SCDSPBA Donation Page. In 2019, more than 1,200 officers nearly half the force took home over $200,000 a year. The Suffolk County Department of Human Resources, Personnel and Civil Service is responsible for overseeing personnel actions taken by some 241 employing jurisdictions including towns, school districts, villages, library districts, water districts, etc. 0000000656 00000 n It never made it out of committee. He was one of just two county legislators, both Republicans, who took no police money. That means the winners of the next two general elections for county legislature will already be committed to the terms. 0000004429 00000 n H[k0 /Pd]ABG}X&JqN%g$efYEysMKQD2,HCa8Zdhv4A]_(;8("ZaNshHT9;2n:]o(GApuQ_sqH,|-%Ti$8oDB0HpmTg9KMq`. There might have been enough money, too, for the social workers the activists wanted. Eventually, he said, it dawned on him: The county doesnt run the police. Anyone hear the same? The police run the county., Less than a year after he was appointed police chief, Mr. Burke beat up a heroin addict who had stolen a duffle bag full of sex toys out of his SUV. Two of Albanys most-vetoed concepts are headed toward Governor Hochuls desk, this time concealed as a firefighter bill of rights.. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. If, for any reason, you can not access, view or download these listings, please contact PERB at 518-457-2676 and arrangements will be made to provide them to you. From breaking news to special features and documentaries, the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you. Is that how it goes? Long Island has a rich and enduring legacy of corruption. This is the first Ive taken of this exam. A new seven-part true-crime podcast called Unraveled alleges that Mr. Burke hampered the F.B.I. Lawmakers waived a county charter-required seven-day waiting period to vote on the deals before more details emerged or could be scrutinized, and approved each measure nearly unanimously. While every contract is the result of negotiation that will leave either side wanting more, this is a fair contract and moves our county forward, Suffolk AME president Dan Levler said in a statement. Wow this scared me for a second. The annual minimum contribution will be $1,500 and the maximum will be $3,750, increasing to $4,000 after five years. Legis. Detectives willreach that top step sooner, according toBudget Review'sreport. Still waiting. The Hochul Administration published a pair of documents concerning the Micron Megafab deal that raise more questions than they answer. But there were moments that felt inspiring and new. Click "Download Contract" to view the contract in PDF format. The PBA MOA modified a2012 MOA, which modified terms set in a2010 arbitration award, which were based on a2004 contract. The total cash compensation, which includes bonus, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $60,181 to $70,139 with the average total cash compensation of $64,407. Donald Trump gave a speech there in 2017, encouraging officers to rough up suspects and drawing cheers. The phrase defund the police makes his skin crawl. AME is the exclusive representative of about 5,000 workers, with whom the county has agreed not to bargain directly, or to let any other union bargain on their behalf. That means the winners of the next two general elections for county legislature will already be committed to the terms. Police Officers will receive average raises of 1.875% per year over the term of the contract. 0000005120 00000 n According to a financial impact statement released from the county executives office Monday, the deal could cost $192 million for both unions and result in $195 million in savings. Does anyone have any insight into getting hired by a village off this test? By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. Instead, it got a police chief, James Burke, who went to prison in 2016 for running the department like a mafia boss. Those figures do not include other pay benefits, such as overtime and longevity pay. Mr. Trotta thought it was because they lived in communities with more crime. 0000001156 00000 n Im not against people getting a cost-of-living increase, but they were getting three times the cost of living, Mr. Trotta told them of the raise that Mr. Bellones contract gave the police. His new job? Catching thieves who stole copper pipes out of abandoned homes. Wondering if it will effect the amount of High scorers there usually is. While private sector unions have withered, police unions have flourished, supported by Democrats, who champion labor rights, and Republicans, who champion law and order. He wore a badge and walked a beat. In 2012, he flew to Costa Rica to testify in court in a money-laundering case. The Suffolk County Legislature on Tuesday night ratified* new contracts with the county's Association of Municipal Employees (AME) and Police Benevolent Association (PBA), which together represent more than half of the county workforce. Mr. Kaiman explained that the agreement creates new copays, such as a $100 emergency room copay, and raises deductibles for those who opt for out-of-network providers. Last September, it also collected tens of thousands of dollars from Long Island businesses, including two $10,000 checks from construction and maintenance companies, which super PACs are allowed to do. **JUST MY TWO CENTS***, at the end of this year apparently about 50-60% of the department is eligible for retirement. With the legislatures vote Tuesday to approve the detective investigators contract, all the countys nine bargaining units have contracts that will expire at the end of 2024. Yes. Eye-popping a sum as that might seem, its par for the course in Suffolk County. The. We will prob hear late November/December hopefully! Rachelle Blidner covers Suffolk County government, politics and breaking news. With those generous salaries, the citizens of Suffolk County have paid for what should be world-class law enforcement. Wright has served as acting commissioner since July after Commissioner Theresa Ward resigned. Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm. That super PAC is generally funded by contributions from law enforcement. 2020 through December 15, 2020, AEM 2020-19 Coverage and Dependent Eligibility Audit (1) 8.4.20, AEM 2020-18 EMHP Tele-medicine Provider (1) 7.31.20, AEM 2020-14 Out-of-Network Annual Physical Changes (1) 5.22.20, AEM 2020-13 COVID-19 EMHP COVERAGE CHANGES (1) 4.24.20, AEM 2020-06 Tele-Medicine - Coronavirus (1) 3.13.20, AEM 2020-06 Part 2 ADHC_coronavirus_stop_the_spread 2 (1), AEM 2020-01 EMHP Important Change to your Acupuncture & Occupational Therapy Benefits 1.29.20, Eligibility Audit for Coverage and Dependents 8/04/20, Prescription Reimbursement PBA Benefit Fund, Important Information Regarding the Cyber Attack, Outside Resource: LEO Support Group offered as a resource to SCPD officers, Self-Care Videos- Exercise, Yoga, Meditation, Time Managment Technique and Goal Setting. Albany, NY 12224, Phone: 518-434-3100 There are 1,700 police officers in Suffolk County. State law forbids the police from soliciting political donations from the public. The revelation that officers lied shocked many on Long Island. Emergency Housing Services Program, A Performance Audit of Brighter Tomorrows, Inc. But it didnt shock the loved ones of Kenny Lazo, a Black man who got pulled over by Suffolk County officers in 2008 and wound up beaten to death in a case the medical examiner ruled a homicide. As soon as he returned, he got reassigned. The activists mostly ignored him. The Suffolk County Detectives Association contract will increase base salaries from $58.6 million total in 2019 to $65.7 million in 2024, county officials said. Suffolk County Police Memorial Service: 11 AM on Friday, May 10th at SCPD HQ, Yaphank. I heard a lot of people didnt finish this exam. But legislators have not had the guts to get rid of the provision. The healthcare savings will come in part from having all employees pay 2 percent of their earnings (between $1,500 and $3,750) toward the cost of premiums. Bellone administration officials said the county ended up not needing the money. He couldnt get assigned to the public safety committee, even as a former police officer. Those contracts, however, were never filed with the state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), as required by state regulations, nor were they posted on the county website. Others say, As long as Im making $250,000 a year, I dont care.. On March 11, the county unveiled its long-awaited plan for police reform. . But I dug around and found articles about the power of the Suffolk County police unions from the 1970s, long before it was legal for police officers to donate to political campaigns in New York. Suffolk legislators on Tuesday approved a new $3.1 million contract for the detective investigators union, the county's smallest county law enforcement union and the last to receive a new contract. But momentum for change is building, as both fiscal conservatives and liberal activists take aim at the outsize political power of police unions. Fiscal conservatives and liberal activists both want to curb the power of police unions in Suffolk County. Police statements about Mr. Lazos death contained obvious falsehoods and omissions, according to Fred Brewington, a lawyer who has been fighting for years to bring a civil suit on behalf of Mr. Lazos estate to court. New York City schools reopened this fall under terms dictated by the city's teacher and principal unions. Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk, Inc. A Limited Scope Report of Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk, Inc. Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Procurement Procedures, A Performance Audit of The Departments Forfeiture Funds, Time Reporting Practices and Related Payroll Payments of Selected Employees of the Suffolk County Board of Elections. Press Inquiries: He was a Republican who had predicted in a radio interview that police reform wouldnt amount to much. The police union spoke out against the bill. Shes a Riverhead native and 2015 graduate of Arcadia University. Copyright 2023 Newsday. It has not only a PAC, but also a super PAC that spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on local elections. Terms of the 2019-2024 contract for the Suffolk County Detective Investigators Police Benevolent Association, which represents 51 detectives assigned to the county district attorney's office . They lied like rugs, he told me. Dr. Gregson Pigott, of Greenlawn,as health commissioner. The Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) . Then he added one that made Mr. Trotta smile: Investigate the Long Island Law Enforcement Foundation. The lengths of the deals are themselves problematic. Lawmakers waived a county charter-required seven-day waiting period to vote on the deals before more details emerged or could be scrutinized, and approved each measure nearly unanimously. There are 1,518,475 people living in the County of Suffolk. 41 18 The legislature voted to allow Long Island University to use part of the Suffolk County Farm in Yaphank for raising livestock and for agricultural education for students and the public. 2022 Times Review Media Group All Rights Reserved, Southold CSEA pressures town for higher pay during contract negotiations, Second annual Top Gun 5K will honor late Boy Scout Andrew McMorris in Calverton, LI natives will take the stage at The Suffolk Thursday as part of new original music series, Peconic Bay Medical Center clinicians reflect on recent medical mission to El Salvador, Election 2023: Stark, Kent to face off for county legislature seat, At environmental forum, officials discuss host of issues including waste management, housing needs. Even those who disdain Mr. Trotta acknowledge that he has a point when it comes to the money. From what I understand only the cognitive ability portion of the exam allowed for unanswered questions. Those contracts, however, were never filed with the state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), as required by state regulations, nor were they posted on the county website. In 2008, when the county executive tried to cut costs by having the sheriffs department patrol the Long Island Expressway instead of the police, who earned more, about 2,000 police officers and their relatives joined a local political party to try to oust the sheriff. I can finally do toes to bar so core is strong. Photographs by Getty Images. From breaking news to special features and documentaries, the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you. And a bipartisan group of legislators announced they reached an agreementon Ban the Box legislation, which would restrict employers from asking about criminal histories in job applications. With the detective contract, county officials have in the last year signed off on union contracts that are expected to cost about $460 million more in total than previous contracts, according to budget review reports. Dec. 12, 2019| NewsdayHigh-ranking Suffolk County policeare set to get 11.25% raises over six years under a tentative $53 million deal reached with the Superior Officers Association, officials said Wednesday.Sergeants, lieutenants, captains and other senior officersat top step would have base salaries ranging from $183,000 to$273,000 a year by 2024, officials said. Sign up to receive updates about Empire Center research, news and events in your email. I thought, this is a great way to get back at them: Ill become their boss, Mr. Trotta told me. The officers who saw the beating were too afraid to talk. Copkiller Invited to Speak at Suny Brockport. Mr. Trotta kept in touch with the feds, feeding them things hed learned and trying to keep the case alive. In 2020, the average base salary for detective investigators who worked the full year was $134,292 and their total pay averaged $161,747, including overtime and other pay benefits, according to a budget review office report. SMITHTOWN, N.Y. Rob Trotta, a cranky Republican county legislator on Long Island who worked as a cop for 25 years, might be the unlikeliest voice for police reform in America. In 2001, he busted a cocaine trafficker, in a case that recovered a million dollars in cash from a safe hidden under a bathroom rug. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. 0000001467 00000 n Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney's Social Media. All times are GMT-6. In the 1960s, a series of debilitating public sector strikes across New York persuaded lawmakers to pass the Taylor Law, which outlawed strikes but granted access to a labor-friendly board that resolved disputes. I have a feeling its going to be like Nassau where people where people were disappointed with their grades. Yet Mr. Trotta has railed for years about the political influence of police unions in Suffolk County, Long Island, a place where the cops are known to wield exceptional clout. Other politicians, particularly those allied with Mr. Bellone, call Mr. Trotta a toxic character, a bomb-thrower, a hypocrite or a loon. May 20, 2019| NewsdaySuffolk County police officers on Monday overwhelminglyratified a new six-year contract that will raise the pay of officerswith 15 years on the job to more than $200,000 a year by 2024 when overtime and benefits such as longevity are factored in.In an online vote that ended at 5 p.m.Monday,1,344 of the 1,623 Police Benevolent Association members84 percent -- backed the agreement, said Noel DiGerolamo, PBA president.An email that went out to members Friday said compounded pay increases will total more than 13 percent by the end of the contract.The email said paywill exceed $200,000 when factors including,top step, night differential, holiday pay, seven worked holidays, cleaning [allowance], 15 year longevity[and] 150 hours of overtime are considered.The add-ons will bring pay to $201,651 for officers working the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. shift and the 4 p.m. to midnight shift, and $208,657 for those who work midnight until8 a.m. May 19, 2019| Ken Girardin | Empire Center. The DSPBA is asking for your support so that we may continue to provide many community based programs and events. It amounted to more than $200 million over the life of the contract, when the county was already in debt. Legis. After he won, they got their expressway back, along with a new contract. Steve Bellone, the Suffolk County executive who appointed Mr. Burke, says he was fooled by Mr. Burke and Mr. Spota and turned against them when he discovered their criminal enterprise. He vows that a new day has dawned. But as that exclusive representative, the union is held to what courts have defined as the duty of fair representation. In short, it means the union has to do its best to represent every worker (member or non-member) equally well. in my experience, Suffolk civil service moves a lot faster than Nassau, so hopefully before the year ends. Our mission is to make New York a better place to live and work by promoting public policy reforms grounded in free-market principles, personal responsibility, and the ideals of effective and accountable government. LIU is the only university on Long Island with a veterinary medicine school. New Yorks most populous suburban county has just ratified a trio of labor deals with its largest unionsand, in the process, showcased some of the worst aspects of collective bargaining across the state. Detectives will see their pay raised 2.25% this year and 1% every January and July through 2023 under the 2019-2024 contract. I went from the pinnacle of law enforcement to the basement, he told me. Mr. Spota was once a police union lawyer. This officer is a brother of all law enforcement professionals and the Suffolk County PBA is praying for him and his family during this trying and difficult time. You should say what I say: We would love to pay them $500,000 a year, but we just cant afford it, he told them. 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Villages hire anyone with a passing grade 75 or better; but must be a resident of that area.. Legislators and residents also debated bills that would restrict smoking in apartment, condo and co-op buildings to limit secondhand smoke. Privacy Policy |Terms of service |Subscription terms |Your ad choices |Cookie Settings |California Privacy Rights |About Us |Contact Newsday |Reprints & permissions |Advertise with Newsday |Help. The Suffolk County Department of Human Resources, Personnel and Civil Service is responsible for overseeing personnel actions taken by some 241 employing jurisdictions including towns, school districts, villages, library districts, water districts, etc. *The final vote count has not yet been posted but at least 16 of the 18 legislators voted for the three measures. That scandal, which led to the conviction of the powerful district attorney, Thomas Spota, who was scheduled to be sentenced this month, and the head of his anti-corruption unit underscored how easy it can be for cops and politicians to get in bed together and turn law enforcement into a system of political favors and personal vengeance. None were willing to publicly refuse to accept police union donations. . Nor did it surprise activists who demanded justice for Marcelo Lucero, an Ecuadorean migrant who was stabbed to death by high school students. But they agreed that the police budget was bloated. No police officers were held accountable for the death. Across the country, police commissioners who have attempted to hold police officers accountable for killings have seen their authority undermined by police union leaders who get fired officers reinstated. Hes full of praise for the rank and file. Then another. A fiscal conservative in a deep-red district, Mr. Trotta won handily, even though the union hated him. 0000000897 00000 n In November, the Long Island Law Enforcement Foundation spent nearly $500,000 attacking two state senators who had voted for the repeal. Here are some tips. Brownwill be paid $145,560 in the new role, down from $173,226. But that same logic beat back an attempt to unionize the American military. The activists found his suggestions absurd. of either driver is asked to call Suffolk Police at . Credit: Heather Walsh. Base salary: Base salaries shall be increased as follows: Effective January I, 2019 Effective January I, 2020 Effective January 1, 2021 . This is great. Union leaders always outlast them. Who We Represent Isle of Wight County. About 30 people came to the legislator to support banning the box. Was browsing through the site and saw that lottery result for. A longstanding prohibition on police officers soliciting political donations from the public remains on the books, but appears to be rarely enforced. Similar Job Titles: After a quarter of a century as a cop, Mr. Trotta found it hard to believe that any plan would significantly change how the police operate. Legislators approved an emergency resolution to restore $25 million to a sewer stabilization fund. Until they post the scores from the 2019 exam the other list is still active, Anyone else bursting at the seams to find out their grade? It was on one of those calls that Mr. Trotta encountered other people railing about the power of police unions liberal activists. In June 2019, while in office, the prior presiding officer of the Suffolk Co. legislature claimed that he was threatened by corrupt individuals, that he spoke with the FBI about corruption in Suffolk Co. and that the FBI acknowledged it. P.O. Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) abstaining. Mr. McCarthy told me that most police officers dont pay attention to the union and that some resent the insular group that runs it. Their union just reached a deal with County Executive Steve Bellone for a new, six-year contract that requires all county employees, including police, to contribute to their health care. Bids and Proposals The Suffolk County Office of Central Procurement oversees the County's procurement processes. Even an officer who was criminally charged for falsifying time sheets walked away with a payout of $291,868. Mr. Trottas small, quixotic battle is part of a much larger struggle in the United States to wrestle power away from police unions that for too long have resisted meaningful reform. Excellent work by Highway Patrol Officers Bunger and Siesto, Fifth Precinct Officer Reyes, & Highway Patrol Sergeant Carey who, over the weekend, responded to a call for a woman in labor on the shoulder of the LIE. A member of the union sat on the reform task force. Corruption continues to cast a particularly dark shadow over Suffolk County. As hated as Mr. Trotta is among the political establishment, many of his former colleagues respect him. Thats one reason the growing criticism of the police has been met with a passionate counter-movement, called Blue Lives Matter. In a statement, Suffolk PBA president Noel DiGerolamo said the deal was fair, while recognizing the fiscal realities of Suffolk County.. Term: Six (6) years -January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2024. Police officers testified that they feared for their families safety or that theyd be framed for crimes if they blew the whistle on their boss. The deals were negotiated outside public view by County Executive Steve Bellonestandard practice for New York public employers. P.O. Ms. Kaufman called him. Mr. Trottas crusade against police unions grew out of his personal hatred for James Burke, his former boss. They helped organize and create the making of over 3,000 Valentine cards for our heroes who serve and protect us. The deals were negotiated outside public view by County Executive Steve Bellonestandard practicefor New York public employers. Language in the SCOPE deal requires the parties to find additional savings to prevent the deal from expiring in 2023 or 2024 instead of 2025, but the countys only recourse from runaway costs will be reducing expenses through binding arbitration or moving employees to the New York State Health Insurance Plan. Some costs might be offset throughlinking salaries for detectives hired after 2012 to police officer salaries, according to budget review. Box 1500 Rachelle Blidner covers Suffolk County government, politics and breaking news. Department of Human Resources, Personnel and Civil Service, https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Civil-Service, If this is your first visit be sure to check out the frequently asked questions by clicking here. Phone: 631-853-5040 Email: douglas.sutherland@suffolkcountyny.gov, H. Lee Dennison Building 100 Veterans Memorial Highway Hauppauge, NY 11788, Douglas Sutherland The Empire Center is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank located in Albany, New York. We pay $30 to $40 million a year in overtime. Yet that corrupt operation was intimately connected to the police unions that he and so many other politicians have been forced to make peace with by election time. That leaves a lot of questions yet to to be answered. Send us a letter to the editor instead. Buildings Operations, Maintenance & Custodial. You do not have permission to view this gallery. task force. The very first bill Mr. Trotta presented required all officers above the rank of captain to have a bachelors degree and be free of complaints about civilian abuse or moral turpitude requirements that Chief Burke, who did not have a college degree, did not meet. The Suffolk County Legislature on Tuesday nightratified* new contractswith the countys Association of Municipal Employees (AME) and Police Benevolent Association (PBA), which together represent more than half of the county workforce. It was true. I cant stress to you enough how afraid of the union these people are, he said of his fellow legislators. Mattituck, NY 11952, Site made in collaboration with CMYK A task force set up to produce the reform plan held community listening sessions through video chats. For RFPs (Requests for Proposals): 0000007066 00000 n Tom Cilmis (R-Bay Shore) bill would restrict smoking in building common areas. A Performance Audit of Brighter Tomorrows, Inc. Copyright 2023, Suffolk County Government, A Compilation and Analysis of Contract Agency Disclosure Form Data for the 2023 Budget Evaluation Process, Department of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services, Suffolk County Department of Social Services, A Performance Audit of Mercy Center Ministries, Inc.s Emergency Housing Services Program, A Performance Audit of United Veterans Beacon House, Inc.'s Emergency Housing Services Program, Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, A Performance Audit of the District Attorneys Office Forfeiture Funds, A Performance Audit of SCO Family of Services, Inc. Neither bill was voted on Tuesday. No academy, most hire residents primarily some go alphabetically ie lloyd harbor. Did anyone recieved their scores? A lot of cops knew what kind of guy Mr. Burke was. The union also began collecting $2 a day from every officer to put toward an education fund to educate politicians about the importance of police patrols on the Long Island Expressway. Adding up the projected costs and savings of the three deals in each year (see below) show the countys expects to save more money than it pays out in raises during 2019, 2020, and 2021. because he didnt want them prying into his own misconduct. Previously, there was a second tier of top pay that Mr. Kaiman said likely would not have made it through arbitration. The Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association would like to congratulate our 2019-2020 Retirees; Changes To NYS Concealed Carry Law . Last year, the county hosted what was billed as the largest Back the Blue rally in the country. The county had been considering asking employees to pay 15% of their total health care costs. Ms. Kaufman felt hopeful about the mention of a three-tiered mental health crisis response and a 911 Call Diversion, although the plan contained few specifics. About 75%of county employees, excluding sworn law enforcement officers, are white, which is not reflective of the county population, Bellones office said. Just giving my best advice for anyone that will take it, Civil Service has removed the old eligible list from their websiteexpect the new one soon, They usually post it before Christmas. from the Suffolk County Park Police Department pursuant to the September 30, 2014 memorandum Lawmakers voted to give health care workers discounted Green Key cards until April 2022. Some say the unions corrupt, he told me. This page was generated at 08:27 PM. 0000002407 00000 n In every conversation, he found a way to bring it back to Jimmy Burke, one told me. 0000001377 00000 n 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil - 8 PM on May 13th at the National Mall between 4th and 7th Streets, NW. 2. Anyone know the estimated time frame it usually takes to hear back with your score? The newest contract followsthe Police Benevolence Association and Superior Officers Association contracts, union president David Gallagher said. A Performance Audit of Hope for Youth, Inc. A Performance Audit of H.E.L.P. The money was taken from the sewer fund by voter referendum last year to fill shortfalls in the county's general fund.