Northern MN Union Workers supporting Pres. Trump

I've been hearing rumblings for a long time about Northern MN Union members supporting President Trump.

This isn't surprising to me. After all it was Republicans who backed the legislation for our PERA Correctional Pension.

In Northern Minnesota it's President Trump and Republicans that are supporting the mining industry. Democrats are blocking that Union industry.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting. “It’s a serious problem for us,” said Alan Netland, president of the North East Area Labor Council in Duluth, Minn., which represents 40,000 union members. “People may say, ‘I voted Republican and the world didn’t fall in, so maybe I better keep doing that.’"

One of a Unions biggest strengths has been the Health Care benefits negotiated into contracts. Today's Democrat wants to end that and replace it with Medicare for All!

In interviews with the Journal, union workers who supported Trump in 2016 said 2020 Democrats have “gone so far left” with positions such as forcing union workers off their current healthcare plans and onto Medicare, as well as their calls to eliminate the coal industry entirely and provide free taxpayer-funded healthcare to illegal aliens. (Source: Breitbart News)

There was a time that DFL stood for Democrats, Farmers and Labor. They peeled off the L a long time ago.

Tweets like this are now common:

Detention Deputy Evaristus Ndzentuv on Channel 5

A detention deputy in Hennepin County is about to leave for his fourth deployment overseas. This time, he's going to Africa.

Whether on the job at the Hennepin County Jail or on the ground in the Middle East, Detention Deputy Evaristus Ndzentuv loves the job of keeping his community safe.

"Get to serve the community, keep the community safe, I get to do what I can to protect the community we live in," Ndzentuv said.

Deputy Ndzentuv will spend the next 400 days in Africa.

Source:  KSTP TV -Full Story and video

Thank you for your service!

Your PERA Correctional Pension Handbook

Want to know what to expect from your PERA Correctional Pension? 

Here's the book! 

Sherburne County MN ICE- a well oiled machine

The Star Tribune has a story covering a protest against the Sherburne County (MN) Jail adding more ICE beds. They propose to expand from the existing 300 to 500 beds.

Sherburne County has had the contract for years. Hennepin County was offered the contract years ago when they were building their Public Safety Facility, but turned it down. So Hennepin County tax payers are saddled with the entire Jail budget.

So while Hennepin County spends over $100,000,000 a year on Public Safety, Sherburne County received almost $30,000,000 in five years from the Federal Government to offset their budget.

The Sherburne County jail is clean, and it's Detention Deputies are professional MNPEA Union members.

I've seen complaints in the news about private, for profit jails and now I'm watching complaints about the government doing it in a proper manner. Ice detainees receive food, clothing and medical care. They are legally held until an immigration judge makes a determination.

The article says, " of the 1,500 people detained overall on behalf of ICE for most of last year, three-quarters had previous criminal convictions, including 29 for criminal sexual conduct, 19 for kidnapping, 82 for assault, three for murder and 11 for manslaughter. Roughly half were from Mexico; the rest hailed from 85 different countries."

So half are not from Mexico, blowing a hole in the media narrative.

I support citizen's right to protest. But they should realize when our laws are enforced those arrested will be held somewhere. I prefer a government run center over a private for profit one. I also applaud the Sherburne County board for being fiscally responsible. They are making our Nation and State safer, and saving their taxpayers money. That's what I call good government.

Plans to use our Pension to pay off others Student Loans!

Pension Raiders

How forgiving Student Loans can affect your pension

I’m watching many current presidential candidates and politicians discussing forgiving student loans.

One of the main ways suggested to accomplish this is by “having Wall Street” pay for it.

In reality it’s having our Pension Plans pay for it!

Bernie Sanders plan lays it out like this, “We can guarantee higher education as a right for all and cancel all student debt for an estimated $2.2 trillion. To pay for this, we will impose a tax of a fraction of a percent on Wall Street speculators who nearly destroyed the economy a decade ago. This Wall Street speculation tax will raise $2.4 trillion over the next ten years.  It works by placing a 0.5 percent tax on stock trades – 50 cents on every $100 of stock –  a 0.1 percent fee on bond trades, and a 0.005 percent fee on derivative trades. 

The problem is Wall Street is US!

Pensions, like PERA and 401k’s invest our money in Stocks on Wall Street. How well those investments perform determines the health of our Pension Funds and our COLA’s (Cost of Living Adjustment).

I’ll use the PERA Correctional Plan as an example. Our plan is based on an actuarial return on investment of 7.5% annually. 

The PERA Correctional plan COLA is dependent on funding status, a large part of that is investments!

“Beginning in 2019, the COLA will be equal to 100 percent of the increase announced by SSA, with a minimum increase of at least 1 percent and a maximum of 2.5. If the Plan’s funding status declines to 85 percent or below for two consecutive years or 80 percent for one year, the cap will be lowered from 2.5 percent to 1.5.” -PERA website 

In other words, if Wall Street is taxed to pay off student loans, Retirees and 401k’s will be the ones paying those loans.

The result would be lower monthly retirement payments and lower cost of living adjustments.

You never thought you’d work all of your life just to have your retirement investments taken to pay off someone else’s student loans did you?

Some politicians think that’s a great idea. 

According to Bernie Sanders, taxing Wall Street will raise $2.4 Trillion over 10 years. That's a $2.4 Trillion hit on our investments! 

The concept of taking our investments to pay off someone else's student loan is wrong.

Watch your wallet.

Dave Metusalem , Conflict of Interest on PERA Board

Dave Metuslam

I just read the June 29, Newsletter for members of PERA today. As a Corrections Retiree Reporter I feel duty bound to point out a conflict of interest.

This caught My eye,  from Thomas Stanley,President of the PERA Board of Trustees: " I also want to welcome David Metusalem back to the board as the Retired, Disabled, and Survivor representative. Dave has prior experience on the PERA board as an elected Police and Fire representative and also served as vice president."

Let me state up front, this appointment is rife with conflict of interest. Dave rose through the ranks at the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office. He eventually was the Under Sheriff at Ramsey County, July of 1995 to March 2017. During that time he sat on the PERA Board representing Police and Fire.

He had to step down from the PERA board when he retired as a Peace Officer and became the Executive Director of the MPPOA, May 2017 until December 2018 when he left the MPPOA. All is well and good up until then.

Well now he is the appointed Chief Deputy of the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office and the PERA Board Retired, Disabled and Survivor representative and therein lies the conflict.

As Chief Deputy he has the power to hire and fire, but more importantly, as Chief Deputy he has say over which Detention Deputies and Deputies can qualify for Disability under PERA. So the conflict is, will he be looking out for the interest of the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office or the PERA member seeking a PERA disability pension?

This is perfectly legal. He is a retiree, and as an appointed Chief Deputy he can legally hold this position. But this loop hole in the law allows a conflict! Imagine you're an injured Ramsey County Detention Deputy or Licensed Deputy and your boss has a vote on the PERA Board whether or not you qualify for a Disability Pension?

The election to fill the Retired, Disabled, and Survivor representative won't open up for more then a year. But at that time I will put my name in to represent us on the PERA Board as the Retired, Disabled, and Survivor representative.

I look forward to your support and will continue to look out for our Pension.

Sherburne County may add more ICE Beds

Detention Deputies/Corrections Officers are on the front lines of Homeland Security!

According to MPR:

Sherburne County is proposing to expand its jail to provide space for up to 500 immigration detainees, an increase from the 300 beds it currently provides for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Sherburne County has the second-largest county jail in Minnesota, capable of housing 732 inmates. For decades, the county has contracted with the U.S. government to house immigration detainees and other federal inmates. Its jail once held the 20th conspirator behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Zacarias Moussaoui.

Full Story

Hennepin County Detention Deputies on YouTube

Looks like Sheriff Hutch is promoting the Detention Deputy position in Hennepin County. Very refreshing to see. Also I see the new Sheriff allows people with tattoos! Very glad to see the old policy go away!

Correctional OfficersWeek

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5187, creating “National Correctional Officers’ Week.” Each year, the first full week in May is recognized as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, commemorating the contributions of correctional officers and personnel who work in jails, prisons, and community corrections across the country.

Thank you!

Bill advances to name Highway 95 after CO Gomm

Senator Housley’s bill memorializing fallen Stillwater corrections officer passes Senate

May 1, 2019

On Tuesday, legislation to rename a section of state Highway 95 after fallen corrections officer Joseph Gomm passed the Minnesota Senate. The bill, authored by Senator Karin Housley (R-St. Marys Point), passed with unanimous support. 

“We mourn the loss of Officer Gomm – and his legacy of sacrifice must not be forgotten,” said Senator Housley. “Officer Gomm paid the ultimate sacrifice, sacrificing his life in the line of duty to keep us safe. This is a small token of this community’s appreciation.”

FULL STORY MNSRC

Work 1 day for 10 years of pension benefits!

You read the title correctly. Economist Dan Mitchell has an article called Bureaucrat of the Year.
It outlines how an Illinois lobbyist was made a substitute teacher for 1 day then got 10 years worth of credit for a Teachers Union Pension!

It's not us worker bees that are ruining public employee pensions!

From the article-

The Chicago Tribune recently opined on this horrific example.

…a controversial state law…allowed a lobbyist for the Illinois Federation of Teachers, David Piccioli, to become certified as a substitute teacher in December 2006 by working one day at a Springfield elementary school — and to buy pension credit for his 10 previous years working as a lobbyist. That sweet deal qualified him for a pension windfall from a teachers retirement fund that as of late 2018 carried an unfunded liability of more than $75 billion-with-a-B. Because he also draws a pension from a previous job as a House Democratic aide, Piccioli’s total pension income now rises to nearly $100,000.

PERA Retirement Plans show positive trend

PERA’s retirement plans show positive trend in 30-year projections

February 6, 2019

Legislatively required 30-year projections of estimated funding status show a positive trend for PERA’s plans under current assumptions.  PERA’s three largest plans all project to be fully funded, meaning assets will equal accrued liabilities, within the next 20 years.

The projections were based on plan assumptions, assets, and member data as of July 1, 2018.  Actual investment returns since July 1, 2018 have been positive, but below the assumed 7.5 percent rate of return.  As a result, an updated forecast would delay the projected full funding dates by a few years.

The projections also show what would happen if the investment returns were 6.0 percent or 9.0 percent—the current assumed rate of 7.5 percent plus or minus 1.5 percent.  Results under those scenarios vary considerably.  Worth noting is that the only sensitivity analysis done in these reports are the investment returns.  No other expectations are changed.  For example, if investment returns are persistently low, there is no corresponding adjustment in the projections to reflect the mitigating result caused by possible lower salary increases or inflation.

The full reports are available.

General Employees Plan

Police & Fire Plan

Correctional Plan

Source PERA

70 year old CO commits suicide on the job

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that 

"A 70-year-old corrections officer died by suicide Monday after shooting himself with his service weapon at a Huntsville prison, officials said."

First of all my heart goes out to this man, his family and all of his fellow Corrections Officers.

While the article doesn't give a reason why, this raises the question. Why was he still working as a CO at 70?

CO's have a very high rate of PTSD. It is a job that is stressful and makes you constatntly hyper-vigilant.

It's a job that often requires you to be in physical altercations with men often younger than you.

In Minnesota Corrections Officers can retire at 55 because of all of the aforementioned reasons.

There is life after Corrections. A good one. If you are 55 or older get out and enjoy the day.
Don't sink in the stress of the job.

Court forces Teamsters Local 320 to return ill gotten dues and Pension news.

Teamsters officials forced to return every dollar, plus interest, of fees seized by the union from the court workers

Minneapolis, MN (September 10, 2018) – A federal First Amendment lawsuit brought by National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation staff attorneys for two Minnesota court employees against a Teamsters local union has ended with the workers winning a settlement that will return to the workers all forced union dues seized by union officials. The refund is a result of the Foundation-won U.S. Supreme Court Janus v. AFSCME decision, which held that the First Amendment prohibits mandatory union fees for public sector workers.

Carrie Keller and Elizabeth Zeien, employees of the State of Minnesota Court System, filed the lawsuit after Teamsters Local 320 union officials and Minnesota state officials forced them into union ranks without a vote and against their desire.

FULL STORY

Plus Pension News

Craig Johnson, Teamsters Local 320 BA tries to take credit for protecting our Pension last year! Everyone who's been following this blog knows Brian Aldes, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 320 "signed off" on CUTS to the PERA Correctional Plan. Only after this author and MNPEA went to bat was our 2.5% COLA maintained. Had Johnson and Aldes had their way it would have been only 1.4% this year.

The following letter from Craig Johnson of Teamsters Local 320 was shared with me by our Ramsey County CO readers of this blog. Note the last sentence; "...we worked on the Omnibus Pension Bill to secure PERA remains strong...."

They had agreed to cap our pension at 1.5%! They and AFSCME called it shared sacrifice. Sorry Craig, we don't don't need that kind of "work" on our pension.

and just like that there was a new Sheriff

On January 7, 2019 Dave Hutch was sworn as Sheriff of Hennepin County!

Congratulations Hennepin County Dave Sheriff Hutch!

Sheriff Hutch giving acceptance speech

Some in overflow attendance

NEW PTSD law covers Corrections Officers

One of the new Minnesota laws taking affect January 1, 2019 is one that recognizes PTSD as covered by Workers Comp for Public Safety and First Responders including Corrections Officers.

FULL STORY 

Occupational Disease/PTSD/ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

This paragraph creates a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presumption for an employee who was employed on active duty as:

• a licensed police officer;
• a firefighter;
• a paramedic;
• an emergency medical technician;
• a licensed nurse employed to provide emergency medical services outside of a medical facility;
• a public safety dispatcher;
• an officer employed by the state or a political subdivision at corrections, detention or secure treatment facility;
• a sheriff or full-time deputy sheriff of any county; or
• a member of the Minnesota State Patrol.

DOC investigating assault on CO at St. Cloud MCF

KSTP is reporting:

December 27, 2018 04:34 PM

The Minnesota Department of Corrections is investigating an assault that occurred Thursday morning at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-St. Cloud.

According to a statement from the department, a corrections officer was assaulted in the dining hall at the facility. The statement said three other officers were injured while responding to the assault. 

FULL STORY

The Incoming HCSO Sheriff Hutch Administration

Incoming HCSO Sheriff Hutch has announced his administrative team. He has picked some very good people for the Chief Deputy and Major positions.

Tracey Martin-Chief Deputy

Bob Staupe- Commander Enforcement Services Bureau

Jeffrey Storms (current Chief Deputy) - Commander Administrative Services Bureau

Patrick King- Commander of the Investigations Bureau

Source - Star Tribune

I think he's made some solid choices. People with experience in the HCSO most of whom worked their way up from the bottom.

Best of luck to all.

Workplace email, or how to get fired!

We live in an electronic age. Everyone is connected by phone, email, texts, social media, &c.

Everyone working as a Detention Deputy or CO is aware of the Sheriff's Office/County email policy.

Every once in a while someone gets pinched using county email for personal use, or worse outside business use.

A 17 year Ramsey County Sheriff's Department employee went astray of the County Policy and was fired. He appealed his firing through Arbitration.

This ended up in Arbitration BMS Case 18-PA-0261 Hendrickson Discharge.

Allegation:

*Grievant received racist, sexist and pornographic emails on employer email without objection.
*Conducted his outside business using his Ramsey County email address.
*Grievant worked for a Security Company for 6 years without employer permission.
*Grievant violated MN Data Practices Act

Defense:

*Long time employee with good discipline record, even was promoted to Sergeant.
*The emails were sent while grievant was on Workers Comp and NOT opened at work.
*Most of the emails were forwarded and/or not opened on the Employer's system.
*County could stop receipt of outside email by using filters.
*Grievant thought he was forwarding Data Practice protected information to Law Enforcement.

Decision:

Termination upheld by the Arbitrator.


Bottom line, employer email is employer email. Even if accessed offsite!

Hold on to your Wallet!

Recently many of you (and me) received a letter from the MMRA (Minnesota Municipal Retirement Association).

They talked about "cuts" to your pension's COLA from 2.5% to 1%, but for $5 a month they would fight for your raise!

This sounded like a money making scam to me so I contacted them and asked what they were doing for PERA Correctional Plan members. The response was, " MMRA is restricted to represent only PERA General members. "

Fact: the PERA Correctional Plan cost of living raise is still 2.5%. 

This raises several questions.

1. Why did they send this to PERA Correctional Plan members?
2. How did they get our addresses?
3. Why are they soliciting money from the PERA Correctional Plan members?

The 'why' seems to be a way to scam people into paying $5 a month for nothing!

How they got the addresses is a mystery. PERA does not give those out. My guess, a former Union of ours (not MNPEA) sold them the addresses.

The 'why solicit' is it's just a way to skim money from people they will never assist.

To sum this up. The PERA Correctional Plan's COLA is 2.5%. The MMRA does not lobby for you.
Why should any retiree have to pay someone to 'protect' the pension they paid into for years?
That is your Union's job. 

Of course we know Teamsters, AFSCME and LELS were perfectly happy to reduce  the PERA Correctional Plan to 1.5%. Only MNPEA fought the cut, and won.

So if you received this letter from MMRA, throw it away!

Hennepin County Board Considering cuts to Jail!

According to this Star Tribune article the Board is considering cutting $2 million from the Sheriff's Office.

Outgoing Commissioner Peter McLaughlin initially proposed cutting 9 Detention Deputies from the jail! Apparently assaults on Corrections/Detention Deputy staff recently in the news don't matter. After all those years in Office you'd think he realized the DOC requires a staff to inmate ratio.

"Much of the overtime expenses comes from jail staffing when inmate populations run high. While the numbers have declined in recent months, the jail had record inmate levels last spring.

“The study found that the jail is now down to its functional capacity and we can keep those numbers down,” said McLaughlin. “The new budget numbers reflects that we don’t need funding for a full jail.”

The number of jail beds available daily is 755, and Stanek said the jail staffs for 680 inmates. On Monday there were 780 inmates, so he had to force deputies to work overtime “because you just can’t say the inn is closed.”  - Star Tribune

I love McLaughlin's quote that, "we can keep those numbers down...we don't need funding for a full jail." Is the Board planning on putting a cap on arrests in Hennepin County?

For years I've advocated for the Jail to be staffed 100 % by Detention Deputies. Much money could be saved by eliminating the use of higher paid Licensed Deputies and their higher rate overtime in the jail. Not to mention training and POST costs.

Incoming Sheriff Hutch wants the Board to hold off on cuts until he gets the lay of the land.

This will be an interesting fight. Both the new County Board and the Minneapolis City Council seem to be farther to the political Left. They both seem to be anti-law enforcement.

Something to watch. The Sheriff Office is a Constitutional Office which requires funding. Not like the tent city local government has no trouble throwing money at.

http://www.startribune.com/sheriff-rich-stanek-irked-lame-duck-county-commissioner-cutting-budget/501933522/

Escape follow up-back in custody!

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A man who escaped from Hennepin County Public Jail custody Wednesday morning has been found.
 The suspect, 57-year-old Michael Simon, broke a 7th floor window of the Hennepin County Public Safety facility at around 7 a.m. Wednesday. He then climbed out of the window to make his escape.

Sources say that at one point, Simon was seen walking across a downtown skyway to get away. ADVERTISING Around 10 a.m., Simon was located and taken into custody after a traffic stop in Little Canada. michal simon 2 Suspect Back In Custody After Breaking Out Of Hennepin County Jail Michael Simon (credit: Hennepin County Jail)

 According to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Simon was booked into the Adult Detention Center on Sept. 25, 2018 for financial transaction card fraud and a MN Department of Corrections hold for burglary. The Hennepin County Public Jail is located on 401 S 4th Ave in downtown Minneapolis. This is a developing situation, so check back with the latest information.

Escape today!

Saw this press release. Waiting for details.

Press Release: On-going search for wanted individual 

Hennepin County sent this bulletin at 11/28/2018 08:54 AM CST

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Jon Collins, 612-919-5918 On-going search for wanted individual  November 28, 2018 (MINNEAPOLIS) - The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a wanted individual who escaped from the Hennepin County Adult Detention Center. The wanted individual, Michael Frank Simon (DOB 07/19/61), was booked into the Hennepin County Adult Detention Center on September 25, 2018 for financial transaction card fraud and a MN Department of Corrections hold for burglary.  At approximately 7:00 a.m. Simon escaped from the Hennepin County Adult Detention Center. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office immediately notified local law enforcement and began a coordinated search which is ongoing.  The Sheriff’s Office is asking for anyone with information about the whereabouts of Simon to please call 911 or the HCSO tip-line at 1-888-988-TIPS (8477). - HCSO -  Simon, Michael Frank - Hennepin County Sheriff's Office

2019 Retirement Benefit Increases Announced

2019 Retirement benefit increases announced

October 12, 2018

Good news for retirees

Retired members of the PERA General Plan will receive a 1.4 percent increase in their PERA retirement benefits, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

The 1.4 percent increase reflects 2018 legislative changes to PERA’s retirement plans. The General Plan cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be equal to 50 percent of the increase announced by Social Security. Social Security announced a 2.8 percent benefit increase for 2019. The 1.4 percent increase is good news for PERA retirees since the previous increases were at 1 percent for many years.

Members of the Correctional Plan will receive a 2.5 percent increase in their PERA retirement benefits, effective Jan. 1, 2019. This increase is a result of the legislative change calling for the Correctional Plan COLA to be equal to 100 percent of the increase announced by Social Security, with a maximum 2.5 percent increase.

The Correctional Plan can provide a larger increase to plan members since the plan is relatively better funded than the other plans PERA administers.  In the future, the Correctional Plan COLA maximum could be reduced to 1.5 percent if the plan’s funding status declines.

The Police & Fire Plan members will continue to receive a 1 percent increase in their PERA retirement benefits.  The Police & Fire COLA is not currently tied to an inflation index.

Source: MNPERA.org

I again must point out that AFSCME, Teamsters Local 320 and LELS all had agreed to the lower 1.4% for the Correctional Plan as "shared pain".  And that without ever bringing it to their members! 

Hutch campaign manager attends MNPEA meeting

Sheriff Hutch's campaign manager attended the last MNPEA union meeting. Here is a synopsis from some members who were there.

WADE!!! In a nutshell, this is what D. B. told me. Hutch's campaign guy is Austin Sable out of Radio. According to him, Hutch wants to return to a more traditional Sheriffs Office with a predominately Civilian staff while focusing on Jail, Radio and Records/Courts. Stanek over-extended Radio's service perimeter while not providing the staff and resources needed to handle it. There are 15 stations manned while a 16TH goes unmanned. Although Waterways is still a mandate, he sees no real issues there. and I would agree. Seems that most, if not everybody out there is content. He wants to see that budgeted moneys go to where they are appropriated to go. The last two idiots were notorious at asking for money to fund 'this' and end up spending it to fund 'that.' We both have seen plenty of BS. He also wants to address both retention and incentives for both new hires and existing staff. I am hoping he takes a more reasonable and sensible approach to hiring. This 'mass hiring' approach that Stanek had a love affair with is neither practical or economically sound. There is a balance between paying your existing staff OT (far cheaper) and hiring new staff (more costly). A approach that would benefit everybody. Finally, he is open to Labor Groups. He both appreciates and recognizes Labor Groups. I realize this is all lip service so far, but it sounds promising. If I were speaking directly to him, I would put it this way.."Dude, you are in a very good position. Stanek had taken just about everything away from us. If you could restore even some of it, you could be viewed very favorably. Do you want a good movie or a bad movie??? It is totally up to you!" 

I forget to mention, he is all about Mental Health and not servicing ICE. I am not sure what he is after with the Mental Health thing. I do hope we don't continue to warehouse inmates for these M/H institutions. Once committed, send them!!! We should not be sitting on them. As far as ICE is concerned, not sure what he means by that either. He could mean we are not going to warehouse inmates for ICE while they drag their feet on what they are going to do. I would agree with that. 

I REACHED OUT TO SHERIFF HUTCH TO WRITE AN UNEDITED MESSAGE IN THIS BLOG TO DETENTION DEPUTIES.

Happy Veteran's Day

Thank you for your service!

via GIPHY

Dave "Hutch" wins as Hennepin County Sheriff

Congratulations Dave Hutchinson on your victory in Hennepin County as Sheriff.

As a retiree with over 25 years in that Department I wish you luck. There is a lot of rebuilding to do after 12 years of Richard Stanek.

My advice, surround yourself with good people!



https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2018/11/07/by-the-numbers-dave-hutchinson-tops-stanek-in-race-for-hennepin-co-sheriff/?fbclid=IwAR3ow1Tr-geMrX5TrTw1IGSjO5QZG4FFic7GpO-88xT1gMphHMAEMCBgnXM

2 CO's Assaulted at Fairbault MCF

WCCO is reporting that:

Two corrections officers are recovering after being injured during an assault at the Faribualt prison.

According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, the assault happened Sunday at approximately 6pm. The two officers injured in the assault were taken to the hospital, treated, and then released.

The DOC says the offender who was responsible was placed into restrictive housing.

The prison is still locked down.

There has been a rash of injuries to corrections officers at Minnesota prisons this year, which have resulted in the deaths of two officers.

Oak Park Heights MCF CO Parise ruled a homicide

The death last month of Oak Park Heights CO Joe Parise has been ruled a homicide,

In other Oak Par Heights news, 2 CO's were hospitalized yesterday after an altercation with 2 inmates.

The Star Tribune article goes on to say that the inmates involved were placed in restrictive housing  and Oak Park Heights is on lock down.

Let's hope the 2 inmates don't get the early release treatment from seg MCF OPH has been famous for lately.

Officer safety should be the top priority.

Full Cost of Living Raise for PERA CO's

Good news.

Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% Cost of Living raise in 2019.

PERA CO's COLA is tied to the Social Security cost of living increase-100% of Social Security COLA capped at 2.5%.

This means PERA Correctional Plan Retirees will receive the full 2.5% increase in 2019.

Never forget Teamsters Local 320, AFSME and LELS had all agreed to a lower cap (1.5%) without ever consulting their members!

Beware LELS, Law Enforcement Labor Services!

Hey Minnesota CO's, all representation is not the same.

LELS has a pitch to Corrections Officers on their website.

That's funny because LELS (Sean Gormley and David Metusalem) , Teamsters Local 320 (Brian Aldes) and AFSCME all signed off on allowing PERA CO's to take a Pension cut just a few months ago. Thank God MNPEA and I caught it.

They are also pitching their Legal Plan. I'm not sure how it's working now, but back when Hennepin County Detention was with them it didn't apply to Detention Deputies, only sworn officers. I'm also sure it doesn't apply to off duty like MNPEA's plan does. Hell, they didn't even support the PERA Correctional Officers Pension when we were working on it. Dan Wells sat behind me at a meeting and laughed!

We are in a time when CO's are leaving the likes of Teamsters Local 320 and AFSCME, just be careful you go to a Union that will represent Corrections. Not just take your dues for Police only.

RIP CO CO Joseph Parise

RIP Oak Park Heights CO Joseph Parise. My heart goes out to his fellow CO's and his family.

OAK PARK HEIGHTS, Minn. - A corrections officer at Minnesota's Oak Park Heights prison has died following a medical emergency after helping a fellow guard who was attacked by an inmate. KARE 11

It's September 11

September 11^th, 2001. 17 years ago, I was working as a Detention Deputy at the Hennepin County Jail. I was working the Release desk that day listening to the radio. Suddenly the news broke in that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center.

I was shocked and remember thinking it was a terrible accident. A very short time later the radio was reporting a second plane hit!

I went up to staff dining to see a television. There I saw the images of the planes hitting the buildings. Soon word came that we were under attack.

Downtown Minneapolis was ordered evacuated. Us Detention Deputies like all law enforcement,remained on the job. There was no leaving work to be with our families. No one knew if any hijacked planes filled with our loved ones would be flown into the IDS or other tall buildings. All commercial flights were grounded. People were trapped in cities for days, unless they rented cars or found other modes of transportation.

I have never forgotten. I have never forgiven. We have enemies who when given the chance will attack. They will attack civilians, military, men, women and children. People just going about their business.

This caused our nation to pull together, and for a short time think about our borders, immigration and security. It didn’t take long for some to forget, to try and appease our enemies and even vilify those who are vigilant.

But I, and many of us know who you are. We will not be lulled into complacency or silenced by political correctness.

I am thankful I live in a country where we have the right to bear arms to defend ourselves, and the freedom to raise our voices. I am thankful we have a strong leader who believes in strong borders. Freedom and Liberty must always be defended.

Today is 9/11. God bless America. We will not forget.

CO's safety takes a back seat, again.

KSTP is reporting that  the industry area at Stillwater Prison is reopened.

It's the area where CO Joseph Gomm was murdered by an inmate with a hammer, while other inmates held the doors.

Stillwater CO's had complained for years about the lack of safety and it fell on deaf ears to both management and their union, AFSCME.

Well, the industry area is reopened and now KSTP is reporting some CO's are refusing to work there.
Now management is wanting business as usual, but AFSCME is actually, at least verbally, asking for more cameras in the area.

Tim Henderson, Associate Director for AFSCME is quoted as saying they want more cameras and a partner on rounds so no one has to go solo.

Sadly, before the death of Joseph Gomm, according to Stillwater CO's, AFSCME was more interested in releasing inmates early from segregation,even though it led to an increase in assaults on staff, supporting the Governor's staffing cuts, and backing BLM against law enforcement!

I have to wonder if AFSCME's sudden backing of members is because after years of ignoring them they suddenly care, or because of the Janus v AFSCME ruling they are losing money, err, I mean members?

I'm guessing the later.

Watch this site for big news on how some of the bigger Unions tried to work against Corrections Officer Pensions.

Big announcement coming in the first part of December!