None were willing to publicly refuse to accept police union donations. Legislators approved $1.2 million for district attorneys office renovations, and $1 million for plumbing and electrical improvements at the county Medical Examiners forensic lab. The new contract will provide a 2.25% retroactive raise for 2020, followed by 1% raises twice a year through 2023, according to the legislature's Budget Review Office. Half a dozen current and former elected officials in Suffolk County told me they vote their conscience, regardless of what the union gives. In 2001, he busted a cocaine trafficker, in a case that recovered a million dollars in cash from a safe hidden under a bathroom rug. This brazen, premeditated robbery is a stark reminder of the lawlessness created by failed reform policies making it impossible to live here safely. A few weeks later, three members of the Suffolk County Democratic Socialists of America visited Mr. Trottas office. Giving a paramilitary force the right to collective bargaining would undermine the military chain of command, they argued. But there were moments that felt inspiring and new. SeeThroughNY :: Contracts The deals were negotiated outside public view by County Executive Steve Bellone, That leaves a lot of questions yet to to be answered. Empire Center for Public Policy Instead, it got a police chief, James Burke, who went to prison in 2016 for running the department like a mafia boss. Gonzalez said he is working on amending the bill, which failed to pass in the legislature last year, with Legis. Suffolk's questionable contracts - Empire Center for Public Policy They also approved a healthcare cost-sharing agreement with the Suffolk County Organization of Public Employees (SCOPE), a consortium of all 11 county employee unions. Mattituck, NY 11952, Site made in collaboration with CMYK This lottery was done in 2019 for people who took the Spanish speaking test in 2016 and . Press Inquiries: Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) abstaining. After a quarter of a century as a cop, Mr. Trotta found it hard to believe that any plan would significantly change how the police operate. Really curious how the scores will play out on this exam compared to others, Copyright 1996-2021, Officer Media Group, Endeavor Business Media - Public Safety Interactive. In 1983, police unions in New York successfully lobbied to amend a law that barred them from donating to politicians. I have a feeling its going to be like Nassau where people where people were disappointed with their grades. Contract; Education Benefits. General Inquiries: Info@EmpireCenter.org It is not a donation, its an investment, the statement read. But there are also far too many cases of police officers who abuse their positions and are protected by powerful police unions. During his 2018 State of the County address, Mr. Bellone cited health insurance costs as the biggest financial issue facing the county. Fred Brewington, the lawyer who has been fighting for 12 years for justice since the beating death of Kenny Lazo, the Black motorist, took notice when Commissioner Hart acknowledged racial disparities in police stops. While every contract is the result of negotiation that will leave either side wanting more, this is a fair contract and moves our county forward, Suffolk AME president Dan Levler said in a statement. But thats also true of the police. The cards allow residents access to county parks and reduced fees for park activities. Samuel Gonzalezs (D-Brentwood) bill, based on similar legislation in 63 California municipalities, would prohibit smoking in units. To return to this "Collective Bargaining Agreements" page from any selected link, use the back button on your browser. 0000001156 00000 n I can't speak to exactly what grades they take, but they typically jump a few points lower than what the county is processing IF you have residency. Unless legislators were presented with all four documents, they had no way of seeing what they were actually committing to. The Suffolk County Legislature on Tuesday night ratified* new contracts with the countys Association of Municipal Employees (AME) and Police Benevolent Association (PBA), which together represent more than half of the county workforce. With those generous salaries, the citizens of Suffolk County have paid for what should be world-class law enforcement. From breaking news to special features and documentaries, the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you. From breaking news to special features and documentaries, the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you. The vote for the new contract was 16-0, with Legis. Railing about the influence of the police union in Suffolk County is like railing against the moon in the sky. We highlight PBA members' work; we recognize their heroic actions, and we educate the public regarding the sacrifices police officers make each day. The. SCDSPBA All times are GMT-6. Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm. just got their return.. The base salary for Police in companies like Suffolk County Police Department range from $60,181 to $70,139 with the average base salary of $64,407. In 2019, when a local paper asked Mr. Trotta what he had accomplished as a legislator, he replied: The chief of police went to jail and the district attorney has been indicted. We will prob hear late November/December hopefully! He reminded them of Jimmy McNulty, the quirky detective from the TV show The Wire.. Police statements about Mr. Lazos death contained obvious falsehoods and omissions, according to Fred Brewington, a lawyer who has been fighting for years to bring a civil suit on behalf of Mr. Lazos estate to court. The phrase defund the police makes his skin crawl. The Suffolk County Detectives Association contract will increase base salaries from $58.6 million total in 2019 to $65.7 million in 2024, county officials said. . Dr. Gregson Pigott, of Greenlawn,as health commissioner. Susan Berland (D-Dix Hills) and Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst). The Suffolk County Department of Human Resources, Personnel and Civil Service is responsible for overseeing personnel actions taken by some 241 employing jurisdictions including towns, school districts, villages, library districts, water districts, etc. Bellone administration officials said the county ended up not needing the money. `H VY. Hes full of praise for the rank and file. Legislators and residents also debated bills that would restrict smoking in apartment, condo and co-op buildings to limit secondhand smoke. Andrew Cuomo for communities that want to remain eligible to receive state funding. Police officers testified that they feared for their families safety or that theyd be framed for crimes if they blew the whistle on their boss. We strive to keep Suffolk County a safe and thriving place to live and work by aiding our members in their vocation as Suffolk County Police Officers. Then he added one that made Mr. Trotta smile: Investigate the Long Island Law Enforcement Foundation. He pointed out his fellow county legislators on the screen and rattled off how much the police union had spent to help each one get elected. The news is full of stories of the sacrifices police officers make, most recently the officer who lost his life responding to a mass shooting in Colorado. Is that how it goes? Rachelle Blidner covers Suffolk County government, politics and breaking news. Hes a potent messenger, since he cant be smeared as anti-cop. 0000007066 00000 n Then another. 0000000016 00000 n And it said in it, Investigate any department you wish. My eyes lit up. 31-2022 Change in Mental Health Providers, Annual Notice of Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998, AEM 25-2021 EMHP - Important Changes Regarding Infusion Site of Care, AEM 23-2021 EMHP 24/7 NurseLine & Sydney Health App, AEM 05-2021 Extended Weekly Schedule for Drive-Through Rapid testing.pd, SPECIALIST CO-PAYMENTS AND OUT-OF-NETWORK DEDUCTIBLE FOR MEDICAL/SURGICAL BENEFITS, IN-NETWORK PROVIDERS UTILIZING OUT-OF-NETWORK LABS, HEALTH BENEFITS ANNUAL OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD October 15. Press@EmpireCenter.org. Ive never heard that being a problem before for this exam. * The final vote count has not yet been posted but at least 16 of the 18 legislators voted for the three measures. I cant stress to you enough how afraid of the union these people are, he said of his fellow legislators. Yet Mr. Trotta has railed for years about the political influence of police unions in Suffolk County, Long Island, a place where the cops are known to wield exceptional clout. For RFPs (Requests for Proposals): Allies of Mr. Bellone say he is rude, hypocritical and prone to exaggeration. We strive to keep Suffolk County a safe and thriving place to live and work by aiding our members in their vocation as Suffolk County Police . Suffolk County, New York Its a blatant attempt to help AME pressure retirees into remaining dues-paying members after they retire by giving them a taxpayer-funded carrot to dangle. But momentum for change is building, as both fiscal conservatives and liberal activists take aim at the outsize political power of police unions. 6-year deal would have Suffolk employees paying for health benefits No retroactive raise is included for 2019. 2020 through December 15, 2020, AEM 2020-19 Coverage and Dependent Eligibility Audit (1) 8.4.20, AEM 2020-18 EMHP Tele-medicine Provider (1) 7.31.20, AEM 2020-14 Out-of-Network Annual Physical Changes (1) 5.22.20, AEM 2020-13 COVID-19 EMHP COVERAGE CHANGES (1) 4.24.20, AEM 2020-06 Tele-Medicine - Coronavirus (1) 3.13.20, AEM 2020-06 Part 2 ADHC_coronavirus_stop_the_spread 2 (1), AEM 2020-01 EMHP Important Change to your Acupuncture & Occupational Therapy Benefits 1.29.20, Eligibility Audit for Coverage and Dependents 8/04/20, Prescription Reimbursement PBA Benefit Fund, Important Information Regarding the Cyber Attack, Outside Resource: LEO Support Group offered as a resource to SCPD officers, Self-Care Videos- Exercise, Yoga, Meditation, Time Managment Technique and Goal Setting. Mr. Trotta talks about politics as broken because police unions donations have been able to purchase deference from politicians, leading to unsustainable salary increases. The Democratic and Republican candidates for the Suffolk County legislative seat currently held by Al Krupski have been selected. A whos who of leading environmental advocates joined elected officials in Riverhead last week to discuss and Long Island-wide 7555 Main Road In a statement, Suffolk PBA president Noel DiGerolamo said the deal was fair, while recognizing the fiscal realities of Suffolk County.. Many people did not finish the exam where I took it. Gerard McCarthy, who recently retired as chief of operations for the Suffolk County Police Department, lauded Mr. Trotta for being the sole person willing to raise the issue of the police unions political donations. P.O. State law forbids the police from soliciting political donations from the public. Mr. Trotta opposed the police contract, calling it unsustainable at a time of fiscal crisis. He contends the payments were not voluntary, as required. Wow this scared me for a second. One was driving a blue 2011-2013 Toyota Highlander and the other was driving a white 2019-2023 Dodge Ram truck. Who We Represent Ithaca Mayor wants to Abolish the Police! The Suffolk County Legislature on Tuesday nightratified* new contractswith the countys Association of Municipal Employees (AME) and Police Benevolent Association (PBA), which together represent more than half of the county workforce. A longstanding prohibition on police officers soliciting political donations from the public remains on the books, but appears to be rarely enforced. Questions though; my test didn't say Spanish speaking or indicate it was different but I know when I signed up I out Spanish speaking. Copyright 2023 Newsday. Most of all, they take umbrage at the notion that police union donations influenced their political decisions. Everyone should be able to breathe freely in their own home.. Until they post the scores from the 2019 exam the other list is still active, Anyone else bursting at the seams to find out their grade? Ms. Kaufman called him. Unlike the anticipated healthcare savings, the new costs from raises are guaranteed to materialize. Others say, As long as Im making $250,000 a year, I dont care.. This lottery was done in 2019 for people who took the Spanish speaking test in 2016 and scored an 85. NYS PERB - Collective Bargaining Agreements - NYS Public Employment Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney's Social Media. In many cases, reform plans are rolled out by the same politicians who once cozied up to police unions to get elected. About 75%of county employees, excluding sworn law enforcement officers, are white, which is not reflective of the county population, Bellones office said. A new seven-part true-crime podcast called Unraveled alleges that Mr. Burke hampered the F.B.I. Lawmakers in Albany worked up the courage to repeal 50-a, a state statute that prohibited the release of police officers personnel records. Its hard to imagine a starker illustration of the need to reinvent policing. Tom Cilmis (R-Bay Shore) bill would restrict smoking in building common areas. The justification for this sweetheart deal for the police and firefighters is that they are so essential to safety that communities cant risk a strike. Officials estimate the health care agreement will save taxpayers $40 million next year, with the potential to save more in the future. County Executive Steve Bellones administration has said that the county wouldsave $40 million annually by requiring all employees to pay into their health care for the first time. Brownwill be paid $145,560 in the new role, down from $173,226. SCPBA 2nd Vice President Lou Civello responds to @NewsdayOpinion Targeting the Suffolk PBA and their support of Corrupt Legislator Legislator Rob Trotta. A Performance Audit of Brighter Tomorrows, Inc. The money was taken from the sewer fund by voter referendum last year to fill shortfalls in the county's general fund. . In reality the best thing anyone can do is to stay out of trouble, keep in shape because it is no joke from what I hear in the academy and will be one less thing to have to worry about last minute and dont let the wait for the call or even the letter to start your investigation consume your life. The Suffolk County Legislature approved a new police detectives contract Tuesday that will cost the county an additional $40 million while giving 11.25% raises over six years. Wright has served as acting commissioner since July after Commissioner Theresa Ward resigned. But the union kept collecting special assessments of $1 a day from officers, which eventually funded the super PAC they established, the Long Island Law Enforcement Foundation. In every conversation, he found a way to bring it back to Jimmy Burke, one told me. Just be aware the last test was told over and over again it was going to exhaust all the people that scored 95 but at the end they only made it through the first 2500 of the lottery. And a bipartisan group of legislators announced they reached an agreementon Ban the Box legislation, which would restrict employers from asking about criminal histories in job applications. Mr. Trotta was skeptical: What if a mentally ill person turns violent on a dime?. Ms. Kaufman thought Mr. Trotta might support the plan. Did anyone recieved their scores? The total cost of the contractwas not available Tuesday night. The County Legislature released a single-page analysis of top-line costs for each of the three deals, without providing a cost breakdown for specific provisions. Im not against people getting a cost-of-living increase, but they were getting three times the cost of living, Mr. Trotta told them of the raise that Mr. Bellones contract gave the police. Yes. The revelation that officers lied shocked many on Long Island. Historically, in Suffolk County, you cant win a major office without the police unions endorsement, said Gus Garcia-Roberts, a journalist with The Washington Post who is writing a book about Mr. Burke. Bellone, who is running for a third term this year, issued a news release claiming the deals together secure $40 million dollars in new health care savings and result in the lowest level of raises for Police Officers in decades. But his office produced no details to support this claim before he sent the measure to county legislators for approval. New Yorks most populous suburban county has just ratified a trio of labor deals with its largest unionsand, in the process, showcased some of the worst aspects of collective bargaining across the state. Isgho Votre ducation notre priorit . Some costs might be offset throughlinking salaries for detectives hired after 2012 to police officer salaries, according to budget review. Legis. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. The idea that the PSC would artificially drive electricity costs higher to benefit a political constituency represents a new low. The AME contract runs through December 2024 and the PBA and SCOPE deals run through December 2025. After he won, they got their expressway back, along with a new contract. Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk, Inc. A Limited Scope Report of Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk, Inc. Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Procurement Procedures, A Performance Audit of The Departments Forfeiture Funds, Time Reporting Practices and Related Payroll Payments of Selected Employees of the Suffolk County Board of Elections. Establishment Democrats avoided Mr. Trotta, but the socialists were intrigued. He made me realize it was even worse than Id thought, one of the Democratic Socialists, a 25-year-old from Setauket named Hannah Erhart, told me. The six-year PBA deal will result in the lowest police raises in decades, averaging at 1.8%. Term: Six (6) years -January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2024. But that same logic beat back an attempt to unionize the American military. The PBA MOA modified a. . He was impressed. The Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association would like to congratulate our 2019-2020 Retirees, Medicare Premium Reimbursement Eligibility Audit Forms, Suffolk County Police Department Chaplains, Blue Line Wealth Management RPI Scholarship, Blue Line Wealth Management Catholic High School Scholarship, Blue Line Wealth Management College Scholarship, Police Reserves 2023 Scholarship Application, Black Democrat DA tells the truth on crime, but progressives wont listen, 17 ARRESTS FOR SHOPLIFTING IN 13 MONTHS, ZERO CONVICTIONS, Ortt, other WNY leaders call for changes to bail reform, Suspect the poster child for bail reform problems, source says, Gov. Suffolk lawmakers approve $3.1 million contract with detective The annual minimum contribution will be $1,500 and the maximum will be $3,750, increasing to $4,000 after five years. task force. SMITHTOWN, N.Y. Rob Trotta, a cranky Republican county legislator on Long Island who worked as a cop for 25 years, might be the unlikeliest voice for police reform in America. Dec. 12, 2019| NewsdayHigh-ranking Suffolk County policeare set to get 11.25% raises over six years under a tentative $53 million deal reached with the Superior Officers Association, officials said Wednesday.Sergeants, lieutenants, captains and other senior officersat top step would have base salaries ranging from $183,000 to$273,000 a year by 2024, officials said. Suffolk legislators on Tuesday approved a new $3.1 million contract for the detective investigators union, the county's smallest county law enforcement union and the last to receive a new contract. Unless legislators were presented with all four documents, they had no way of seeing what they were actually committing to. Suffolk County Police Memorial Service: 11 AM on Friday, May 10th at SCPD HQ, Yaphank. These agreements represent a major milestone that protect the taxpayer and are fair to the hardworking men and women who ensure our public safety and help operate county government, Mr. Bellone said in a statement. Unless legislators were presented with all four documents, they had no way of seeing what they were actually committing to. He couldnt get assigned to the public safety committee, even as a former police officer. But he could not get rid of the dirty police chief. Suffolk PBA overwhelmingly ratifies 6-year contract - Newsday It never made it out of committee. If one person smokes in the building, everyone smokes, said Paulette Orlando, who works for the American Lung Association Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island. In the 1960s, a series of debilitating public sector strikes across New York persuaded lawmakers to pass the Taylor Law, which outlawed strikes but granted access to a labor-friendly board that resolved disputes. The newest contract followsthe Police Benevolence Association and Superior Officers Association contracts, union president David Gallagher said. Protesters began demanding that politicians stop taking money from the police. I went from the pinnacle of law enforcement to the basement, he told me. You do not have permission to view this gallery. Under section 17 of the AME MOA, the county has committed to pay into a union trust that would provide retiree health benefits only to members in good standing. Under the states exclusive representation rules, a public employer cannot confer a special benefit specifically on those workers who choose to pay union dues. He was one of just two county legislators, both Republicans, who took no police money. The PBA MOA modified a 2012 MOA, which modified terms set in a 2010 arbitration award, which were based on a 2004 contract. Suffolk County police officers on Monday overwhelmingly ratified a new six-year contract that will raise the pay of officers with 15 years on the job to more than $200,000 a year by 2024. The night the police commissioner, Geraldine Hart, rolled out Suffolk Countys reform plan on Zoom, much of it sounded like more of the same old thin gruel: more community policing, more money for training, more body cameras which police officers will be paid extra to wear. Transcripts of the public safety meetings in that era are full of county legislators praising the chief. Backed by the union, the district attorney and the county executive, Mr. Burke seemed untouchable. Similar Job Titles: Contract Search - Suffolk County, New York Please click here for access to Suffolk County Bonfire Portal: https://suffolkcountyny.bonfirehub.com/. Departments > Public Works > Bids and Contracts. 852-4690. He advised them to drop the word socialist from their name and avoid the phrase defund the police.. Thus far, police benevolent associations have operated outside those restrictions. No figures were projected for 2024 or 2025, but given that more than a third of PBA-represented employees have been on the job fewer than six years, its likely police pay costs especially will surge in the out years. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Ms. Kaufman felt hopeful about the mention of a three-tiered mental health crisis response and a 911 Call Diversion, although the plan contained few specifics. Thats one reason the growing criticism of the police has been met with a passionate counter-movement, called Blue Lives Matter. In either case, the county will have a hard time getting employees to pay more for an expense thats jumped more than 40 percent in six years. Looking to comment on this article? But he stayed on the video call long enough to hear his new friend Tim Karcich, a 32-year-old Democratic Socialist from Centereach, rattle off a bunch of demands, from reducing the publics contact with police officers to establishing a reparations fund for police victims. Dennis Brown, of Huntington, will bedirector of the Real Property Tax Service Agency after serving as county attorney. They will present the bill at a later meeting. That produces an immediate reduction in costs for the county, but still leaves taxpayers absorbing future cost increases. During the first half of the 20th century, police unions were rare, weak and lacked legal status, Aaron Bekemeyer, a Ph.D. student at Harvard who is writing his dissertation on the history of police unions, told me. Terms of the 2019-2024 contract for the Suffolk County Detective Investigators Police Benevolent Association, which represents 51 detectives assigned to the county district attorneys office, mirror those of other law enforcement contracts, officials said. Mr. Bellone appointed him anyway, after Mr. Spota vouched for Mr. Burke. The system works, but very slowly.. Suffolk County Corrections 2019 - Police Forums & Law Enforcement A task force set up to produce the reform plan held community listening sessions through video chats. This is a good thing, he said, gesturing at the meeting on his screen. Rachelle Blidner covers Suffolk County government, politics and breaking news. As hated as Mr. Trotta is among the political establishment, many of his former colleagues respect him. That super PAC is generally funded by contributions from law enforcement. Mr. Bellone also announced new contracts with the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association and the Suffolk County Association of Municipal Employees. 217 members and 34093 guests. Eventually, he said, it dawned on him: The county doesnt run the police. United For Justice In Policing Long Island, VisionMissionGuidingPrinciples Our HistoryThe Problem, In The NewsAnnouncementsEvents / RalliesFood For ThoughtDid You KnowPolling. Mr. Kaiman explained that the agreement creates new copays, such as a $100 emergency room copay, and raises deductibles for those who opt for out-of-network providers. Suffolk County Police Department Police Salary | Salary.com County Reaches Agreements With Suffolk PBA, Suffolk AME And With All Yet the police union still holds great sway. But that raisewill cumulatively cost the county an additional $19 million, plus increased costs for benefits and overtime, according to the legislatures Budget Review Office. of either driver is asked to call Suffolk Police at . Their union just reached a deal with County Executive Steve Bellone for a new, six-year contract that requires all county employees, including police, to contribute to their health care. Phone: 631-853-5040 Email: douglas.sutherland@suffolkcountyny.gov, H. Lee Dennison Building 100 Veterans Memorial Highway Hauppauge, NY 11788, Douglas Sutherland The activists saw racism as the reason people in Black and Latino communities got stopped at higher rates. 0000004340 00000 n The County Legislature released a single-page analysis of top-line costs for each of the three deals, without providing a cost breakdown for specific provisions. Everybody else voted for it. Our mission is to make New York a better place to live and work by promoting public policy reforms grounded in free-market principles, personal responsibility, and the ideals of effective and accountable government. His new job? Mr. Trotta watched the rollout on Zoom at his office desk in Smithtown. Credit: Heather Walsh. But the headwinds are stiff. For one thing, its hard to know just what lawmakers were agreeing to, because the AME and PBA contracts were memorandums of agreement that modified existing deals. The Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association would like to congratulate our 2019-2020 Retirees; Changes To NYS Concealed Carry Law . We needed to rein that in, said Deputy County Executive Jon Kaiman in an interview Tuesday. I believe that it is illegal and its unethical, Mr. McCarthy said of the $1-a-day political assessment that was taken out of his paycheck and sent to the Long Island Law Enforcement Foundation. Emergency Housing Services Program, A Performance Audit of the Police Departments Forfeiture Funds, A Performance Audit of Payroll Procedures, Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency (TPVA), A Performance Audit of TPVA's Revenues Reported to the County, A Performance Audit of the Resurrection House, Inc.