Letter from the FOP regarding Teamster attacks on MNPEA attorney Rob Fowler

Members Of The Minnesota Fraternal Order Of Police:

As some of you know, our general counsel Robert Fowler has been working hard to add membership to our organization. He is general counsel to a new labor union, MNPEA, that will bring roughly 250 officers into the FOP and our Legal Defense Plan (LDP) this year alone. MNPEA is not officially affiliated with the FOP - we remain unaffiliated with any labor group, but MNPEA will be offering to it's sworn law enforcement members the FOP's LDP. Many of the bargaining groups being brought into MNPEA are from the Teamsters.

Recently, bulk emails were sent out by a group sponsored by Teamsters 320 that is trying to discredit MNPEA's Business Agents and our own FOP Attorney. The emails state Mr. Fowler was fired from his previous employer and has been accused by the MN Attorney General's Office for stealing money from the FOP. I understand that any labor group has a right to maintain their membership numbers, but I take exception to this false accusation. Fowler's contract with the FOP started in 2005.

We have always had a system in place where we pay Mr. Fowler a flat rate for each LDP member, plus an annual vehicle allowance that started several years ago. He has never had access to our bank accounts or finances. Paul and I can say with absolute certainty that Rob Fowler has never stolen money from our organization - that would be impossible.

As your President, I contacted the AG's Office and even though they could not comment directly on this accusation, I was told that their office "would not investigate this type of complaint". I can also state with certainty that Mr. Fowler was not fired from his previous law job with Pat Kelly's Office, this was acknowledged during the bidding process for the FOP contract.

We are concerned because these false emails could cause our own members to question whether our organization or legal defense plan are worthwhile. Our legal defense plan and the services offered by our attoney are without question invaluable, and Mr. Fowler has always maintained high integrity. Please forward this out to your fellow lodge members and correctly inform anyone in your workplaces who may have heard this type of false misinformation. Let them know that the accusations are false.

As President, I also feel that you should know that there is a new labor union option out there. Mr. Fowler is MNPEA's general counsel so you will be assured quality legal representation. We have had some issues in the past with Teamsters coming close to crossing the line into FOP matters, and I feel that this latest attack clearly does cross that line. I feel you should question whether representation by Teamsters is appropriate for you, as law enforcement officers, when such clearly false and defamatory accusations are being made against our FOP attorney.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and feel free to contact Treasurer Dooley or myself if you have questions.

Gary Cayo
MN FOP President

Paul Dooley
MN FOP Treasurer

320 Begs You to Stay

Message from Brad Slawson. Sr.

From: Brad Slawson Sr Sent: Friday, October 29, 2010 2:59 PMTo: 'jnack@co.wilkin.mn.us'; 'jonnylaw@loretel.net'; 'blhjelmen@yahoo.com'Subject:

TO JOSH NACK, JON KARGER, DAVID JENNEN, DAN TUCKER, CHERYL PETERSEN, BOB HJELMAN, ANN MUELLER, DION BREDMAN.

Recently you have received an e mail from local 320 business agent MERL KING about teamsters local 120 and the election at local 320. My name is BRAD SLAWSON SR and I am the secretary treasure and head officer of local 120. In MERL’S e mail he says that local 120 is trying to take over local 320 with this election at local 320. Meryl goes on to say that local 120 is broke and has lost thousands of members in the past. This e mail is a complete false hood. Local 120 has never had any conversation with any member OF LOCAL 320 about merging our two locals. Local 120 is the largest local in MINNESOTA, IOWA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA with a very strong treasury. Local 120 has not or will be interested in any merger with local 320. Both locals are very large and should stand alone for their own membership. I cannot believe that MERL would stoop this low to spread these MALICIOUS lies and grand distortions about local 120. I can be reached at my office during business hours at 763 267 6100 for any member that wants’ to verify this e mail and its contents. Please feel free to distribute this e mail.

Fraternally:
BRAD SLAWSON SR
SECRETARY TREASURER
LOCAL 120