Blue Lives Matter

NEY CITY R O TO F T N A E T W C I Y R O T R S I K D DIA DETECTIVE REPORTDETECTIVE INVESTIGATORS’ ASSOCIATION of the District Attorneys’ Offices, City of New York Spring 2016 AA PolicePolice OfficerOfficer isis killedkilled everyevery Photo Credit: American Police Beat Photo Credit: American Police 5858 hourshours The myth of the killer-cop ‘epidemic’ do Blue Lives / / Matter Story on page 10 NEY CITY R O TO F T N A E T W C I Y R O T R S I K President’S Message D JOHN FLEMING DETECTIVE DETECTIVE INVESTIGATORS’ There ASSOCIATION is an old DISTRICT ATTORNEYS’ b e myth that un- OFFICES – ionism and pro- in a un- CITY OF NEW YORK, INC. fessionalism are ion and a police PO Box 130405 officer. It seems as though separate ideals. New York, NY 10013 While this myth we have two strikes against us from 646.533.1341 may be old, it the outset. Remember that even the DAs 877.DIA.2747 is blatantly un- themselves weren’t on our side during true. The DIA negotiations, so it leaves us wondering www.nycdia.com has been tasked which side they would be on if one of our JOHN M. FLEMING members got into trouble, either on or off with many complex issues throughout the President years. But none was more frustrating than the job. Remember who your friends are our campaign to get a new contract. With and that even the people we work for had JACK FRECK Vice President no one outside the union in our corner, we total disdain for us during the contract ne- still achieved our objective by negotiating gotiation process. If they weren’t on our SAM AHDOUT a strong contract that provides a founda- side, how could we expect the general Secretary-Treasurer public to be? Board of Trustees As you read this, the number of DIs is in- ROCCO GALASSO “Our long national creasing. An influx of younger Detectives Citywide Supervising Trustee is a welcome change and we are counting nightmare is over.” on our more tenured members to mentor JEFFREY BOYCE — President Gerald R. Ford our new Detectives. We were all rookies Queens County once and thanks to some intervention and NicHolas RANIERI tion for the future. Detective Investigators luck, we made it. Show them why this is Bronx County in the five counties are now treated no dif- the best profession in the world. ferently at the bargaining table than our FRANK CONNELLY New York County counterparts in the NYPD or other DA of- The DIA is poised to examine areas that 2 fices. We now have the same contractual we had to neglect at the bargaining table JOHN BEALE because of the burdens associated with Kings County AGE raise as well as the same pension plan as P our negotiations. For example, our Legis- members of the NYPD. Those are major EDWIN MORALES achievements, giving us all reason to be lative Director Jack Freck and Supervisor Special Narcotics Prosecutor proud. Trustee Rocco Galasso are working with our friends in Albany to secure legislation RicHARD Abbate Richmond County The reasons behind why we needed to for all Detective Investigators to ride the fight so hard, for so long, should be lost railroad without charge, as do other police Retiree Delegate on no one. Going forward, the member- officers. JIM DIVER ship must remain vigilant in our purpose and do everything possible to ensure the Finally, the union will, once again, hold Chaplain union remains a strong force. It is an our Annual Award Ceremony in Battery Robert RAINIS unfortunate fact that not only do unions Park Gardens. The event was suspended have a bad name, but so do police officers last year due to financial constraints as- THE DIA Report is published by the sociated with our contract negotiations. in general. Detective Investigators’ Association of the As part of the event, we will award par- District Attorneys’ Offices, City of New Much has been made about the anti-cop tial college scholarships to select chil- York. Please send press releases, news, or sentiment in this country. Even as we see dren of our Detectives. This is our chance photographs to the DIA, PO Box 130405 officers sacrifice their lives on an almost New York, NY 10013. ©2015 Detective to honor and recognize members who Investigators’ Association. All rights daily basis, we still hear the profession be- reserved. DETECTIVE INVESTIGATORS’ ASSOCIATION DETECTIVE INVESTIGATORS’ have gone above and beyond in the du- ing torn down by civilians, politicians, and ties of their everyday jobs. Without much NEWSLETTER DESIGN/PRODUCTION DIA the media. This is a very difficult time to recognition from the DAs themselves, RWD Group 845.364.0222 l marci@rwdgroup.com Off DutY ACTIONS The DIA has been made aware of the fact that in the past, members of this Association have taken action off duty in accordance with their police officer duties and responsibilities. It was during this time that we became concerned because it now appears obvious to us that there are few, if any, rules or regulations that spell out what is expected of DIA members in the event they become involved in an off-duty incident. Further, we are concerned that there exist no procedures regarding questioning of an employee, the employee’s rights of representation, or other relevant matters involving off duty conduct. As such I have directed our counsel to immediately send a letter to Labor Relations Commissioner Robert Linn, and each of the District Attorneys and Narcotics Prosecutor requesting a meeting with those parties to discuss the mandatory subjects of bargaining which I mentioned. I remind all members that you are under no legal obligation to get involved, especially if your intervention places you in a position of peril or if such intervention requires you to behave in a reckless or careless manner. We all realize that our law enforcement training, experience, and knowledge provide us with unique skills and abilities to function successfully in a confrontation. SIGN UP Handling such confrontations is a normal part of our job. Some have said that there is substantively no difference between on duty and off duty incidents, that FOR police officers are on duty 24/7 and that they may take actions off duty as though they are on duty. E-mAIL But is that true? Are there legal issues which may impact that concept? Are there personal, departmental, and or municipal exposures which must be identified and considered? Those are some of the questions we need to have BLASTS answered. Your Trustee will keep you informed of any updates and anyone involved FROM in such an incident should immediately contact his trustee so that your DIA rights can be protected. THE DIA ASSOCIATION DETECTIVE INVESTIGATORS’ Many times throughout the year, the DIA sends President’S Message important e-mails to members who have provided JOHN FLEMING their e-mail addresses. This is it is incumbent upon us to show our members that their the fastest way to disseminate work is valued and appreciated. timely and important We ask that all members continue to support the union and keep us informed of any events you think we should be information. If you would like aware of. Your Trustee serves as the voice for your squad to be included, please log onto at all board meetings. They need to be informed in order the DIA website at www.nycdia. to keep us informed. You are our eyes and ears on the job and out in the field. We need you to work with us so com and enter your information. we are all better informed. P Of course, it’s then important to AGE actually open the e-mails and read The Board wishes all our Detectives and their families 3 a safe and happy spring. them! Razzle Dazzle Detective Investigators’ ‘Breaks’ in Pay Case by Richard Steier, Jan 25, 2016 Forty years ago, John Fleming said, an arbitrator ruled Paid Like New Cops that Rackets Investigators employed by the city’s five District Attorneys were entitled to a starting salary And so going into the talks on a contract to replace equal to maximum pay for Patrolmen in the NYPD. the one that had expired in 2010, his members were at the wrong end of the NYPD salary scale: instead “It was the time of the fiscal crisis, the Financial of that wiped-out award that would have had them Control Board,” Mr. Fleming noted, “and they ripped matching the $76,000-plus maximum salary for that [award] up and it went away.” Police Officers that was in effect until recently, most For the past 15 years, as president of the Detective of them were stuck just a shade above the NYPD Investigators Association, Mr. Fleming has been starting pay of $41,975. There were no salary steps to give the Detective Investigators a sense that they “I’ve got guys with nine years in the job and they’re were advancing, and no real promotion process for a title that has three levels: line investigator, senior not senior investigators,” Mr. Fleming said. “I’ve got investigator, and supervisor investigator. guys who have three or four years in who are senior Each of the six prosecutors’ offices that employ investigators. Are they really better, or are [the DAs] them has a separate personnel system, but they had one thing in common, Mr. Fleming said: “Not one just picking favorites?” office had a criteria for how you become a senior investigator,” meaning those who made the move up trying to get his 265 members the kind of contract did so completely at the discretion of management.

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