SPECIAL VO EDITION
Member of COPS California Organization of Police & Sheriffs
SAN FRANCISCO POLICE OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION To Promote the Ideals, Policies and Accomplishments of the Association and its Members SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION SAN FRANCISCO NOVEMBER 1998
Chief Fred Lau Needs A Special Message from Chris Passage of Proposition A Cunnie, President SFPOA hief Fred Lau is the number have been proud to serve my city one law enforcement officer over the past 18 years as a police C in the city. He has the re- I officer and as the President of the sponsibility to do everything he can in Francisco Police Officers' Asso- to make our streets safe, our homes ciation. secure, and our neighborhoods har- During my years on the beat, I saw monious and peaceful. That is a big the San Francisco police department job, and one which requires depend- make great progress in the fight able ranks of top-notch, experienced against crime. It is our excellent of- officers. ficers who have helped us turn the The process of recruiting viable corner. These resourceful women and candidates, screening them thor- men run public safety programs like oughly, training them for six months community policing, bicycle patrol at the academy, and putting them and juvenile outreach. Without such through the rigors of field training innovative officers, these successful and certification is a costly and time programs would be injeopardy. That's Chris Cunnie, President, San Francisco consuming endeavor. It requires sev- why it is vital that San Francisco Police Officers' Association eral hundreds of thousands of dol- keeps the kind of officers who are lars, more than 18 months, and thou- helping to win the fight against crime. they all receive equal pension and sands of man-hours to successfully Unfortunately, our ability to at- disability protections. place just one recruit class onto the Fred Lau, SFPD Chief Of Police tract and retain these officers con- Due to a large surplus in the city's streets. It is anticipated that several most deficient police benefit plans in tinues to be at risk. San Francisco retirement fund, the cost to the city classes per year will need to be gen- the state. Not only do we pool a lesser provides younger police officers (those will be absolutely nothing for at least erated in order to keep up with the number of qualified applicants, but hired since 1976) the lowest pension 15 years. After that, reduction in attrition and resignations over the we also lose many trained and expe- and disability benefits of any other overtime and other savings should next few years. rienced officers to departments that major city in California. offset the minimal costs. Chief Lau needs to recruit only the have better disability provisions. As police officers, our top priority Proposition A has already earned best men and women for the San San Francisco police officers risk is to keep you and your family safe. the support of leaders from every Francisco Police Department, and their lives to serve this city. Chief Lau But in our line of work, we must also community in San Francisco, includ- would expect each one to remain is duty-bound to provide every man consider how to protect our own fami- ing Mayor Willie Brown, Congress- with us for their entire career. The and woman in this department with lies should we be killed or seriously woman Nancy Pelosi, former Mayor current -Tier-II" disability/retirement the best training, education, and injured in the line of duty. Because Frank Jordan, State Senator John plan is a frustrating impediment to equipment necessary to get the job San Francisco provides pension and Burton, Assembly members Carole achieving that goal. It is among the done. He will want to ensure every disability protections so much lower Migden and Kevin Shelley, District officer that they and their families than surrounding communities, the Attorney Terence Hallinan, Board of will be adequately and fairly pro- Department is having difficulty at- Supervisors President Barbara Leland Yee, Help the Chief of Police help them. On the November ballot, there is a Amos Brown and Jose Medina, Chief measure that will help us maintain of Police Fred Lau and scores of U? . I Let's show our police officers that they are a valued and appreciated the highest quality police depart- others. ca I Cl) resource. Byretaining ourbest people ment. PropositionAwifi provide equal We would be proud to earn your we make our city safe, and we save pension and disability protections support as well. San Francisco Police money by deferring recruitment and for all officers in the Department, Officers hope we can count on your training costs. regardless of race, sex or date of hire. support for Proposition A on Novem- C Vote Yes on Proposition A, and This is a simple, low cost measure, ber3. give Chief Lau the resources he will that will equalize benefits with other need to attract and retain qualified cities. All our officers take equal risks. uyv^- " I police officers. Proposition simply makes sure that
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-1 4) C.) . C) Your voice counts! Tuesday, November 3, o 04 0 1998 is election day. Exercise your most "Should things go wrong at any time, the empowering American right. Cast your people will set them to rights by the .- vote to enhance public safety and to peaceable exercise of their elective perpetuate the great San Francisco rights."
c- ctj traditions of equity and fairness. Vote yes - Thomas Jefferson (IcDQ) on Proposition A on November 3rd.. Page 2 Special Voter Edition November 1998
Officers For Justice The SF Chamber Future Police Equality For Women Urge Yes On A Of Commerce Leadership Needs Urges Yes On A Prop. A Proposition A is a fiscally-prudent plan to keep our most-qualified po- lice officers working in San Fran- cisco. A $4 billion surplus in the city retirement fund means that no tax dollars will be needed for up to 20 years. By improving pension and dis- ability protections, we keep the most highly-trained officers here in San Francisco. The benefits are significant and the costs are low. We urge all San Women Police Officers assume sig- Franciscans to vote YES on A. nificant risks while policing the streets of this city, and deserve to be San Francisco equally provided for in case of dis- Chamber of Commerce ability. Our current system is flawed and makes for an unfair and inequi- Most of the African-American of- table two-tiered pension plan. It is an ficers currently working in the SFPD I Endorse Proposition A unbalanced system that discrimi- were hired after 1976. The inequity nates against those of us hired after of their Tier II disability and retire- The San Francisco Police Depart- 1976— as most women were. Propo- ment system needs to be corrected so ment will need a new generation of sition A is a simple, common-sense that all officers, regardless of race or leadership soon into the new mullen- measure that would correct a blatant gender, work under the same condi- mum. Proposition Awill enable us to inequality within our Department. tions and have the same protections. recruit and retain qualified young Please support fairness and vote Proposition A provides us all with a officers to fill that need. We can't Yes on Proposition A. fair and balanced plan. afford to lose our best officers, but Please join us in supporting this that's what will happen if we can't vital measure. Vote YES on Proposi- provide at least competitive disabil- Sergeant Carri Lucas tion A this November. ity protections. Proposition A is a Chairperson, San Francisco Police cost-effective measure that will save Officers' Association Women's Issues Committee Inspector Marion Jackson. money by reducing overtime and President, Officers For Justice training costs. Help protect the future of San Fran- San Francisco cisco. Vote YES on Proposition A Proposition A Creates a. Stronger Police Force Republican Party AL Nelder Former San Francisco Supports Prop A Chief of Police In June 1994, San Francisco vot- ers approved Proposition D, which Our police officers take great risks required that the San Francisco Po- to keep our city safe. They deserve to lice Department be brought up to full be treated equally when it comes to Women Of The staffing levels. This measure, pension and all-important disability authored by the San Francisco Re- protections. We need our officers fo- SFPD Support publican Party, prompted Mayors cused on keeping our communities Proposition A Jordan and Brown to increase the safe, not worried about who will take number of Police Academy classes, care of their families if they are killed and to put more officers on the streets. or seriously injured in the line of However; the San Francisco Police duty. Prop. Ais a fiscally-responsible Department still has not reached full solution to this pressing problem. staffing levels. The major impedi- Please join me in voting YES on A. ment has been the two-tier police retirement system. Under the two- Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi tier system, San Francisco police of- ficers hired after 1976 receive lower retirement and disability than their Neighborhoods counterparts almost everywhere else in the state. Experienced San Fran- Support Proposition A cisco Police officers transfer to other Proposition A is about fairness. It departments because those depart- is also about keeping trained Police ments provide better benefits. Officers in San Francisco. The present We can stem this hemorrhage by unequal, two-tiered system drives passing Proposition A, which will many of our newly trained officers to equalize benefits. other cities, resulting in a financial Vote Yes on Proposition A. loss to taxpayers as new officers have to be trained. RETAIN AND SUP- San Francisco Republican Panty PORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS! The Women's Issues Committee of Donald A. Casper, Lee S. Dolson, the POA urges all voters to support Arthur Bruzzone, Chairman, Coalition for San Francisco women in San Francisco law en- Ted Turrell, Jody Smith, Neighborhoods Representing 33 forcement. Some of our issues are Howard Epstein, Jody Stevens, Neighborhood Associations particular to special details or as- Sue Woods, Harold Hoogasian, signments, but all officers - both Police officers put their lives on the Jun Hatoyama, Albert Chang women and men - who patrol our line to protect our families. The very streets assume the same hazards least we can do is make sure that if and risks. Please vote to give women they were killed or injured, they can officers the same disability and re- take care of their own husbands,
55 tirement provisions that more senior wives and children. Kfl ,S. officers enjoy. Proposition A will create a stron- Vote YES on Proposition A on No- ger police force and a safer San Fran- vember 3rd. cisco. Please join us in support of Proposition A. Officer Rowena Wilson Womens' Issues Assemblymember Kevin Shelly Committee, SFPOA Assemblymember Carole Migden November 1998 Special Voter Edition Page 3
Equal Justice A Fiscally Gay/Lesbian Officers The San Francisco Our police officers have made great Responsible Solution Support Equality Democratic Party progress in the last ten years to keep our families safe. Let's take this low- Strongly Supports cost step to protect their families. Proposition A Please join me in voting YES on A. This sensible measure will help Dr. Anita Grier protect all San Franciscans while promoting equality in the police force. All of our officers take equal risks. It's Asian Peace Officers high time they all were offered the same disability and pension protec- Support Proposition A tions. Proposition A is a low-cost remedy that will help keep qualified officers at work, thus lowering overtime and training costs. Proposition A helps keep the best officers right here in San Francisco. Proposition A is a fiscally-sound Lesbian & Gay San Francisco po- Please join us in voting YES on A. solution to a growing problem. lice officers strongly support Propo- The two-tier police retirement and sition A. The current two-tier retire- San Francisco Democratic Party disability system was put into place ment system discriminates against Natalie Berg over 21 years ago. Since then, San our members by basing benefits on Chair of the San Francisco Francisco has earned the dubious an arbitrary date of hire. Voting Yes Democratic Central Committee distinction of providing the lowest on Proposition A will help provide pension and disability protections of equal treatment for all officers. Vote any major city in California. to treat all San Francisco police offic- San Francisco Latino The hard fact is that our officers ers fairly. Vote YES on A on Novem- must consider what would happen if ber 3rd. Officers Support they were killed or injured in the line Proposition A of duty. That's why we face the dan- Phil Fleck ger of losing some of our finest police Golden State Police Officers' The San Francisco Asian Peace personnel. Association Officers Association supports the Recent budget reports show that Charter amendment which would San Francisco has a $4 billion sur- correct the inequity caused by the plus in our retirement trust. This Firefighters Urge Yes "Tier 2" system and provide equal measure will not cost tax-payers a benefits for all officers without dis- cent for up to 20 years. On Proposition A crimination. At no cost to the taxpay- A surplus in the retirement sys- ers for up to twenty years, we can tem doesn't mean that it is time to create both a stronger department raid the coffers. But it does give us and a more just system. the opportunity to keep our police Vote Yes on Proposition A. force strong without endangering city finances. David Tambara Please join me in voting Yes on President, San. Francisco Asian Proposition A. Police Officers' Association Barbara Kaufman President, San Francisco Women Officers Board of Supervisors Network Urges Yes On Prop A Single Parents Proposition A is a long-overdue measure that would adjust inequi- Need Proposition A ties facing Latino officers within the All of San Francisco's public safety San Francisco Police Department. employees need equal and fair dis- We are proud to help protect your ability protections. Proposition A will families. Please help us protect our make that happen. It will give San own. This low-cost measure helps Francisco's crime-fighters the exact guarantee adequate protection for same disability and retirement pro- our families in the event we are killed visions that voters gave to SF or seriously disabled in the line of Firefighters in 1996. duty. Because most of our officers Join me in voting YES on Proposi- were hired after 1976, we suffer from tion A. Let's treat all San Francisco the lowest pension and disability pro- public safety personnel fairly and tection of any other major city in equitably. California. That's why we askyou to join us in Jim Ahem support of Proposition A.. President, Firefighters Local 798 David Elliott Women police officers have fought San Francisco Latino Police equality in the station houses and on Officers' Association the streets of San Francisco. We did I am a divorced, single mother. I so by giving all San Franciscans the am also a police officer. My greatest fA best possible police services awoman worry is that I will become gravely /5 555 can provide. This means assuming disabled or killed while policing this the same risks as male officers. Propo- city, and my children will not be sitionAwill enable all women officers adequately provided for. Proposition IT'S AN to assume those risks knowing that A would alleviate those concerns by they do so with the same disability providing them with a proper survi- and retirement protections now given vors benefit. I care about San Fran- AMERICAN to more senior officers. cisco and my children. VOTE Please join us in voting YES on Please support single and divorced Proposition A. parents. Please vote YES on Proposi- RIGHT tion A. Officer Sally Dehaven Officer Sylvia David LV Womens Officer Network Divorced Single Parent Page 4 Special Voter Edition November 1998 YES on Proposition A: Equal Risk Equal Protection
ll San Francisco police officers take equal risks to keep Along with the increased overtime and training costs, the loss our city safe. Yet currently, in any given incident, officers of the City's experienced and talented officers would diminish Aworking side-by-side receive dramatically different dis- innovative programs like community policing, bicycle patrol, ability and pension protections. and juvenile resource and diversion. Proposition A will enable A November ballot measure, "Proposition A," will correct this us keep our trained and qualified officers hard at work on the inequity. Proposition A will ensure that the future well-being of streets of San Francisco and managing the community pro- our police officers and their families will be secure if the officer grams that we need to keep our neighborhoods safe. is injured or killed while protecting others. City financial experts agree that Proposition A will cost Today, less senior officers, including the majority of women, taxpayers nothing for the next 15 years due to a large surplus African-American, Asian, Latino, lesbian and gay officers, re- in the retirement fund. After that, it is anticipated that the ceive pension and disability protections far less comprehensive savings generated from retaining trained officers and reducing than those which protect more senior officers. The less officers the need for overtime will offset any future costs. receive the lowest benefits of any major police department in It is important to remember that in 1996, an identical California. In this tight labor market, San Francisco faces the measure passed overwhelmingly for the San Francisco Fire prospect of losing trained and tested officers to other cities Department. Prop. A simply gives police officers the same fair because of this strained inequity. treatment that voters extended to our firefighters two years ago. If the current system is left unchanged, the taxpayers will be Prop. A has already earned the support of leaders from every forced to absorb the overtime costs needed to compensate for community in San Francisco because it is sensible and fair. the loss of experienced officers and for the training of less Cast your vote on November 3rd for a more unified and qualified personnel. equitable police department. Vote YES on Proposition A and keep San Francisco progressive and safe.
POA Endorsement List U.S. Congress Nancy Pelosi Governor Gray Davis Lieutenant Governor CrthBtisthñiàñte Secretary of State Michela Alioto Treasurer Phil Angelides Controller Kathleen Connell Attorney General Bill Lockyer State Senate Jackie Speler Assembly Carole Mlgden Kevin Shelley Board of Supervisors Tom Ammiano Amos Brown Mark Leno Gavin Newsom Mabel Tang Board of Education Eddie Chin Frank Chong Mauriclo Vela Community College Board Robert Burton Anita Crier Andrew Shorter Lawrence Wong Propostions Yes on A Yes on B Yes on C Yes on D NoonE Yes on F Yes on H Yes on I