Sheriff's Office Must Change Tactics To Handle Protesters

We've all received the memo informing us that all days off and vacations will be cancelled during the Republican National Convention.

Sheriff Fletcher in Ramsey County is preparing and planning on 3,000 arrests.He has asked their county board for 3.9 million in protester related costs including $550,000 for a possible open-air, fenced detention facility to hold protesters next to the Ramsey County Workhouse; $1.7 million for overtime, and $62,000 for biohazard decontamination equipment. (Source: Star Tribune).

Us? The Hennepin County Board has yet to ask for a convention budget, and the Sheriff's Office has not yet developed one, said Sheriff Rich Stanek. He said he was unaware of protest arrest estimates in Minneapolis.

My concern is less the budget then our policies. The current Sheriff's Office policy of writing a full fledged use of force incident report anytime we touch an inmate will be crippling in a mass arrest situation. Imagine this, a bus with sixty protesters arrives. They refuse to walk and we have to carry them. Now imagine the man hours wasted as multiple detention deputies write individual use of force reports on all sixty inmates! That bus will take hours to be emptied under current policy. Of course if we don't follow Inspector Merkel's memo that requires reports for any physical contact, and an arrestee complains, the staff is subject to discipline.

As I see it, either we had better quadruple the intake staff to accommodate the report writing, or go back to making only a behavior note entry unless directed by a supervisor to write a report. How many times have we been told that the intake video is documentation to protect us? The Sheriff's Office should use it as that, let us quit typing redundant reports, and let us get back to the job of booking in inmates.

The Elephant In The Room

I have refrained from comment on the ongoing case involving our fellow detention deputy for the very fact it is an ongoing investigation. However, I will say that I believe he will land on his feet. This is also an example of what it means to be a union member. While the employer puts you on the spot, you have the union to represent your interest during internal investigation, and Team Legal to provide the best lawyers in the state for your criminal defense. All with your interest in mind. Anyone of us, at any time, can be traveling down this road because of the accusation of an inmate. We only need look as far as Philander Jenkins to see how much trouble one lie can cause. So the next time someone says, What does the union do for us." Reply, "We have your back."

House Passes Employee Free Choice Act in Spite of Hostile Campaign Resembling Unionbusting

WASHINGTON, March 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last ditch efforts by
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the final days before yesterday's vote on
the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800) failed to stop the U.S. House of
Representatives from passing the labor law reform legislation. Some 241
members, including 13 Republicans, supported the bill. "Hard-line business
groups were tripping over each other and sparing no expense to bully
lawmakers, misinform the public, and oppose free choice for workers," says
American Rights at Work Executive Director Mary Beth Maxwell.
In a relentless effort to defeat the bill, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
purchased radio ads in 51 districts to target lawmakers. In an article
earlier this week about the expensive ad buy, Congress Daily quoted a U.S.
Chamber spokesperson who said, "We're making people feel pain."
In the weeks preceding the House floor vote, a well-financed and
coordinated message machine that included industry associations and
right-wing think tanks flooded the public debate with misinformation about
the bill's provisions. Conservative pundit George Will was a late recruit
to help obscure the existence of employer coercion during union organizing
campaigns.
"House members got a taste of the relentless attacks workers endure
every day when they stand up for themselves and support unions," says
Maxwell. "Can you imagine how a nurse with kids to feed feels when faced
with this kind of intimidation? This is exactly why workers need the
Employee Free Choice Act."
Concludes Maxwell, "Hardworking men and women can celebrate today
because Congress stood up for them and American democracy."
American Rights at Work (http://www.americanrightsatwork.org) is a leading
labor policy and advocacy organization. For more information on how
opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act are misinforming the public,
visit: http://www.antiunionnetwork.org.
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Related links:
http://www.americanrightsatwork.org
http://www.antiunionnetwork.org

City of Minneapolis should apologize to Lt. Kroll!

Minneapolis P.D. Lt. Kroll is in hot water for allegedly referring to Congressman Keith Ellison as a terrorist. The Star Tribune is reporting that during a required ethics class Lt. Kroll implied that U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison is a terrorist. The article goes on to say: Chief Tim Dolan sent an e-mail to all employees saying the comments were unacceptable and unflattering to the department. Dolan also issued a public apology to Ellison, a Democrat from Minneapolis and the first Muslim elected to Congress.

What! First of all Keith Ellison is a public figure. As such anyone can comment on him. This is First Amendment protected speech. The same speech that allows an anti-Bush person to call the President a baby killer for invading Iraq (that no one apologizes for). Secondly, Mr. Ellison was a member of Louis Farrakahn's, anti-Semitic & anti-white racist organization the Nation of Islam. He also is associated with, and received campaign money from the Hamas connected organization CAIR. The U.S. government considers Hamas to be a terrorist organization. Ellison is also a cry baby who called the police on a fellow congressman for smoking.

The Tribune goes on quoting Ellison: On Thursday, Ellison said: "The alleged comments don't reflect the diversity of our city, or the warm embracing attitudes of those who live in the Fifth District. I'm grateful to Mayor Rybak and Chief Dolan for setting the right tone. The alleged comments don't reflect the Minneapolis Police Department, who I respect as well."

In my opinion Rybak & Dolan are cowards for apologizing to Ellison, and Ellison's comment that he respects the Minneapolis Police Department is a lie. Ellison's problems with the MPD including his association with local gangsters the likes of Shariff Willis during the murder of police officer Jerry Haaf are well known. He's also been booked into the county jail himself!

The bottom line is this. Ellison is a public figure. Ellison associates with, and receives money from organizations with ties to terrorists. Ellison was a member of a racist organization (the Nation of Islam is every bit as racist as the KKK). Ellison is an associate of criminals, criminals that have murdered Minneapolis' own officers. Lt. Kroll is entitled to speak his mind about a public figure. I believe Minneapolis Mayor Rybak and police Chief Dolan owe the citizens of Minneapolis an apology for their anti-American, anti first amendment conduct. In short, the City of Minneapolis should apologize to Lt. Kroll.

Sheriff Stanek's Makes the News

The Star Tribune has an article dated February 26th in which Sheriff Stanek gives a hint of the direction he's leading the department. I'd recommend reading it.

A Meeting With The Sheriff

Today I had coffee with Sheriff Stanek and Chief Deputy Good. It's the first time we've sat down and talked since he took office. It was an informal meeting at Caribou Coffee that lasted about 45 minutes. The Sheriff called the meeting to get to know me and our bargaining unit. There was no agenda. We pretty much covered the gamut. I told him about the positive aspects of working at the jail, the good staff we have and the pride we take in our job. We also discussed Teamsters structure and our current grievances. We discussed where things soured between us and the last administration and I believe he's interested in establishing a good working relationship. I know we won't always see eye to eye, but this was a good step in opening communication.

Lunch During Training Issue Resolved

I'm happy to report that after meeting with the jail Captain we were able to resolve the issue of being able to eat in staff dining during eight hour training shifts. Teamsters Local 320 no longer considers the Sheriff's Office to be in violation of article 36 of the Agreement.

You can once again eat lunch in staff dining when you are assigned to work eight hours of training at the PSF!

Currrent Grievances

The following is the list of current grievances filed against the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office:

*New* Grievance filed by a member given a suspension for uttering a profanity 6 months ago! While the Sheriff's Office was reviewing a 6 month old tape of intake for an unrelated reason, a member was heard to utter a profanity while talking to another detention deputy.

Grievance filed by a member given a 10 day suspension for allegedly using excessive force during an SRT extraction witnessed by 4 supervisors who reported nothing wrong.

Grievance filed after management unilaterally ended the decades long past practice of having breakfast foods available before shift without negotiating with the union.

Although no formal complaints have been filed for internal discipline or criminally, a member has been left at home for months on administrative leave by the Sheriff's administration.

Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Violation of the Agreement

Article 36 of the Agreement between Teamsters Local 320 and Hennepin County reads:

ARTICLE 36 - JAIL MEALS
Section 1.
Employees assigned to work in the jail for a work shift of eight (8) hours or more may share in a meal in the jail provided by the EMPLOYER during their assigned shift.

On 2/16/07 the jail administration issued a memo stating :
Staff Dining is not available to Jail Staff attending in-service training, including but not limited to: Basic Emergency Care, First Responder Refresher, SRT Training, Licensed Deputy In-Service, Supervisor In-Service, and other In-Service training conducted at the PSF for Sheriff’s Employees...

The memo ended with:
ALL employees attending training conducted at the PSF will need to make arrangements on their own for the afternoon meal. Students attending in-service training will be given enough time to complete their afternoon meal outside of the ADD.

The contract is clear, if you are assigned a shift of 8 hours in the jail you can have a meal. The result of this is that our members, often ordered to attend eight hours of training on a day off, are by being denied a meal guaranteed by our contract.

ALL TEAMSTER MEMBERS ATTENDING TRAINING OF 8 HOURS OR MORE AT THE PSF ARE ADVISED TO SAVE YOUR RECEIPT FROM YOUR PURCHASED OUTSIDE MEAL AND FILE A GRIEVANCE!

Before You Dye or Buy New Leather

Inspector Cooper has issued a memo stating that:

"All licensed and detention personnel, if they wish, may immediately begin wearing all their black leather gear."

Be aware that the Sheriff's Office has not yet spelled out how this change from brown to black leather is to be paid for. While the Sheriff has the right to make this change it is the union's position that this is a certified contract item. As such it's implementation must conform to the contract. As stated in our contract, Article 1, ...the AGREEMENT is entered into between the County of Hennepin...and Teamsters Local 320.

While the Sheriff may change a uniform item, a uniform committee composed of the Sheriff's administration and a few employees (even if representatives of bargaining units), does not have the the ability to change the terms of a ratified contract. This contract is owned by Teamsters Local 320!
Article 2 of the AGREEMENT and Minnesota Statue 179A.06 expressly forbids the employer from entering into any agreement with members of the bargaining unit which conflict with terms and conditions set forth in this AGREEMENT, except through the certified representative. That representative is our Business Agent Tom Perkins.

You are advised to wait on purchasing new leather or dying your leather gear until the financial aspect is clear.

It is the union's position that according to the contract:

1). The contract provides for the employer to replace changed items not dye or refurbish existing items.

2). The employer must cover 100% of all the cost for new leather for detention techs and 100% of the cost for detention deputies still in their first year of employment. For detention deputies over one year of employment the detention deputy is responsible for the first $65 and the employer for the rest.

You can read the contract language regarding uniform allowance in a previous post by clicking here.

Further food for thought. A few years ago the detention deputies asked the Sheriff's Office permission to change from the then brown uniform, to the tan and brown one we wear now. It was approved, but we had to pay for the change ourselves because the change was at the request of the employees. Now the employer is changing the leather gear and once again trying to pass 100% of the cost on to the employee.

The union recommends not making any changes until this is ironed out. Don't get caught holding the bag. If you have already purchased new black leather save your receipts.

IMPLEMENTING THIS CHANGE AND PASSING THE COST ON TO OUR MEMBERS IS AN EXPRESS VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT!

Follow up to Stillwater C.O. Death.

The Star Tribune is reporting today that the Stillwater Correctional Officer who died was 41 year old Steven J. Jensen, an employee since 1989. It's being investigated as a suicide.

Interestingly, they also are reporting that an inmate filed a complaint against Jensen in October, but it was not substantiated and the file was closed Dec. 5. She said there have been no layoffs at the prison, but she didn't know if Jensen had any other work-related issues that could have been a factor.

Anyone in our line of work can testify to the stress caused by being investigated by the employer when an inmate makes a false claim. Unfortunately this may be the result of just such an investigation. While an allegation must be investigated, I believe the employer has a responsibility to treat the employee fairly, not to drag out the investigation, or let the rumors run wild destroying the CO's reputation before an investigation is complete. I don't know that Stillwater handles it's investigations as our Sheriff's Office does, but most of you know exactly what I'm talking about. While an allegation may eventually be deemed not substantiated the Correctional Officer's reputation may never recover. There has to be a better way then treating the employee like a criminal during an investigation then saying, "OK we couldn't find anything wrong so go back to work."

Stillwater Correctional Officer Dies At Work

Today I was at the YMCA I work out at. Frequently I run into a sergeant from Lino Lakes MCF there. Today he said, "Did you hear the news today?"

"No," I replied.

"A C.O. at Stillwater died today."

"How"? I asked.

"He was supposed to work the tower today. When he got his gun he walked behind a pillar and blew his head off."

"Why?"

"I don't know." He said, "I heard he had problems with depression and was having some problems at work. Hell of a line of work we've chosen. If you don't get killed at work you end up killing yourself."

I haven't seen this on the news yet. I don't know if it will make the news. I'll bet there will be no covered shields and bagpipes for him. Ours is the branch of law enforcement no one sees. Everyone sees the cop drag the criminal off of the street. Then as far as the public is concerned it's over. There's an article entitled The Forgotten Cop that sums up our work and there's also a Corrections Officer's Memorial for those who die in our line of work. Take the time to read these and be careful. This line of work can be stressful avoiding danger at work and psychologically.

Sheriff's Chair Missing!

Felicia Chesmer put out the following request:

During the move of the Administration from Room 6 in City Hall to Room 815 of the Grain Exchange, Sheriff Stanek's personal chair was misplaced.
The chair we are looking for is a leather high-back black chair. If anyone has seen a chair like this, please give me a call (Felicia Chesmer ).

Come on guys, if ya know where it is give it up!

Teamsters Local 320 2006 Legislation & IBT 2007 Goals

Click here to see the things our Teamsters local 320 accomplished in 2006 legislatively.

Then click here to see Teamsters national political goals for 2007!

Uniform Changes

The new sheriff's administration has formed a uniform committee with the idea of changing our current brown leather to black. All bargaining units affected by this proposed change were asked for a representative. Union Steward Michael Turner is representing us on this committee. Our goal as stewards is to make sure the contract the members ratified is protected. Our contract reads:

"ARTICLE 32 - CLOTHING ALLOWANCE
Section 1.
Newly hired employees in the Detention Deputy class shall during the first year of employment, be provided basic uniform clothing items of the quantity, type and style prescribed by the EMPLOYER. Each Detention Deputy, after having completed one (1) full year of service, shall be eligible for a uniform clothing allowance in an amount not to exceed $485 in 2006 and $495 in 2007. The uniform shall be worn only when performing official duties as directed by the EMPLOYER or upon such special occasions as the EMPLOYER may authorize. Employees shall wear and maintain the uniform as specified by the EMPLOYER. Upon termination of employment, all uniform clothing equivalent in quantity or value to the original issued shall be returned to the EMPLOYER. Upon termination of employment, all I.D. cards, insignia and any other County property issued to, or in the possession of the employee, shall be returned to the EMPLOYER.
Section 2.
If the basic clothing provided by the EMPLOYER is changed in type, color or style by order of the EMPLOYER, the EMPLOYER will bear any replacement cost in excess of $65.00 per calendar year, the employee to be responsible for the first $65.00 of replacement cost.
Section 3.
Any uniform items found by supervisory inspection to be worn out or damaged shall be turned in to the EMPLOYER"

(Highlights in red provided by me for emphasis)

The first meeting of the uniform committee was today and I'm proud of the way Steward Turner represented us.

Important: Vote in the PERA elections!

Yeah I know it's a boring piece of seemingly junk mail that comes to your home, but take the time to VOTE, our retirement depends on it.

Teamsters 320 worked hard to get Detention Deputies the 55 retirement and these are the people they recommend we vote for on the PERA board of trustees:

Louise (Lou) Olson for Retiree Representative
Larry Bodnar for At-large Representative
Gary Lavelle for At-large Representative

Sheriff McGowan Retires

Sheriff McGowan is retiring to Arizona. We've had some big battles over the years, but I wish him well. An excerpt from a Star Tribune article ends with:

McGowan said he's not naive enough to believe that all of the more than 800 Sheriff's Office employees loved him.
"I just hope they felt I was fair and honest. Maybe not the brightest or best, just fair and honest," he said. "I would like that on my tombstone."

Does Hennepin County Encourage Lawsuits?

We've all heard the tales of the inmate brought to the jail who then complains about his treatment and then walks away with a fistful of dollars. Does this really happen? Well I visited the Hennepin County Board's site for the December 12, 2006 meeting and found this:

County Attorney Claims on behalf of:
(a) Michael Undlin (2)
(b) Triple L Transportation Inc.
(c) Harold Shepard 06-c226

I don't know who (b) or (c) are, but (a), Michael Undlin, was booked into our jail and was less then happy with his stay. He was able to obtain 27 hours of our internal jail video, apparently it's not considered protected (a great idea for anyone wanting to start a reality show huh?). Now he's found his way to father Hennepin for some taxpayer dollars.

Then there's the Philander Jenkins saga. He originally claimed four of our members sexually assaulted him. The case was investigated by the BCA, then sent to the Washington County attorneys office. The claim was proven to be false. In a rare moment Hennepin County went after Jenkins for filing a false report. Hennepin County was not able to convince the jury. One reason why may be found on the Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB) website:

Philander^s cases--the cafe case and the arraignment on the "false" reporting charges--were in court last week. The county dropped one of the charges in the "false" reporting case right away, since HC jail staff aren^t officially "law enforcement" officers (since they must have known that, why did they charge him in the first place?).

If the CUAPB website is correct then the Hennepin County attorney's office dropped the ball right from the gate. If we aren^t officially "law enforcement" officers, then by whose authority do we perform our duties? Another fine example of Amy Klobuchar's work!

The bottom line is this, we perform our duties under the color of law on behalf of the citizens of Hennepin County. We process, or book in, people who are lawfully arrested by police officers. Every one who comes to jail is booked against their will. Unfortunately due to the County's propensity to hand out money rather then make these people prove they were wronged, only encourages this behavior. It's the old penny wise, pound foolish saying. It may be cheaper in the short run, but in the long run it's very costly, both to the taxpayers who foot the bill and to the detention deputies (corrections officers) who feel they get no backing from the county they serve. Our clientele are tenacious, Philander Jenkins is now going after our guys in civil court. I wish Hennepin County were as dedicated to defending us, as our inmates are in going after our money. After all, they apparently have nothing to lose for trying!

As long as Hennepin County keeps handing out money, giving away internal security tapes, and not backing it's employees, the taxpayers will keep hemorrhaging money to criminals who destroy the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

Normally I don't publicly comment on ongoing cases, but hey, this stuff is already published on the internet, so as far as I'm concerned it's fair game.

The Stanek Administration

Sheriff Rich Stanek has named his new administration. Here's the line-up:

Chief Deputy- Orono Police Chief Stephany Good

Inspectors:
Cooper
Merkel
Jeff Storms- Current HCSO Lieutenant
Minneapolis police Lt. Mike Carlson

Blood Borne Pathogens Report

As many of you know we wrote, lobbied and got passed the Blood Borne Pathogens Bill some time ago after an inmate refused to give a blood sample to be screened for disease after exposing one of our members. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office had one and a half years until the bill took effect in July of 2006. That date came and went without the Sheriff's Office having a plan for implementing by July 1 as stipulated by the law.

The reason we wrote this bill was to prevent what is still occurring. A detention deputy gets a significant exposure to an inmate's blood or body fluids, the inmate refuses to give a blood draw, the detention deputy is then left with the choice of taking several months of medications guaranteed to make them sick and tired, or roll the dice and hope they didn't get anything.

On Monday December 4th our business agent Tom Perkins and myself met with Captain Wresh and County Attorney Beitz to get things moving. I believe progress was made. Obviously our concern is getting the Sheriff's Office to apply this law to protect our members. They are figuring out the proper procedures. The county attorney seemed to struggle with the "constitutional" issues. I guess I'd be more worried about being sued by a member that the Sheriff's Office failed to protect. With any luck, this should be up and running soon.