DAY ON THE HILL 2007: A Huge Success!

Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, welcomed nearly two hundred of his brother and sister officers to Washington, D.C. earlier this week for the organization's annual Day on the Hill program. The event, which brings grassroots activists to Capitol Hill to lobby their lawmakers, was tremendously successful in advancing the FOP's legislative agenda.

"Our annual Day on the Hill events are a big part of our grassroots program," Canterbury explained. "By bringing our members here to Washington and getting them to sit down with their Representatives and Senators, we can really get them interested in our agenda."

The FOP's top legislative priorities include the repeal of several provisions affecting the Social Security benefits of law enforcement officers, the recognition of the right of law enforcement officers to bargain collectively and the protection of a law enforcement officer's due process rights. These issues, along with legislation amending the Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act and a bill implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, were the focus of the officers who came to Washington.

"The number one way to influence lawmakers on policy decisions is contact from constituents," said Canterbury. "Constituent visits bring home the local impact of legislation to Congress, and the Day on the Hill gives our members the chance to talk directly to lawmakers about Federal policies that affect their lives."

FOP members that attended Day on the Hill also braved winter weather to attend the organization's First Annual NFOP PAC Legislative Reception. Representative Jim Ramstad (R-MN), the co-chairman of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus and the chief sponsor of one of the FOP's top legislative priorities spoke to the more than eighty (80) officers that attended. The FOP raised nearly $3,000 for its PAC.

"Our members came to Washington to affect the agenda of the 110th Congress," Canterbury said. "And the money we raised and will continue to raise over the next two years will enable our membership to affect the composition of the 111th Congress."

WASHINGTON - Automated speed and red-light cameras might be catching traffic scofflaws, but they're also busting police rushing to respond to emergencies, a union representing officers says.

District of Columbia officers are spending months writing letters in an attempt to get out of the tickets from the cameras, which snap pictures of speeders and those running red lights, said Kristopher Baumann, chairman of the D.C. chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.

"It's just an enormous waste of resources and an enormous waste of time," Baumann told The Washington Times. To fight a ticket, officers often must get a letter from their commanders, as well as radio logs and other records to prove they were responding to a legitimate emergency. Some are still called into court.

Published by California Fraternal Order of Police © 2007

RETIREMENT SECURITY continued from page 2

- are coming back just as the stock market is coming back. CalPERS'assets have increased by over $100 billion and the fund is now 90 percent funded, which is considered very sound by financial experts. This is part of the cyclical nature of the market. Pension funds invest for the long term to provide long term security.

It is that very market volatility that makes 401(k) plans such a gamble for anyone contemplating a secure retirement. What if you have to retire when the market is down and there are no resources to help carry your retirement fund over to the next rise in the market?

Those looking for a secure retirement need professionally managed pooled assets, invested for the long term, with financing shared by employees and employers, and lower costs and fees. CalPERS and other pension systems now provide as much as 75 percent of the cost of benefits through investments, so employers and employees pay only 25 percent of the cost. That is what pension funds do.

Why is the issue of retirement security so challenging to so many pundits, editorial writers, and elected officials? We all simply want to be able to live with dignity and independence once we are past our working years.

Most public retirement systems give us that basic security. Isn't it time that we started to make sure that all of us have a real chance at retirement security? The Post Employment Benefits Committee shouldn't be a puzzle to anyone; it is an opportunity to work together to ensure fair, stable and predictable pensions and health care to the hard workers who provide important public services.

Once the Committee finalizes its report, it is up to all Californians to make something out of the discussion, and start working for broader retirement security, just as we are working for increased access to affordable healthcare.

(SACRAMENTO) - A coalition representing California's teachers, nurses, peace officers, firefighters and other public employees said today that the announcement of those who will make up the Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission marks an initial step in the right direction towards the protection of the hard-earned retirement and health benefits of California's public workers.

"We believe that the make-up of the Commission - as was announced today - is relatively balanced, with both management and labor interests represented," said Dave Low, Chairman of Californians for Health Care and Retirement Security (CHCRS), and an appointee to the Commission. "I am confident that my fellow Commission members and I can work together to debunk the myth that the pension system for our police, teachers, firefighters and others who serve the public is in crisis, when, in reality, the facts reveal that California's public pension system is fundamentally sound."

"We hope that all members of the Commission will use this opportunity to give a fair hearing to all sides on the public pension issue," said Ron Cottingham, President of the

GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION TO SECURE RETIREMENT continued from page 3

Peace Officers Research Association of California, and also a member of the Commission. "We welcome proposals for genuine reform of the state's public pension system, but we will strongly remind all parties involved that retirement costs in California are not to blame for the budget woes of government."

CHCRS coalition members are concerned that some politicians - in and out of public office - are continuing to place the fiscal troubles of state and local governments at the feet of California's public pensioners, insisting that an alleged "crisis" in public pension funding justifies replacing a secure retirement program with a risky investment gamble. But both the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) have seen steady improvement since 2003, with both funds rapidly approaching 90 percent funding, higher than they were before the stock boom of the 1990s. Virtually all of the local, independent pension funds have become fiscally stronger over the last several years, as well

Additionally, the assets of CalPERS have almost doubled over the last decade and are at a record high of almost $230 billion. Approximately 75 percent of what the fund pays in benefits are generated by the investments, with employees and employers sharing responsibility for the rest.

And when you look at the percentage of public dollars that go to funding security, said Low, the picture is equally good, and CalPERS employers pay no more today than they did 25 years ago.

"California's system of providing retirement security for our hard-working public employees has worked for years - and it is working now," added Low. "It is a low-cost, well-managed system that allows California to recruit and retain good public employees, while keeping the promise made to them for a secure, fair and well-earned retirement.

"I urge my fellow Commission members to keep that in mind as we move forward to address these important public funding issues."

One of the topics the Governor has charged the Commission to consider over the next few months will be the impact of new, nation-wide accounting rules - imposed in 2006-by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). These new accounting "standards" call for state and local governments to calculate and report the long-term costs of retiree health insurance. While CHCRS expects some politicians to use those figures to justify a negative change in the way government provides health benefits for its retirees, the Coalition believes that any reforms should begin with tackling the skyrocketing cost of health care for every Californian, and not break the promises made to hard-working public employees by eliminating their health benefits.

CHCRS MEMBERS INCLUDE:

	· California Faculty Association
	· California Federation of Teachers
	· California Professional Firefighters
	· California School Employees Association
	· California State Employees Association

CHCRS MEMBERS INCLUDE: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

	·California State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police
	·California State Council of the Service Employees International Union
	·California State Firefighters Association
	·California Teachers Association
	·Coalition of County Unions
	·Laborers' International Union of North America
	·Long Beach Police Officers Association
	·Los Angeles County Probation Officers Union
	·Los Angeles Police Protective League
	·Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association
	·Orange County Deputy Sheriffs Association
	·Organization of SMUD Employees
	·Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC)
	·Professional Engineers in California Government
	·Public Defender Association
	·Retired Public Employees Association of California
	·Riverside Sheriffs Association
	·Service Employees International Union Local 1000
	·Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association
	·San Bernardino Public Employees Association
	·San Diego Deputy District Attorneys Association
	·San Luis Obispo County Employees Association
	·Santa Ana Police Officers Association
	·Santa Clara Government Attorneys Association
	·Santa Rosa City Employees Association

Lodge 1 News
BY Les Coil,
Lodge #1, State Trustee

MEMBERSHIP:

Lodge #1 membership has steadily grown in large part due to the pro-active approach taken by our membership. Lodge #1 President and the National Trustee have presented the advantages offered by membership in the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) to many area law enforcement agencies with excellent results. Two of the biggest incentives for other agencies to embrace the FOP are the Legal Defense Plan (LDP) and a stellar history of positive representation of police officers by FOP throughout the country.

Lodge 1 news Continued from Page 5

The LDP has been an excellent source of new membership requests and the growing need for good representation is providing new opportunities. Lodge #1 is very proud of the balanced membership of the Lodge that now consists of many local police and sheriff agencies as well as several state and federal agencies. Another encouraging sign is that membership requests are being received regularly from several parts of Southern California where no FOP Lodges currently exist.

STATE CONFERENCE 2009:

When Long Beach was selected as the site of the 2009 National Conference, we knew that it would involve a tremendous effort from the State and local lodges, especially Lodge #1. When the selection was made in 2005, it seemed like 2009 was so far in the future that we wouldn't have to work on the plan for many months. However, the reality of the situation is that we need to start now. Our goal is to provide our brothers and sisters and their families the best conference ever. Long Beach has a tremendous selection of excellent amenities, including a beautiful convention center, fine hotels, entertainment to fit all ages, abundant transportation and all of the excitement of a vacation destination and we are moving forward with our plans to make the conference a reality.

In January 2007 Lodge #1 began ramping up the process, procedures and work schedules for the 2009 National Conference. Lodge #1, with special assistance from our Long Beach police membership has already developed some very exciting plans. The venues and family activities are being developed with the goal of making this conference the best in FOP history. One of the major issues is to provide venues that allow all of the attendees to participate in an event at the same time. This means that attendees and events will not have to be staggered and that everybody will have the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the planned event. A second area that is being addressed has to do with food. Our goal is to ensure that there is an abundance of food at all venues where food is offered. These are just two of the issues being addressed, but this is just the beginning. There is little doubt that we, both state and local lodges, are going to have to work extremely hard to make it happen. We would like to thank New Orleans, Louisville and other cities that have sponsored a National Conference for providing guidance in logistical needs.

LABOR ISSUES:

2006 and 2007 have seen a steady rise in labor issues that have impacted Lodge#1. President Mayberry and National trustee Steve James have been very active in assisting several state lodges and potential lodges with labor issues, and this appears to be an area that will require additional time and effort from our Lodge President and National Trustee. The labor issue has been developing at a rapid pace, and the National Lodge is in the process of developing a comprehensive plan to focus on the issue. One of the biggest issues has to do with officer's pensions. Many law enforcement agencies throughout the country have found their pension plans under assault. Typically, state and local governments have been unfaithful in fulfilling their obligations to fund pension plans. When these same government agencies budgets are in the red, and pensions under funded, the most frequent government response is to blame the pension plan and not the government spending. The solution most frequently being offered by the concerned government is to eliminate defined benefit plans and substitute them with individual contribution plans. California law enforcement survived an attempt by Governor Schwarzenegger to assault California State pension systems. We were able to fight off the assault, but San Diego and several other cities throughout the country have not been as successful. State and local governments are trying to balance their budgets on the backs of our pension plans. We must be vigilant and aware of what is going on.

Lodge 1 news Continued from Page 6

This leads to one of the major opportunities for the FOP to grow, and that is the area of representation. Because so many state and local governments are reneging or attempting to renege on pension plans and other job benefits long thought to be guaranteed, many departments are finding that they need strong representation to survive the attacks and the FOP is accepting the challenge. Brother Mayberry and Brother James have expertise in labor issues and as noted, are more frequently being asked to provide assistance to law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

OFFICER SAFETY:

Two significant developments occurred in 2006 that involved three of our Lodge #1 brothers. Deputy Jim Mulay a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department motor officer was severely injured by a bank robbery suspect being pursued by other officers. This three-time loser saw Jim trying to divert traffic in front of the pursuit, so, this paragon of society took the opportunity to run over Jim and leave him for dead.

Two other Lodge #1 members, Long Beach Police Department officers Abe Yap and Roy Wade Jr. were ambushed and nearly killed when they completed a routine traffic stop on another paroled, illegal alien "gang banger" who shot both officers several times before they could get out of their patrol car. The good news is that "gang banger" is no longer with us.

Long Beach police, with the assistance of Santa Ana police, located the suspect and in the ensuing gun battle, justice was served. The suspect had been deported several times in the past and in prison between deportations, but this time his deportation was permanent The bank robber that ran over Jim Mulay was identified and arrested. He is currently awaiting trial and hopefully can be charged with attempted murder as well as robbery.

All three of these officers were severely injured and months of surgeries and therapy await them. The amount of blood needed by these officers was so heavy that an urgent request was made to provide blood. Long Beach Police and Los Angeles Sheriff Department employees, friends, associates and concerned citizens turned out in unbelievable numbers. The end result is that enough blood was available to save these three brothers. All three officers are alive and slowly recovering thanks to all of those who cared, including the doctors, blood donors and the prayers of many.