Keeping you informed February 2012
Hello again fellow members of the Boston Police Detectives’ Benevolent Society and welcome to this month's installment of keeping you informed. I was hoping to get this issue out to you before Super Bowl Sunday; it looks like I’ve made my deadline
First let me congratulate and welcome our new representatives to the E-board, from District 3 Stephen Kelly, from District 14 Mark Maregni, and from the Domestic Violence Unit Roque Heath. I look forward to working with you all and hope you will continue along the path of your predecessors working hard for those you represent. You all have big shoes to fill I’m sure you will do well.
As you know a review of our legal defense plan was called for and held on the second of this month. Representatives from the FOP, the MPA, along with Tom Drechsler and Doug Lewison made their presentations to the E-board. If at the direction of the E-board changes are to be made I will update you as soon as possible. You should know your reps make decision for you regularly based on your input and always with your best interest in mind. Your feedback is important to us and is always welcome
The Super Bowl and possible victory parade are obviously on everyone's mind days off canceled, no personal days, no training days allowed making it tough to cheer for the home team. At times it seems we are getting crushed in the middle. At best I would hope that we don't let this become an issue within the ranks. Days off will be sought and refused, how we handle these issues going forward will have to be discussed with our attorney and possibly at the bargaining table if not then through the grievance process and arbitration. My reason for wanting to get this out before the Super Bowl was to appeal to all of you working Sunday night to protect yourselves, keep your equipment with you and use it. The position of your union is, and always has been, the time to have your helmet on is not after the rocks and bottles start flying.
This past month several grievances were heard at step three hearings we are still waiting on decisions from the city’s Office of Labor Relations. There is an arbitration pending and should be heard on February 13, also pending and possibly heading towards resolution is a grievance filed regarding hearings. Our hope is the resolution would be in the form of a Special Order or a Commissioner's Memorandum. Your committees as always are hard at work, labor-management, grievances, and bargaining. We now have a Detective representing your union in regards to a computer system being put in place throughout the department. Our representative has provided us with a comprehensive report in regards to this technology and will keep us updated as the system progresses. Your banquet committee wishes to announce that this year's banquet will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. As you know a lot of hard work and dedication goes into planning an event such as this. Please come out and join us as we wish our retirees a happy and healthy retirement.
Unfortunately we are unable to hold a February vacation pizza party at the union hall however I do want to remind all of you parents and grandparent’s aunts and uncles that we still have plenty of passes available for the Children Museum and the Aquarium. Passes can be picked up at the union hall.
Finally I'd like to take a moment to recognize one of our brothers who has reached that point in his career that we all seek, RETIREMENT. Congratulations Joe McSorley and thank you for your service as a Police officer and your 29 years as a detective we wish you a long and healthy retirement.
Our commitment to working for you is just as strong now as when we first started out. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to stop by your union hall call me or contact me at
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Keeping you informed
Tom Famolare
