.00 each, for a There was some discussion and births. maximum expenditure of President Weston advised that the  The meeting was adjourned at $300.00. PAC Committee has not taken 8:26 pm.  To purchase two (2) tickets to action regarding the information an event being held by State in Brother Beeler’s column. Delegate Steve Lafferty (District # 42A) on September 16, 2014. The ticket cost is

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The October The November FOP Lodge 4 FOP Lodge 4 GENERAL GENERAL BUSINESS BUSINESS MEETING MEETING

will be held on will be held on

Monday, Monday, October 27, 2014 November 24, 2014 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

at at FOP Lodge 4 FOP Lodge 4 9304 Harford Road 9304 Harford Road