Agenda for Aug 27 911 Telecommunicator Workgroup

 This is the agenda for this Friday, I will be in attendance.

Here's the link also, there's a place you can request to attend if you want.

Agenda

1. Informational Items
   1. State 911 Telecommunicator retention data and implications
      - Tim Boyer, Statewide Director of Communications, Minnesota State Patrol
   2. Small MSRS plans (Fire Marshall, DOT Pilots, Military Affairs)
      - Erin Leonard, Executive Director, MSRS
   3. Eligibility requirements for the PERA and MSRS Correctional Plans
      - Erin Leonard, Executive Director, MSRS
      - Doug Anderson, Executive Director, PERA
   4. Surveys to be conducted by the League of Minnesota Cities, Association of Minnesota Counties, and Minnesota Inter-County Association: Status report
      - Laura Kushner, Human Resources Director, League of Minnesota Cities
      - Matt Hilgart, Government Relations Manager, Association of Minnesota Counties
      - Matt Massman, Executive Director, Minnesota Inter-County Association
   5. Information requests and research items
      1. Department of Labor and Industry workers compensation data: status report
         - Susan Lenczewski, Executive Director, Legislative Commission on Pensions & Retirement
      2. Office of the Legislative Auditor: status report
         - Susan Lenczewski
      3. Discussion: What additional information is needed to inform the group?
2. Presentation and discussion of enhanced pension benefits for 911 telecommunicators
   - Darlene Pankonie, 9-1-1 Communications Division Manager, Washington Co. Sheriff's Office
3. Obtaining cost estimates from MSRS and PERA of possible alternatives
   - Chad Burkitt, Analyst, Legislative Commission on Pensions & Retirement
4. Adjournment

Hennepin and Ramsey County to Mandate Vaccine, careful!

 The Star Tribune is Reporting that Hennepin, Ramsey Counties to mandate Covid-19 Vaccine for employees.

This is a contentious mandate. 

The article states that Hennepin County's Unions are in discussion with the County.

I hope so, things to consider:

What are the long term effects of these non-FDA approved vaccines?

In addition to common side effects, there are more serious ones and even reports of blood clots and myocarditas.

If an employee mandated to get the shot has side effects who covers the time off needed to recover?

If there are lifelong health problems, stroke, damage to the heart among others, is the Employer prepared to pay long term disability? If an employee dies as a result is the Employer going to compensate surviving family?

Will the Employer consider the many employees who have had Covid 19? Many of the Detention Deputies in the Jail and Workhouse CO's have had it and have immunity. There are studies that show natural immunity is more effective then the jab and possibly getting the vaccine after having Covid-19 can be harmful. 

Also consider the Vaccine is not a Condition of Employment in the current Contract and must be negotiated! 

The Employer must also consider religious exceptions. 

It's been difficult for Employers to hire Detection Deputies  and CO's at the Workhouse as well as Licensed Deputies especially in this anti-law enforcement environment. Is the Employer willing to lose good hires who won't apply because of the vaccine mandate? Are they prepared for Detention Deputies/CO's to leave rather than comply?

To further complicate the matter it is now known that the vaccinated can get and spread Covid-19!

This author is of the opinion medical decisions are best between a patient and a doctor. An Employer is on solid ground making a recommendation, even offering the Vaccination, but a mandate is stepping onto dangerous legal and moral ground.

Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association fights vaccine mandate

 BPR is reporting: 

Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has mandated that. 

"state correction institutions would be required to be fully vaccinated by September 7, 2021, or be required to submit to COVID-19 testing. New employees would be required to be vaccinated prior to employment in these facilities."

Of note the PSCOA says 3,700 CO's have been infected with the Corona Virus!

The PSCOA responded:

John Eckenrode, President              Hank McNair, Executive Vice President             Aaron King, Vice President              Mark Truszkowski, Vice President             jeckenrode@pscoa.org                                            hmcnair@pscoa.org                                              aking@pscoa.org                                    mtruszkowski@pscoa.org        Raymond Johnston, Secretary/Treasurer  rjohnston@pscoa.org

2421 North Front Street Harrisburg, PA 17110-1110 (717) 364-1700 Phone (717) 364-1705 Fax Patrolling the Toughest Blocks in the State WWW.PSCOA.ORG

PENNSYLVANIA STATE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 

Aug. 12, 2021

 

Hon. Tom Wolf, Governor

Office of the Governor
508 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120

 

Dear Gov. Wolf:

 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Corrections employees have gone to work every day in horrible conditions. They have worked excruciatingly long hours and weeks without days off. Throughout this pandemic, they have maintained a level of dedication and professionalism. Your decision this week to mandate vaccinations and/or testing is a slap in the face – and, frankly, way too late because thousands of our members already have been infected, due to your inaction.

 This is the latest episode of what has been a woefully inconsistent vaccination/testing/masking policy by this administration in our state prisons. PSCOA has instructed legal counsel to challenge this latest proposed policy change. 

We have always believed receiving the COVID-19 vaccine should be a choice for all Americans, but Corrections employees who want it should be prioritized, given our work conditions. In January, PSCOA called on Acting Department of Health Secretary Alison Beam to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations of Corrections employees. 

Instead, smokers were given priority.

 Employees were left on their own to get vaccinated. Thousands did just that – when they could find them. Vaccinations were finally made available by your administration two months later at the end of March. Unfortunately, during the winter surge of the virus, thousands of Corrections employees were infected.

 Prison transfers only made conditions worse. PSCOA repeatedly called on your administration to stop all transfers. Despite the Department of Corrections’ claim that it was safely isolating prisoners, anyone who has even a basic knowledge of how a virus works understands transfers were spreading it from prison to prison.

 To date, nearly 3,700 Corrections employees have been infected, but the truth is we expect the number is significantly higher and many more have attained natural immunity. Yet for some unknown reason, natural immunity is being ignored by federal health officials and this administration.  

A study done in February in Nature used antibody screenings from California and found seven times as many cases as those that were confirmed. (Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-82662-x)

 Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis reported that mild infection immune cells were still capable of producing protective antibodies after 11 months. They concluded that natural immunity to COVID-19 is probably lifelong. (Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03647-4)

 Other inconsistencies are troubling and further support our move to take legal action on behalf of our Officers.

 Your proposed testing plan is inconsistent and won’t increase safety because you don’t require other individuals, such as family members of inmates, contractors, vendors or volunteers to be tested. 

As for masking, our members are required to wear them, but inmates are not. In fact, the current policy concerning inmate masking states, “No force or misconduct should be issued to enforce compliance.” Once again, this does not in any way improve safety in congregate settings. 

For months, our reasonable requests have fallen on deaf ears. Pennsylvania’s Corrections employees deserve better.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

John Eckenrode, President

PSCOA

 

 

 

cc: Pennsylvania General Assembly

911 Telecommunicators pension workgroup day one

 Introductions were made among the members and myself as advisor.

Chad Burkitt laid out expectations, of concern is that there is an expectation to consider adding Telecommunicators to the Correction Plan because Senator Bingham had that in the original Bill. It doesn’t have to be recommended but it’s expected to be discussed.

He said that’s why there’s Corrections people on the committee.

The vote was taken among the Committee (I am just an advisor) and they elected Dar Pankoine as Chair. She’s from Washington County and with APCO a Dispatch organization. She immediately took over as chair.

Pera Executive Director Doug Anderson made PERA's Presentation.

Erin Leonard Executive Director of MSRS (State Retirement) made their presentation.

I pointed out a couple of things. The PERA General fund of which the Dispatchers are currently in has $22.63 Billion, yes Billion in Assets, the PERA Correctional Plan has only $787.32 Million. Wouldn’t their current plan be better able to absorb an increase in their Pension?

Couldn’t moving the 911 Dispatchers into our Pension cause our Plan to go below 80% funding (we are at 100% according to Doug) and reduce our COLA (Cost of living adjustment) from max of 2.5% to 1 to 1.5% permanently?

This of course would be determined by the legislature if it gets that far.

 At the end I pointed out the PERA Correctional Plan requires 95% inmate contact and the State Correctional MSRS Plan 75%. I asked Dar (the chair) If any dispatchers at Washington County had 95% inmate contact. She said no they’re separated. I then asked how many Washington County Dispatchers had been assaulted. She said that wasn’t a fair question. I reiterated that our plan is based on 95% inmate contact and the physical dangers inherent with that. She said we could discuss that later as well as the additional stress the dispatchers have.

Agenda for 911 Telecommunicators Pension Benefit Working Group

 This is the Agenda for the first meeting on 7/30/21

Agenda 07.30.21 911 Work Group.docx

911 Telecommunicators Pension Benefit Working Group

Friday, July 30, 2021, 10:00 a.m.

1st Meeting

Remote Meeting via Zoom

AGENDA

1. INTRODUCTIONS

• Chad Burkitt, Analyst, Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement

− List of Member, Advisors, and Other Attendees

2. OVERVIEW

• Chad Burkitt

− 2021 session law directing the formation of the working group 

(Laws 2021, Chapter 22, Article 9, Section 1)

3. ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON OF THE WORKING GROUP

• Chad Burkitt

− Staff Memo

4. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON PENSION BENEFITS FOR 911 TELECOMMUNICATORS

a. Legislative History and 2003 Report

• Chad Burkitt

− Mandated Study of Retirement Coverage for Emergency Dispatchers, February 28, 2003

b. Overview of 911 telecommunications in MN

• Darlene Pankonie, ENP | 9-1-1 Communications Division Manager, Washington County Sheriff’s Office

− PSAP TRACKING_PENSIONS_06.15.2021

c. Pension plan overview

• Doug Anderson, Executive Director, Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)

https://www.lcpr.leg.mn/documents/911WorkGroup/07.30.2021_PERA_911_Telecommunicators_Meeting_Presentation.pdf

• Erin Leonard, Executive Director, Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS)

5. SCHEDULING UPCOMING MEETINGS

• Chad Burkitt

6. ADJOURNMENT

This is a Public Meeting. To attend via zoom click HERE

Meeting begins at 10AM

911 Telecommunicators Working Group Update

If you've been following along you know there's a 911 Telecommunicators Working group going on at the State Level.

I applied to be the member representing the PERA Correctional plan, but another person was chosen by PERA.

I then contacted the Executive Director of the LPCR (Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement) in the hopes of being added by them. They did not add me to the Workgroup but they agreed to put me on as an advisor. I can make our concerns known as a  PERA Correctional Plan Member and Retiree and be a resource for the Committee.

The First meeting is Friday July 30, I will attend and update all of you.

Many of you are already members of our E-Tree open to PERA Correctional Plan members and Retirees and can read more in depth what's happening there.

If you are not email pera.watchdog@gmail.com  Type ADD ME in the subject line. Include who you are and where you work or retired from. 

Watch this site for a big announcement either this Friday or Monday.

SC CO raped on the job

 The Post and Courier is reporting: 

MCCORMICK — An officer at a maximum-security correctional prison was sexually assaulted by an inmate on July 23, authorities said.

The assault happened at McCormick Correctional Institution when an officer was getting ready to leave work in the late afternoon, Chrysti Shain, S.C. Department of Corrections spokeswoman, said in a press release.

“An inmate who worked in the area grabbed her, forced her back into her office and sexually assaulted her twice,” Shain wrote. The officer is being treated at a local hospital.

Slain Stillwater CO Joseph Gomm's family forced to sue

Joseph Gomm was murdered in his capacity as a Correctional Officer at Stillwater Prison MCF. Beat to death with a hammer while other inmates held the doors to keep help out.

After 3 years Minnesota Lawmakers failed to approve a $3 million settlement. Contrast that with the $27 million paid to George Floyd's family!

Now the family is suing MINNCOR industries for $50,000. According to the Star Tribune MINNCOR had a long record of prioritizing production over Corrections Officers rights. There were no security cameras in the shop area and it was understaffed.

This is a dark stain of injustice on the State of Minnesota.

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day. Remember and honor those who never returned!

Video of the Death of CO Joseph Gomm

 It's been a couple of years since the tragic murder of Joseph Gomm, a Correctional Officer at Stillwater Prison. Brutally beat to death with a hammer by an inmate and the State has yet to settle with his family.

KSTP just released this video and story. It speaks for itself.

https://kstp.com/news/corrections-officer-joseph-gomm-murder-video-released-family-seeks-settlement/6107345/

PERA Board Discusses the Bill to 'study' adding 911 Dispatchers to Correctional Plan

 If you've been following this blog you know there is a Bill out there attempting to add 911 Dispatchers to the PERA Correctional plan, which would have very negative consequences for the Correctional Plan.

There is now another Bill SF 2485 to form a committee to 'study' adding Dispatchers to our pension. The MPPOA even wrote a letter supporting adding dispatchers to our pension. Two points, first off Dispatchers have a very important and grueling job, this is not a knock on them. Secondly, our pension is based on 95% inmate contact and our exposure to physical violence, disease and sometimes death. Dispatchers have no inmate contact.

The MPPOA decided to take me to task on Facebook.

Point one, it is a study to see if they should be added to our plan! Here's the Executive Director of PERA discussing the Bill at the May 13th meeting which I attended on-line. Here'a 48 second excerpt of exactly what the 'study' is.

So we see it is a study to possibly add 911 Dispatchers to our group and calls for the formation of a Committee. The Committee will include, among many, the PERA Director and someone from the Correctional plan chosen fortunately by PERA.

Point two, in their Facebook post the MPPOA says, "MPPOA WILL ALWAYS Look out for our Correctional members."  I didn't know the MPPOA has any FULL, voting Correctional members. Their own Membership Information page on the MPPOA website makes it clear you must be a Law Enforcement Officer with a license issued by the POST Board to be a full member!.  In Minnesota Correctional Officers are not licensed!

All of the MPPOA's members are in the Police and Fire Plan. Would Brian Peters support adding dispatchers to theirs? Why not?

In reality, the 911 Dispatchers deserve a good plan, but the Correctional Plan is not the place. They do not meet inmate contact criteria among many other reasons.

SF2198 and HF2585 threaten PERA Correctional Retirement Plan!

 SF2198 now has a companion Bill in the House, HF2585.  

In this Bill it reads:

Please read the previous post on this detailing all of the reasons Correctional Officers have their own pension and 911 Telecommunicators don't fit in.

But wait, There's more! There's now another Bill SF2485 that creates a working group to "Consider changes to the pension benefits of 911 telecommuniuncators."  This working group has everyone on it BUT someone in the PERA Correctional plan! Read the list HERE.

And most puzzling of all is a letter from the MPPOA signed by Brian Peters throwing their full support for this Bill that will decimate our Pension! This is the SAME MPPOA that fought against our Correctional Plan when we were forming it, and was very vocal about not wanting us in their Police and Fire Plan. 

In this 'woke age of equity' one has to ask why Corrections Officers were NOT allowed to transfer their credit from the General Plan to the Correctional Plan when we moved over, but it is proposed that 911 Telecommunicators can transfer theirs over. We had to work years to be Vested, but 911 Telecommunicators  will be able to drain, I mean draw from our pension at once. A new Detention Deputy/ Correctional officer has to work 5 years to be Vested! 

Hey Brian Peters, how many 911 Telecommunicators  were assaulted by inmates this year? Spit on? Had piss or shit thrown at them? Caught Covid from inmates they were locked in with? Were beat to death? Shanked? You're very generous with the Correctional Plan, how about suggesting they go into your Police and Fire Plan? 

WATCH THIS BLOG FOR A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.

Stillwater CO finds off duty conduct can affect employment

Reminder, off duty conduct can affect your employment.

The Star Tribune is reporting "Minnesota Correctional Officer on leave after confronting Black Live Matter Protesters with profanity; wife hurled racial slur."

Full Story

Reading the article it documents that BLM protesters have been repeatedly protesting outside the home of  the Washington County prosecutor in charge of the Potter case, attempting to intimidate him into changing his decision.

It appears the CO in question must be a neighbor who is irritated by their behavior.  If it's anything like the protests in Hugo, MN with John Thompson and BLM last year, I see why neighbors are mad. Words were exchanged on a couple of occasions and allegedly his wife, not him, used a racial slur. He's now on leave from Stillwater MCF and his wife lost her job at a hair salon after they were doxed. 

His employment record, yes it's public, is in the article, good and bad, and his picture, provided by the DOC. The article also points out he and a protester, a former inmate, recognized each other and hugged.

The long and short is this. If you are a public employee, you will be held to a higher standard, even if BLM is attempting to intimidate others who live in your neighborhood.

PERA Board Meeting and Bill SF2198 update

 I attended the April 8th PERA Board meeting via zoom. 

The subject of the Legislature adding 911 Dispatchers to our Correctional Pension was addressed, Senate Bill SF2198.

Here's the position adopted by the PERA Board.

Essentially, if the Legislators decide to add a group to our pension PERA is recommending they do one of two things.

One, an added group would start out as new to our pension and at contributions sufficient to fully fund the higher benefit.

Or

Two, the City or County of that group would have to pay an amount into our pension sufficient to fully fund that individual and not harm our actuarial value. So if a 55 year old dispatcher who worked for a county for 30 years was put into our pension, that county would have to add 30 years of contributions into our Correctional Plan. This would be extremely expensive for cities and counties budgets.

I had a very productive phone conversation with PERA Executive Director Doug Anderson today. We both want to keep our pension healthy as it is the best funded of all the PERA pensions. 

PERA has no say as to who is in the Pension, the Legislature does, so keep on your State Senators and Representatives, but PERA very much has a say in the how much this change would cost our plan.

So far no companion House File has been added to this Bill. It can't happen without that. I hope it stays that way.

Our Pension was founded on inmate contact and the high risk associated with that. We need to guard this!

PERA Correctional Pension alert, SF 2198

 There's a bill in the Minnesota Senate that poses a danger to the PERA Correctional Pension.

Our pension is the healthiest and best funded of all of the PERA Pensions. This was by design. When formed in 1999 it was for Correctional/Detention Officers who had 95% inmate contact. It recognized the danger and hazards of the job. Just this week a CO was killed in Iowa and another held hostage in Oklahoma. Numerous Detention Deputies and CO's have contracted Covid 19 due to close proximity to inmates and brought it home to their families. Unfortunately this goes with the territory and for that reason the PERA Correctional Plan provides a 55 out. I left 5 years ago at 57 because as I used to say, "I don't want to be 60 years old and wrestling with a 20 year old in the sallyport."

Enter SF 2198. It seeks to add 911 Telecommunicators to our pension. 

It reads, "911 telecommunicators transfer from the general employees retirement plan to the local government correctional plan; transferring eligible service credit."

There is more to this than it appears. First off, they don't have inmate contact and the same dangers CO's have. Secondly, when our plan formed in 1999 we were not allowed to transfer our service credit from the PERA General Pension to the new Correctional one. Any funds we left in the General Plan we had to withdraw losing the employer portion, or couldn't touch until 65. The same goes for Licensed Deputies and LEO's who went from being a CO to Licensed. Their money doesn't follow them into the Police and Fire Pension.

The affect on our Correctional Pension will be massive. All of the 911 Dispatchers 55 or older can begin drawing on a pension they never paid into almost immediately. I hear as many as 10% of the 911 Dispatchers would be eligible! A pension predicated on the dangers of inmate contact, of which they have none. The result could lead to higher employee contributions and lower COLA's on those who paid in most of their careers.

This is not a slam on our hard working 911 Telecommunicators, but an attempt to avoid destroying our healthy pension.

Contact your State Senators and Representatives!

Slain CO Gomm family not compensated!

 

CO Joseph Gomm was brutally beat to death by an inmate at MCF Stillwater. Beat with a hammer while other inmates held the doors so help couldn't arrive. Over two years have passed and Fox 9 is reporting:

"STILLWATER, Minn. (FOX 9) - It’s been two and a half years since Corrections Officer Joseph Gomm was brutally murdered by an inmate at Stillwater prison and still his family waits for a settlement."

Why are CO's and their families routinely left behind?

FULL STORY

PERA Update Feb 2021

 

Yours truly attending PERA meeting

Last month I published the COLA (Cost of living adjustment) for us.

Yesterday I attended the PERA Board meeting virtually. I learned a few interesting things.

This year the markets our money is invested in are volatile. No shocker with Covid and the change in the White House. Our investment return in 2020 was slightly lower than the 7.5% our plan is based on. Keep in mind the numbers are crunched in July so this was 3 months into the pandemic.However so far in 2021 the return for PERA investment is 17%!  If that holds (probably not) our plans would reach 100% financed very quickly. Below is where our plans currently are.

PERA Correctional funded at 97.5%, Police and Fire 87.8%, General Plan 79.6%. 

Some interesting notes

Another interesting topic at the meeting was the amount of officers leaving on Disability. It was stated in a normal year maybe 10 a month apply to go out on disability. They described the current rate as a 'surge' with as many as 35-40 a month applying. There is some new legislation being proposed to keep an eye on for Police and Fire.

For the full financials for PERA read the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) 2020.

Overall our investments and Plans are healthy. PERA is doing a good job in my opinion. 

PERA Cost of Living Increase 2021

From PERA website: 

 

Detention Deputies be careful! PSF attacked!

After working as a Detention Deputy for over 25 years at the Hennepin County Jail, I know it can be a dangerous job.

But in the current political climate it's added a new element. Before there was always the possibility of a jail assault or of running into a former inmate who had a beef with you outside and in public. Now it's grown political.

In NY John Jeff an off duty Corrections Officer who worked at Rikers Island was shot and killed. 

Last night rioters angry over a Kenosha Wisconsin shooting, attacked the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility (PSF). They broke windows, tried to breach the lobby, were gassed and subsequently 11 were arrested.

In a Star Tribune article reporting the event Sheriff Hutch says:

"“We fully support peaceful protests, but we cannot — and will not — allow demonstrators to destroy property or jeopardize the safety and security of our inmates, our deputies and our jail,” Sheriff Dave Hutchinson said in a statement."

My advice to my former co-workers and current Detention Deputies is twofold. 

1. Be extra aware of your surroundings.

2. Conceal Carry.

In the early 90's when MPD Officer Jerry Haaf was executed, the jail began receiving calls that 'a brownie is next.' We wore brown uniforms back in the day so we were referred to as brownies. This was also painted on the Security Garage of the jail and on a wall near a parking lot many of us used. (This was over a failed United for Peace negotiation with MPD. Side note, current MN Attorney General Keith Ellison supported the killers).

An inmate pulled me aside and said 'they' were planning to take out a brownie next. He proceeded to tell me where I parked, what streets I walked to work, and even told me the exact car I drove. He said, I don't want it to be you. He advised varying my route, don't walk alone, not to walk past the welfare building (stood where current PSF is) because "The brothers waiting outside are watching deputies, they ain't there for welfare." *Actually a lot more to this story. 

I took his advice and also got a permit to carry.

I always prided myself on treating inmates fairly and that went a long way both inside the jail and out. Those days may be gone.

The new dangerous element is political. As Detention Deputies you represent Government and Law enforcement so to many, regardless of your professionalism you are a target.

Be careful!

Ramsey County CO's accuse management of segregating them by race

Eight Ramsey County CO's say they were segregated away from the floor housing the high profile Derek Chauvin based on their race.

FULL STORY 

Correction Officers routinely deal with the accused spanning a wide variety of crimes ranging from the minor to the heinous, professionally. If true, this is a slap in the face of our profession. CO's have  dealt professionally with many high profile inmates over the years and will continue to.

Management should have some trust in CO abilities.