Update on PERAC from Dan Keeler
Dear Member
I want to update you on our efforts at the Public Employees Retirement Administration Commission also known as PERAC. Although we commonly deal with the City of Boston Retirement Board, PERAC has the final word on retirement issues.
Recently PERAC has taken up the issue of vacation buy backs. We received notice that PERAC was reconsidering an earlier ruling that included vacation by backs in our pensions. The union over the past several months has been meeting with leaders from the Fire Department, Superior Officers Federation and the BPPA. Our lawyers have been communicating and are involved in our strategy sessions.
Annual Detective Retirees Cookout
The annual Detective Retirees Cookout Will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 from 3pm to 8pm at the union hall.
Once again the cooking will be done by the one and only John Sacco!. All active and retired detectives are cordially invited.
Please join us for what is the highlight of our social calendar.
Denny Harris retires
After over 23 years of service to the BPDBS Dennis Harris will be stepping down as secretary of the union at the end of the month.
Denny will be missed by all. We wish him a very long, healthy, and happy retirement.
V.P. Tom Famolare resigns
Tom Famolare has decided to resign his position with the union. A few words from Tom regarding this decision:
Gerry and I have worked hard for almost 2 years now in our attempts to keep you informed. We have opened up the Union Hall to the membership and made ourselves available 24 hours a day seven days a week and have tried to pass along information as soon as we could. As some of you may know I was recently transferred to the Peer Support Unit. What you may not know is that I have been a volunteer peer support team member for over 15 years. I have taken classes in Peer Support and I currently sit on the Board of Directors of the State Peer Support Network. Along with this transfer came the need to make a decision one that I knew could not be taken lightly. With that in mind after discussing it with my family, Gerry, and Brian Fleming, I have come to the conclusion that it would not be fair to the BPDBS, its members, or the Peer Support Unit and the people they serve to try to do both jobs. I have decided to resign my position as Vice President effective immediately. I hope that you will accept the spirit in which this decision was made and support me. I have offered Gerry my services for as long as he desires them and have promised him I would do my part to ensure a smooth transition.
Keeping you informed May 2012
Fellow members of the BPDBS welcome to this month's edition of keeping you informed the online newsletter of the Detectives Benevolent Society.
This past Saturday night I attended a retirement party for former secretary Dennis Harris. I listened to one speaker after the next heaping praise on a great guy. The BPDBS will certainly miss Denny and if you will allow me to personalize, I would like to take a few minutes to say a few words. Before I came on the job I worked as a security guard in Dorchester. I worked at a complex that had two hotels, a bowling alley, a restaurant, and a candy house. It was around this time that Denny and his partner were working at C-11. From time to time they would respond to assist us (God knows we sometimes needed it more than others). Denny was then, as he is now the epitome of what a good cop should be. He always treated us professionally, respectfully, and was always willing to help. Sometime later after becoming a police officer and then the detective our paths crossed again this time in the Union Hall.
Detectives to receive awards
The leadership of the BPDBS would like to acknowledge and congratulate the following members of our union and all the Department members who will be receiving medals or awards at this year’s Boston Police Relief Association Ball on December 4th 2011.
New Detectives
The Executive Board on behalf of all our members would like to welcome the following newly rated Detectives:
Scott Yanovitch, Joey Tse, and Dean Bickerton.
There will be a rating and promotional ceremony on Wednesday March 14th 2012 at 1:00pm at the Shelburne Community Center 2730 Washington St .Roxbury.
