Publication FRANCISCO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION VOLUME 39, NUMBER 9 SAN FRANCISCO, SEPTEMBER 2007 www.sfpoa.org 11,000 Vacant Police President's Message Jobs In California Justice Delayed is From The San Jose Mercury News, for a police chief," said Bob Stresak, Justice Denied August 22 spokesman for the California Com- By Gary Delagnes, So where do mission on Police Officer Standards SFPOA President we go from here? Since East Palo Alto Police Chief Ron and Training. He said there are 11,000 Very simple. Davis took over the force two years vacant police jobs statewide. n December 6, 2005 we were 1) The Com- ago, 10 officers have left, including James said the attrition is pain- witness to the so-called "Vid- mission has to two who took jobs with Menlo Park ful, but there is verylittle room to Q eogate scandal" that resulted relinquish their police. maneuver in the city's $14.5 million in the immediate suspension of 26 total control Two others, both detectives, are budget. members of our Department. The over every mi- in the background-check phase with The best hope for future salary in- ensuing weeks were obviously very nor disciplinary Menlo Park police, Davis said. creases, City Attorney Michael Lawson stressful for the officers involved in matter and give Davis doesn't take it personally. He said, is a boost in sales, property or what could, at best, be described as a the Chief the Gary Delagnes knows one of the main reasons his hotel occupancy taxes. well-intentioned overture to honor a right to sus- officers are leaving is because their Even in cities where police officers former Captain and, at worst, just a pend, by charter amendment, for up salaries are the lowest in San Mateo are better paid, retaining them can bad idea. to 45 days. County and possibly among the lowest be a challenge. In Menlo Park, which The courts subsequently deter- 2) The Commissioners should take in the state. is siphoning police from East Palo mined that the Chief of Police had turns conducting surprise audits of And he isn't shy about saying so, Alto, 22 officers have left the force overstepped her bounds by suspend- 0CC complaints. (The names of the even though the city and police union since January 2006, said Chief Bruce ing the involved officers for a minor of can be redacted are set to begin negotiating a new con- Goitia, who took over the department offense that was originally tagged as but someone has to see what's going on tract to replace the one that expired last May. a crime of moral-turpitude. What hue in that office.) It's the only way they in June. Pay, benefits and commute times and cry was raised to have those offi- are going to see how the 0CC fails to "Obviously, having the lowest pay for officers who bought homes in cers who were involved removed from accomplish its mission statement by and benefits exacerbates the chal- the Central Valley were among the their regular beats and tossed behind investigating matters that should be lenge," Davis said. "We need to take reasons given for leaving, Goitia said. a desk? There was none. There was no otherwise relegated as training and these challenges and start working Three former officers also have filed a organized effort to have the officers policy issues. with the union to put the current discrimination lawsuit against the city involved in the skits removed from 3) Hold the 0CC and the Depart- industry situation into proper per- and police Sgt. Ron Prickett, who they their regular assignments. ment to strict time lines as far as in- spective." allege racially harassed them. Goitia But the Chief and the Mayor backed vestigating personnel matters. There is A top-tier officer in East Palo Alto said he is confident the suit is not af- themselves into a political corner, no reason why the 0CC should wait earns $6,163 per month, compared to fecting department moral. so they had to do something. They before they get around to interviewing $8,138 for a similar officer in Redwood The department is also struggling said that the investigation into this police officers who were named in a City, $7,052 in Atherton, $6,900 in to fill four emergency dispatch posi- matter would be placed on the fast complaint filed nine months prior - Menlo Park and $6,749 in San Mateo, tions. track. At that time, Police Commis- it's a tactic they routinely use and it's according to a salary comparison "We've lost them to the sheriff's of- sioner Theresa Sparks agreed. She getting real old. memo Davis gave City Manager Alvin fice, San Ramon, San Carlos, Redwood made a public statement the following 4) The 0CC must use the media- James on Monday. City, you name it," Goitia said. day - as printed in the San Francisco tion process as often as possible in or- And East Palo Alto lags in retirement Goitia said he is working on a reten- Chronicle - that this case needed to der to expedite the resolution of the benefits as well. Although the majority tion package with City Manager Glen be adjudicated quickly in order to hundreds of "he said, I said" cases of police departments in the county Rojas, and hopes to present it to the instill confidence in the oversight that cross that agency's counter each give officers 3 percent of their salary city council in September. process. Yet, despite all the rhetoric, year. Dozens, if not scores of minor per year of service if they retire at 50, The challenge in East Palo Alto these cases have languished, and now complaints and other policy failure East Palo Alto gives 2 percent if they isn't just money. Officers also face a all confidence in the oversight process situations could easily be resolved in retire at 55, according to the memo. dangerous environment, which can has eroded away. this manner. "Those are strangulating factors see POLICE JOBS, page 8 Last summer, the POA convened Just these four small steps would a "Police Practices" summit hosted go a long way toward alleviating the by the University of San Francisco. backlog and promoting a more timely POA Mourns Loss of Promising Young Officer Testimony from a police psychologist process that would allow officers the reiterated that police officers are no opportunity to do their job in a more The members of the San Francisco Police Officers Association extend different then soldiers when it comes efficient manner. condolences to the family and friends of Officer James Gustafson Jr. who to being disciplined. We accept the Until the Department and the Com- died in an accidental shooting on August 11, 2007. Officer Gustafson had consequences of our actions, but the mission find a better way to expedite been with the SFPD for one year. He was 23. The shooting occurred at process can only work when the ap- and refine this laborious process it the officer's home while he was off-duty. propriate discipline is issued "fairly will continue to promote a sense of Officer Gustafson was recently assigned to Central Station after com- and in a timely manner." At some distrust and bitterness from all those pleting FTO training at Mission Station. point the Police Commission needs affected. to stop blaming the problem on time Six involved officers remain in as- POA Mourns Death of CHP Officer constraints and tardy investigations signments at the Hall of Justice who are the pawns of an unfair process Yet another officer with the California Highway Patrol has been killed and figure out a way to expedite these cases. Everyone involved in the pro- - unfair because it's laboriously over- in the line of duty. The men and women of the San Francisco Police Of- loaded with politics - and all of these ficers Association extend their deepest sorrow and most sincere sympathy cess, whether it be the officer, the POA, the Department, or the Commission officers and their families deserve to the family, friends, and coworkers of Officer Douglas Russell, 46. Of- more respect and a better system than ficer Russell - a 22-year veteran of the patrol - was struck and killed must have confidence that the disci- pline process will be done in a "timely the one they currently endure. as he attempted to deploy a spike strip across Highway 50 in the path The old adage has never been more of a speeding vehicle. The driver of that vehicle was being pursued by manner" recognizing that a failure to do so only breeds more distrust and applicable than in this case: Justice Sacramento County sheriffs. contempt for the entire process. delayed, is justice denied. Page 2 POA Journal September 2007 Minutes of August 15, 2007 Board of Directors Meeting* 1. Meeting called to order by Sergeant- endorsements for the Mayoral Meeting be approved. Motion was volunteers on several boards that at-Arms Breen at 1310 hours. Race, District Attorney's Race and passed by way of voice vote. serve law enforcement across the 2. Sergeant-at-Arms Breen led the Sheriff's Race. 16. The POA is looking for sponsors nation. The motion passed by way pledge of allegiance. 11. Bill Roulades (Co B) made the fol- and volunteers for its annual golf of voice vote. 3. Secretary Montoya conducted the lowing motion that was seconded tournament on 9-24-07. 20. Treasurer provided each Board roll call of the Board of Directors by Mike Nevin (Co B).