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FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

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FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 25th, 2008 @ 7:55PM (15 years ago)

Congratulations to all of you! As a retired member of LMPD, I couldn't be more proud of the solidarity displayed by all LMPD brothers and sisters. The turnout was unbelievable and the unanimous vote was a sure sign that you are united in your stand against a mayor who has no respect or compassion for those involved in public safety. His complete disregard for the safety of this community should be obvious to all.

If you decide to park the cars, don't make the mistake Indianapolis made years ago by parking them at City Hall, locking them with the emergency equipment on, and dropping the unmarked keys in a barrel. Turn the keys into your CO for a clean and well-kept car. If you are a member of any speciality team, remind the chief that when responding, you will drive your personal vehicle to the district to pick up a police vehicle to respond and that you will be obeying all traffic laws when driving your personal vehicle.

On all two-officer calls, don't cancel your backup. Make sure your safety is not compromised. Answer your radio and make the runs but curtail any self-initiated runs unless they are of a serious nature.

The mayor is counting on the fact that the solidarity will weaken. Don't let that happen!!!

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 25th, 2008 @ 7:41PM (15 years ago)

Nice follow-up. The ball is now in their court. Let's see if they know what the term negotiateactually means. I wonder if he knows what parity means? This isn't about helping out in a time of crisis. This is about bailing him out of the mess he made. You don't make the employees of the company take pay cuts and continue to spend foolishly.

Proud to be FOP 614...not so proud to be LMPD

November 25th, 2008 @ 8:30PM (15 years ago)

Wow...that title really says it all, doesn't it?

I never thought I'd be embarrassed to be an officer employed by one of the best departments in the county (at ONE time at least...and that goes for both the former City and former County departments).

I've received several emails from colleagues employeed at other agencies, and the consensus is that everyone outside of Louisville looking in can clearly see that Abramson is not only screwing us (and our LFD/EMS brothers and sisters), but doing a real disservice to the citizens of this community; and it's not only this issue at hand, but his entire track record going back to the FIRST time he was mayor over the old city.

Guess that saying "can't see the forest for the trees" holds true in this case for the folks that keep putting this clown in office.

Abramson can't even tell a good lie by saying this is a "cost saving" measure. There are ways to reduce actual operating costs; but this is clearly an attempt to fleece us (and "us" means all Metro employees) once again so he can cover his own a$$.

Yes, parking the cars is certainly going to be an inconvenience to all of us; it will be potentially financially devistating to some officers (e.g. courtesy apartments), but the general public needs to realize (and maybe some of them finally are) the tangible impact it WILL have on them.

It's going to be surreal when one can drive miles on our roadways, and possibly not see one single marked police unit. I can just imagine the field day this will invite for some of our less-than-honest citizens.

The members of 614 are making the right call to park the cars in protest not only to this latest attempt to screw us, but for the future rights and working conditions of ALL metro employees.

I plan to park the police vehicle. If one of the plans is imposed on us, I WILL park the police vehicle. I will still do my job, not for this mayor, but for the citizens I swore to protect; but I am done being a scapegoat for this mayor.

I work in HQ, I am not afraid to put my name on this post either, so if anyone wants to carpool to work with me, just drop me a line!

GT Craig

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 25th, 2008 @ 8:40PM (15 years ago)

Uh...that should read "best departments in the COUNTRY" up there!

THE POLICE & FIRE DONT ASK FOR MUCH

November 25th, 2008 @ 9:02PM (15 years ago)

THE POLICE FIRE DONT ASK FOR MUCH, JUST A DECENT SALARY TO RISK THERE LIVES EACH AND EVERYDAY.

MR.MAYOR, I DONT KNOW HOW YOU CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING YOUR SCREWING EVERY PUBLIC EMPLOYEE. REMEMBER YOU GET WHAT SERVICE YOU PAY FOR.LOOK AT OTHER CITIES THAT DONT TAKE CARE OF THE WORKERS.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 25th, 2008 @ 9:17PM (15 years ago)

TO ALL MY BROTHER AND SISTERS...THIS IS MY FIRST TIME ON THIS WEB SITE AND I MUST RESPOND TO SOME OF THE THINGS I SAID IN MY E-MAIL. THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE WAS THAT I WISH THERE WAS A WAY WE COULD MEET HALF-WAY ON A PRICE INSTEAD OF LOSING OUR CARS. ALONG WITH MANY OF YOU IT WILL BE A MAJOR HIT BECAUSE WITH 2 BOYS IN COLLEGE I RELY HEAVILY ON OFF-DUTY. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE MAYOR AND CHIEF HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF COMING UP WITH A PLAN THAT WE COULD ALL AGREE WITH. I AM 100% BEHIND OUR FOP AND OFFICERS THAT ARE CARS SHOULD BE PARKED. I HAVE BEEN ON 11 YRS AND IF YOU KNOW ME I HAVE NEVER WAIVERED FROM SOLIDARITY. WE ARE ALL AT A CRUCIAL TIME IN ARE CAREER WHERE IT SHOULDNT BE ABOUT LPD OR JCPD IT SHOULD BE ABOUT UNITING AND STICKING TOGETHOR. I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY MISUNDERSTANDING I CAUSED.... GOD BLESS... GEORGE RODMAN

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 25th, 2008 @ 9:26PM (15 years ago)

When gas was $4.16/gallon, The mayor very publicly stated that for each penny that gas prices rose, it costs the city $35K per month. Seeing how gas is now $1.61/gallon, my math tells me that the city is currently saving $8.925M per month with the decline in costs. It seems to me that the $20M shortage could be made up in 2 1/2 months if gas prices remain where they are now.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 25th, 2008 @ 9:41PM (15 years ago)

how about looking into the neighborhood funds of the metro council? They get $100,000 a year and there are 26 of them. That comes up to 2.6 million. Even if they get back half of that it is 1.3 million toward the shortage of the mayors.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 25th, 2008 @ 10:22PM (15 years ago)

excellent post!

Chief Yellow and his 6 figure followers!!!!

November 25th, 2008 @ 10:31PM (15 years ago)

The only people that support these options and the Mayor are those making above six figures. The only one that probably really believes his own statements is the Chief, all while pulling in $160,000 a year plus. Any respect that I had for this man is completely gone. He has been here long enough to have his second pension, this would have been the time to take a stand against the Mayor and do the right thing for the community and department. Chief White or should I say Chief Yellow, you make us sick. The others are just being followers to keep their six figure incomes, having no concern about anything but their pocket books. Again everyone of them losing any respect that they had. Most of us do not even make half of what they do, yet they criticize us for saying "no more". We are actually willing to sacrifice and stick together for what we believe. Maybe a few of them should try it.

How can you just continue to turn your heads while this Chief and Mayor run this community, department and officers into the ground? Not even one of you say anything....... You should feel ashamed. You will be the ones that will eventually leave or retire and years down the road someone will send out the notification of your obituary on the departmental e-mail. Do you wonder how you will be remembered? Do you think anyone will show up to pay their respects? The words spoken will be - company man, kool-aid drinker, back stabber, coward, greedy, selfish, buddy Fu*^er, just to name a few. Your family will be so proud when no one from the police department shows up. You spent 20-30 years of your life earning the respect of your brothers/sisters and then sold it for the last high three.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 25th, 2008 @ 11:27PM (15 years ago)

Thanks to all my brothers and sisters who came to the meeting. It was nice to see the union united! Also thanks to those who could not attend but wanted to, especially those who were riding their beats and keeping our oath to our citizenry. Whether they appreciate us or not (and I believe the majority does), we are much too profesional to give them less.

As a Hoosier, I've never enjoyed a "take home car". However, because of this I understand what a sacrifice it is to do without one. Although we may not be proud of our leadership, I am certainly proud of my brothers and sisters for having the character to take this stand. It shows that we ARE strong! It's the perfect building block for things to come.

I'd also like to thank Geroge Rodman for his post. George, I know you well enough that I never doubted you to begin with. That being said, I applaud your effort to clear the air on your e-mail. It speaks to your character.

Thanks as well to everyone who posted on this site with decorum and class. We should all strive to display our professionalism on this forum. It is read by a multitude of demographics, the most important to us being our public! We all know there are times and places when the occasional explative gains us the attention of a miscreant, but, on this site we need only to showcase our proffesional and intellectual stature (even, and especially, when the rats come out of the cellar to take anonymous jabs at us on this site).

In closing, let us keep the moral high ground and we will be enabled to acheive more than we dreamed possible under this Mayor. And, when the people of the Metro see fit to take down the Abramson regime, we can be that much prouder for having played a part in making this community a better place by having done our part with exellence.

Jon Hagedorn

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 12:07AM (15 years ago)

Why are we in a "budget crisis" when we can spend millions of dollars on the Cordish group just two weeks before this. Mr. Mayor, you said you are asking the police to do their part. When are you going to do your part and control your spending?

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 12:43AM (15 years ago)

It's cold and flu season.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 12:46AM (15 years ago)

I just saw the mayor on the news tonight, running his mouth about how all the other unions (allegedly) have agreed to concessions, and that he " hopes the fop will do the same"....just another dirty tactic to try and turn the citizens and other metro government employees against us...now more than ever is the time to stand strong together and fight this....we can and are making a powerul statement, but if we turn on each other, the strength in that unity is lost....whatever we agree on, it has to be unanimous, otherwise we just end up hurting each other, and ultimately the citizen we were sworn to protect....the general impression I'm getting is that most of them are on our side...we need to keep the momentum from the meeting on monday going....

Be safe out there and back each other up

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 1:06AM (15 years ago)

I found the comments the mayor made today to be a great example of why we are in the position we find ourselves. He holds a meeting with 4 of the 5 unions and says we are the problem. Maybe you should have tried to negotiate with us rather than use strongarm extortion tactics. Hopefully this will be brought to the publics attention also.

This is excellent - UNITED WE STAND!!!!

November 26th, 2008 @ 2:03AM (15 years ago)

We have continued to give...and give.....and give...... and now..... we are tired of being taken advantage of by this Mayor... we have come together, and we will stand, UNITED AS ONE. We have decided that enough is enough and we will not give any more because the Mayor will continue to take. The Mayor, our trusted elected official, has broken his promises and put the community and emergency services at risk. This should not be tolerated by anyone.

I agree........

Divide and conquer.

We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.- Ben Franklin

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 2:27AM (15 years ago)

You know I watched the news today and saw that now..today he is talking to the other unions. I am sure he found it a lot more difficult because he was hoping that the FOP would cave in. What is his tactic now? He is threatening lay offs. He isn't talking about cutting big projects he is talking about cutting city services to the bone. He is protecting big interests at the cost of regular employees.

It is also interesting to see how the Metor Council is reacting to this. Will they back the lay off of voters? Will they back cutting staff and services throughout the government.

Jerry's band-aide approach to fixing the torn arteries of the cities finacial problems will not work. He has got to stop his spending. He has got to stop funneling money down rat holes like Center City, Museum Plaza and the Arena. There are a multitude of bad choices he has made and he thinks that quick fixes and taking money from people that can't afford to give any more are the answer.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 2:33AM (15 years ago)

If you live in Louisville or know others that do PLEASE call the Mayor's office at 574-2003 your Metro Council person. Let them know you support the police officers not having the additional burden of paying for the use of their Take-home cars. The officers agreed to a contract and will honor it. These officers stop and make runs using these Take-home vehicles while off duty to serve you at no additional cost. They never put in for any overtime or compensation. The on-duty officers could not keep up with the calls for service without this off-duty Take-home Car assistance. This saves you more money than the vehicles are worth. The mayor is breaking a contact that all parties agreed on only a few months ago! If he has just now figured out there is a budget problem, the money saving should come from firing his financial advisors. Of course he has been busy having granite curbs installed, giving Cordish 12 million dollars last week without them having any conditions attached, building a stadium that will likely bankrupt the city if he doesn't first, and building more parks. Most of these are fine if the city had any money. All this in as he says "tough financial times." He has 5 Deputy Mayors while New York only has 3! He has his own private security force you should see their salaries with overtime.

He violated the Fireman's contract last time he was Mayor and now must pay them OVER 60 MILLION DOLLARS!!!! It should come out of his personal pocket - not from your tax dollars. He intentionally does these things thinking he will be gone before the piper has to be paid but this one and others are catching up with him.

FOP President John McGuire will be getting out additional information soon but the media has been slow to publish it as not to attack King Jerry. He has previously controlled the media but they will likely catch him on these issues. Your police and fire are united to bring these issues to your eyes. Look for a potential Federal investigation of his administration over city funds!

Fox 41 has the results of a national survey showing that a Take-home Car Program does provide approximately 15% reduction in crime. If a police officer lives in your neighborhood or rides by your home while off duty, you and your family are safer! There are usually less than 50 on-duty police officers protecting the entire city county at night!!!! Wait until the criminals find out there will be less police out and available to respond. You are safer because of this Take-home Car Program.

Your support is needed. Please take a few minutes to make these 2 calls. Ask your neighbors and friends to call, too.

Light Up Louisville

November 26th, 2008 @ 3:47AM (15 years ago)

I think we (Police, Fire, EMS, Metrosafe) should all get together and have shirts made. Then go down and enjoy the Grinch lighting up Louisville. I am sure that there would be a large turn out. The mayor would see that all public safety is united as one.

No one should have to give up pay or benefits. I also think that furloughs for Metrosafe is unacceptable. Who will answer the calls or dispatch. It makes the community unsafe and makes us unsafe at work.

Strength in Numbers.

Citizen's perspective

November 26th, 2008 @ 7:43AM (15 years ago)

I just want you all to know that we aren't all stupid out here in the community. I'm not saying you called us that, but what I see from people willing to drink the Mayor's kool-aid is nothing short of stupidity. I see things clearly, however. I see him throwing out that "60% of the budget" line when LMPD only makes up 15% of it. I see him claiming you are the only ones not willing to cooperate, which is contradicted by the other heads telling us what they are and aren't willing to do. I also see that he is asking more from you guys than from anyone else. I also see that we have a mayor that pushed the Cordish deal and not 2 weeks later claimed our city needs 20 million. I have a functioning brain. I was angered by this issue before, but now I am disgusted. Now his ploy is to threaten lay-offs. I saw him SIX times on the news yesterday insinuating the idea of layoffs as a scare tactic. I am ASHAMED to live in this city. I am ASHAMED to share this community with people who voted for this coward again and again. Our economy is struggling and everyone is having a hard time and trying to provide for themselves and their family, so he wants to bully officers out of money, raises, and vacation, all while threatening layoffs if it doesn't happen.

I'll be finding my councilman's contact info today and calling/emailing. I'll be doing the same to the mayor's office. I can't do much, but I do support you and my family and friends support you too. My father works in public safety as well so we know the fight is an uphill battle. We are more than willing to make calls and send emails. Give 'em hell.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 7:44AM (15 years ago)

We have stood strong on this and that has been great. ANY concessions from here on will just be a sign of weekness. The way I see it he only has 3 options at this time......make us pay the $75 $105 for the cars, end the program, layoffs. Either way it goes he will still be the one pulling the strings. There was a posting on the other thread about some paying the 30 and if you use it alot pay the 75 and 105. That is not an option as we all need to stick together on this.

As for the layoffs, I do not want to see anyone get layed off from the job but if he does it, he is the one making the call not us. Also, isn't it in the contract that he has to start with the lowest in senority? That would be the recruit classes first then working his way up. I know we are short and I don't want to see anyone without backup.

THANK YOU WAVE 3 TV

November 26th, 2008 @ 8:24AM (15 years ago)

THANK YOU WAVE 3 TV FOR YOUR POLL. MAYBE THE C-J SHOULD CHECK IT OUT BEFORE WRITING AN EDITORIAL.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 10:38AM (15 years ago)

OMG...........A CITIZEN COULD NOT GET THRU TO A PERSON TO REPORT A ........MURDER....... A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE HAD TO CALL IT IN!!!!!!! DID ANY ONE ELSE CATCH THAT????

DOES THIS MEAN CALLING 911 IN LOUISVILLE WILL BE LIKE CALLING YOUR LOCAL BANK!!!!

WHAT IF MY CHILD NEEDS AN AMBULANCE AND I CANNOT GET THRU TO A PERSON WHEN TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. I HEARD STORIES OF THE 911 GOING AUTOMATED I GUESS IT IS TRUE.

OMG.......WHAT HAS CITY COME TO????

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 10:58AM (15 years ago)

Will someone explain to me what the other unions are thinking????? They said we are all in this togethor and from what I read and seen on TV they are going to give up there 2% raise and there comments were "we are all waiting to see what the Police is going to give up". They were with us at the meeting Monday saying stick togethor...I am curious LFD AND JCCD what happened the last few days????. They have put the ball in our court. What is our response????

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 11:17AM (15 years ago)

I was interested in seeing Abramson explaining Metor Governments woes on TV the yesterday. His idea to 'bail-out" the city is to make the workers pay to run the city. He has made 3 propossals thus far:

1: he an upper management will take a 10% pay cut. (laudable, but not enough) You and your staff all make well over 6 figure dalaries and I don't make anywhere near that. It is easier for you to give up your raise than it is for me.

2: Charge the police extra money once again. Let's not bother to keep any promises made earlier this year when you renigged on the contract and said because of rising fuel costs you had to charge extra, because each of us goes by the filling stations every day and we all see that gas prices a $2 less a gallon then when yoou first instituted this policy yet you continue to charge us.

3. Furlough the "non-essential" workers. I wonder how all the desk clerks, janitors, etc like being called non-essential people. It is like him saying you don't matter. You are only here at my sufference. It is almighty charitable of me to keep you worthless people around. BTW Jerry these non-essential people...they keep you office clean...they sort your mail...they empty your trash....they answer your phones.... They keep every part of Metro Government running and you want to take adays pay 3 times a year away from them? Two of those days during the holidays? What a D1ck!

Essentially you have no plan other than what was propossed first by you trying to stick it to the police. You hadn't even approached anyone else in Metro government.

Her is a plan. Get all of your paperwork together and then we'll talk. Let everyone including the Metro Council whom you have left completely out of the loop take a gander at you books. Lets see exactly where we can trim off some bugetary fat as it were before we start taking money form the little people. Let's see the Council members chip in and trim their little discretionary funds and give back say 40k of that(each) .

The funny thing is, you have lied to us so many times that I just can't believe you any more. You cried wolf about too many issues then you turn around and spend even more money. How is it that you pushed through this deal with Cordish just 2 weeks before this all happened? Did you not know? Did you not care?

Why is it that the people that work for you have to pay for your blunders? Is there no accountability? Do you feel no shame?? It would be nice if you owned up to leading this city through an unmitigated disaster and do what anyone with any integrity would have done....RESIGN.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 11:40AM (15 years ago)

Is it true that in one of the divisions management was trying to bypass the FOP and take their own vote?

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 12:03PM (15 years ago)

Why does he need his own private police force costing $130,000 in salary alone (not including benefits/retirement)? Shouldn't Metro Police and Metro Corrections be providing security for him?

Go to the Courier-Journal's salary database and see how much fat there is in there.

INTER-OFFICE MAIL

November 26th, 2008 @ 12:28PM (15 years ago)

I REMEMBER WHEN EVERY DEPT. HAD TO RUN THERE OWN INTER-OFFICE MAIL DOWNTOWN, THEN THE MAYOR CONTRACTED B-LINE COURIER SERVICE WAISTING MORE MONEY.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 12:29PM (15 years ago)

I like how the mayor is implying that the other unions are so willing to give up pay and layoffs as long as the police suffer as well. BS! If the unions give in that easy then what the heck are they for?

Also, why is it that ONLY city employees are the ones being asked to suffer? Does the federal govt only increase taxes on federal employees? I don't believe in higher taxes and that is exactly what the city employees are being fed right now. If I am forced to give up money for this idiot mayor and cronies then the ENTIRE city needs to do the same.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 1:21PM (15 years ago)

We stand with all our brothers and sisters in the FOP as well as all Metro workers. Unlike Fire and Police we do not have a (no layoff) clause in our contract. We were given only one option 2% of the pay raise and 3 days furlough or LAYOFFS will begin. Under this direct threat we voted last night a resounding NO! In the jail we already work short there are people forced to work double shifts daily just to keep the jail running. We have already reduced the manning levels from areas starting with 15 officers to now running with 8. We are paid less and less and asked to do more and more. I personally have worked with corrections for over 10 years and currently call all of Louisville Metro "my beat" working with the Home Incarceration Program. My unit and I have responded to numerous calls to back up every district (when in the area) and it scares me on how short LMPD has become(Since jerry). They are now expecting us to check on our inmates (some known murderers) using one officer. With the understanding there is around 500 inmates on HIP and we are having trouble keeping up with checking on them due to the lack of staff, I still must say no thank you.

Our mayor thinks he has but to repeat himself enough and it becomes true, however when you say emergency services is priority as you scheme to retaliate for their obstinacy at going against you in the election.... well lets just say even the courier journal will fall out of love with you eventually. Let us hope the public can see now what the the metro employees have found out the hard way, jerry only cares for jerry!

So to keep you heads up remember all those we are sworn to protect that have come up to you just to say "thanks for what you do" over the years. Remember on the street or in this mess "we got yer back" and I for one ain't TAPPING OUT!

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 1:24PM (15 years ago)

Corrections had their meeting last night. They were told they had to give up 3 days and give back their raise. They actually would get something in return, though. They were promised there would be no layoffs in the next 7 months. Wow, could you imagine explaining that to your wife and kids. Alright guys, we're eating tuna for Thanksgiving, because I had to give back part of my paycheck. Also, we're gonna have to keep our 89 Corsica running a little longer because I'm losing working days. But at least we might not have to go through this anymore when next July rolls around.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 2:22PM (15 years ago)

Other than asking the police to pay lots of money, his 10% cut of his bloated salary and a hiring freeze it seems that the 2 weeks of going over and trying to find solutions produced very little. It comes as no shock to now see that he is still pounding the idea that the employees of Metro Government should forgoe all their raises and tear up their contracts because of his mismanagement. He has 3 huge projects on the table that are going absolutely nowhere that he has pumped over 100 million dollars into. What a great leader we have for Metro Government

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 2:49PM (15 years ago)

This morning employees of LMEMS meet with Teamsters L783 (our current bargaining unit) to discuss what was going to be asked of us throughout this budget shortfall. We were informed that we are being given the same options as Corrections, 2% and 3 furloughs.

Members of LMEMS have agreed to vote NO to these proposals and stand united with LMPD, LMCD, and LFR.

Keep in mind, EMS makes up only a small portion of Teamsters Local 783 and we do not control the votes of the other agencies represented by this local. Everyone from LMEMS got the impression from the Teamsters, that we should just take it and be happy because this is the best offer we will receive.

Just so it is clear, while the FOP and IAFF may not see much public support from L783, the members of LMEMS will stand behind out brothers and sisters from each of the public safety agencies and remain committed to our common goal of unity amongst emergency services.....with or without the backing from our union.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 4:42PM (15 years ago)

Abramson is asking everyone to give up 6 months raise a furlough yet he asked the Police to give up 7 months and pay for cars. It just goes to show all you other Metro Employees that we must irritate him more than you do!

NYYAAA NYAAAA!

We're No 1!! WOOT WOOT!!!!!

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 3:06PM (15 years ago)

Hey Mr. Mayor if you want to trim a little fat why not look in your own office first. you have 20 people working in the mayor's office with a combined yearly salary of $1,572,092..00

WTF?

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 3:42PM (15 years ago)

"Tuesday, Chief White told reporters he?s disappointed in his officers, saying they should do their share to solve the city?s budget problem. The leaders of the Louisville Fraternal Order of Police say any concessions would be unfair to the officers and affect public safety. But they?re refusing to answer questions. Chief White says the officers would be personally responsible for $1.2 million in cuts to the city police budget. His department has already axed $400,000 dollars worth of computers for cruisers and is looking for other savings. The department could also layoff 75 new officers and recruits."

First Bob, we are not your troops. I am extremely embarrassed to concede that you are the chief of the police department I work for.

Finally, what about the $800,000 you made selling our only working helicopter?

There you go. Only $400K to go!

Car tax must go.

November 26th, 2008 @ 3:24PM (15 years ago)

The city should not make money on any take home vehicle. However, they should not lose any money either. If the vehicles are used for work and only work the city could save and not lose money. Vehicles should be driven to and from work, to and from court, to and from training. If you are on a specialty team you should be aloud to drive your vehicle during the weeks or the month you are on call, off duty. If you want to use your vehicle to work off duty you should have to pay. Policies can be changed to monitor how the vehicles are being used. We all know policies can be changed.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 5:53PM (15 years ago)

first off I would like to say that 2% of our salery does not equal 2% of the other unions (who are whining if the police won't take the cut we won't take the cut) saleries. If you want to charge us something make it a straight amount for everyone.

Secondly how about making sure that any consessions (hopefully we will not make any) made include that everyone can take their cars home, even out of the county and counties in Indiana (Floyd, Clark, Harrison). The restrictions would be if you live outside Jefferson County (KY) you can only use the car to and from work related duties and off duty inside Jefferson County. Inside Jefferson County go by the rules already here. There will be more officers who live outside the county who would be willing to pay if they can use it to and from work.

The other good thing about letting officers who live outside the county take the car home would be more free time for certain detectives in PSU who thrive on catching someone with their car outside of the county, even waiting to take a photo at 0400 hrs at their residence.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 6:02PM (15 years ago)

The following information is a combination of using previous studies by other police agencies and independent third parties.

Galloway Township Police Department Figures studied by the Galloway Township Police Department and Township officials over the years have shown that maintenance costs are drastically reduced using a take home program. First Vehicle Services, Galloway?s fleet maintenance provider, provided Galloway with data stating that the cost of maintaining a pool fleet for the Galloway Township Police Department would cost approximately $228,000 annually, while the maintenance cost of the Township?s take home program is $130,000 annually. An independent assessment of the Galloway Township operations by Richard Walsh, Ph.D commissioned by the Council in 2006 concluded that the take home policy "is very effective and should be maintained."

Hampton Virginia Police Department did a study that supported their take home fleet program. Their study showed that both maintenance costs and operating costs were lower for the take home cars versus pool cars. The maintenance cost of take home cars was $0.16 per mile versus $0.19 per mile on pool cars, a 16% savings. They also found a 15% saving in operating costs, $0.17 per mile versus $0.20 per mile for pool cars. This study also found fewer accidents occurred with assigned cars.9

An article in Law and Order magazine acknowledges that initial startup costs can be a concern, but net savings occur due to lower maintenance costs and extended vehicle life. It also notes that the cost of the increase in fleet size begins to be offset by lower maintenance cost by the second year. In the fourth year, vehicle replacement costs drop significantly because the take home cars accumulate fewer miles.10

In a memo to the City Commission of Stillwater, Oklahoma regarding police take home units, it was noted that take home unit cost vary from 10.4 cents per mile for the chief to15.1 cents for a K-9 unit. The cost of a pool car was 19.9 cents per mile. The study also noted with take home units, equipment installations were less. Equipment installations cost $1,000 per car.11 This cost is similar to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office installation costs.

The Daytona Beach Police Department operates a fleet of 340 vehicles. The fleet manager faced with cost cuts believes one of his biggest successes has been implementing a Take Home fleet vehicle program. Maintenance and repair costs have gone down on the program vehicles. Officers take better care of the vehicles than pool cars, because no one else can be blamed for poor care. They also don?t run the vehicles as hard, which is better for fuel mileage. He states "The user will keep the vehicle cleaner, inspect it on a regular basis, answer up to damage, and generally take more pride. "

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 6:33PM (15 years ago)

Is it me or are we getting away from the fact that this is not about saving money. If it was then this whole thing would not be an issue, I mean if it was about saving money, when we said no to paying then why didn't they say OK just park them then.

But all they seem to worry about is not getting the money from us.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 6:16PM (15 years ago)

Chief White (and/or Troy the puppet)

Why don't you all do a little research before you get on camera and say how expensive the take home fleet is? Just google "take home fleet studies", you will get all the information above and more. Then you will not have to explain why your want to spend MORE money running a pool fleet. Or maybe you said it because you were trying to threaten the officers because they didn't vote the way you wanted (your troops my a$$).

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 9:48PM (15 years ago)

LUV THE PICTURE!!

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 26th, 2008 @ 11:37PM (15 years ago)

Thank You Mr. Bisig for your help and support. Mr. King no thanks, by your comments "skin in the game it is clear where you stand and who is supporting you. I mean come on "skin in the game" is that on the Mayor's talking points are what, you could have at least used something original. Let's see if you will be willing to put some skin in as in your discretionary account.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 27th, 2008 @ 11:40AM (15 years ago)

Other than Hal Heiner and Kelly Downard I sure haven't seen a whole lot of Metro Council Members weigh in on this issue. Why aren't they speaking out about a budget shortfall that the Mayor created? This is not the budget they endorsed last year. The budget they endorsed would have us still in the black. Jerry is the one who brought Cordish into the game and overspent millions on a bad deal.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 27th, 2008 @ 1:00PM (15 years ago)

To all of our friends in Metro Safe and throughout metro goverment. I got some news from a reliable source that the mayor has axxed the buying of the sick time you have from this year. You normally would sell it back to them (2 for 1) and have some holiday money. He has put a stop to this and does not want to tell anyone about it. Remember this is the mayor who is doing this to you.....no one else.....and he doesn't even have the ba11s to be upfront about it to those who are waiting on it.

Good luck

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 27th, 2008 @ 7:20PM (15 years ago)

These studies on the higher cost of a pool fleet versus a take home fleet are very interesting. However if the pool fleet is implemented, the productivity for certain individuals in PSU could skyrocket. Instead of lying in wait to catch someone driving their vehicle home and waiting in the cold until 4am, all they would have to do is catch you leaving the District in your pool vehicle without doing a vehicle inspection, not checking the oil, not checking the wiper fluid, not checking the transmission fluid etc. This is required by policy as pertaining to pool vehicles, is it not.?? That would be a good 30 minutes on top of having to change out your equipment. Based on that there would be no police coverage for an entire hour in between shift changes including off-going and on-coming. (7:30-8:30 a.m, 3:30 pm-4:30p.m and 11:30 pm-12:30 am) Do I make that run to help the caller in need and place myself in jeopardy of diciplinary action. Brilliant idea Jerr........Screw the police and the taxpayers by taking the cars and then when the taxpayer complains, blame the police.....

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 27th, 2008 @ 7:30PM (15 years ago)

Can we get the" Jerry Grinch" printed on T-Shirts ? We could wear them to "Light Up Louisville" and sell them to the public via the auxilliary. We could sell them through the FOP and donate the profits to SupportingHeroes or to buy Christmas gifts for the kids at Kosair.

Scuba Steve

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 27th, 2008 @ 8:15PM (15 years ago)

Take home cars:

INCREASED PRESENCE/ DECREASED CRIME

All major studies conducted in the US and abroad have shown that an increased visibility of Police in the community decreases/displaces crime; especially thefts and burglaries.Officers going to and coming from work, court, off duty, or just the grocery store greatly increases Police presence. There is no substitute for this presence without hiring at least twice the officers this department now employs. Doubling the departments size would cripple the current tax base and therefore be impossible to fund.

BETTER SERVICE AT NO EXPENSE ?

Countless people are helped everyday by LMPD Officers who are off duty and not getting paid for their services. Officers work traffic collisions, change tires, help stranded motorists, make emergency calls for service, answer questions, give directions, etc. just because they are there. This came with the car.Not to mention the many arrests that are made by off-duty Officers who were in the right place at the right time: they witnessed that DUI, or heard that robbery come out on the radio and caught the suspect or could at least give a description. What would the price tag be if these Officers billed the city for overtime everyday? These Officers would not have been able to help anyone without that ?take-home car?.

NO TAKE HOME CARS = LESS TIME ON THE STREET AND SLOWER RESPONSE TIMES FOR EMERGENCIES

If Officers have to go to work and get whatever car is available to them, it will take approximately 25-30 minutes per night to onload/offload all their gear every shift to and from that vehicle and to do safety/operational/function checks. If the car is assigned to them ? they already have their gear and know it works. Loading and unloading duty gear, riot gear, computers, weapons, manuals, safety equipment, tools, etc. takes time. We stand to lose approximately 160 man hours in the department per day between all the patrol shifts and specialized units just by Officers not keeping their cars. The cost to the tax payer would be $3,520.00 per day and $1,284,800.00 annually in lost time on the street if the officer only made $22 an hour. This is significant to say the least, and there?s no telling how long it would take SWAT and Hostage Negotiation to make a ?call out? if they had to drive across town, find a car, load their gear, then go to the scene in an emergency situation.

Louisville should take their cars home, but these three may just be the most important. Most Officers who work ?off-duty? jobs would agree that paying something similar to $50.00 a month to reimburse the taxpayers for gasoline is fair, because most off-duty work does not involve a lot of driving around and therefore does not consume very much gasoline.For those Officers with families, $150.00 to $210.00 per month just to take a car home is unfeasible. Most Officers would not be able to make their house payment or feed their children.Most Officers fall into this category, and thats why the citizens of

Louisville will see a drastic decrease in Police presence in the near future.

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 27th, 2008 @ 10:54PM (15 years ago)

As long as Jerry is continuing his business projects I strongly feel that NO government employee should give up any of their pay. Why should any of us give up a single cent for him? I have worked for Jerry The Crook for 15 out of my 19 years. In 1990 I was making $8.33 an hour. Today I'm making $22.46 an hour. That is less than $.75 an hour increase a year. I refuse to give into the crook anymore. I want that car for free, my insurance for free, and a decent raise each and every year. It isn't his money or car it isn't that illiterate White's money or car. It is OURS and THE OTHER TAX PAYERS!!!!! What is a human life worth in this city????? That crook is pretty sure he will return home when he goes to work. We don't!!!!!

Rally together

November 28th, 2008 @ 12:30AM (15 years ago)

I say we get ALL unions the Mayor is trying to screw and meet at the next Mayors Meeting. If we show up 1000 or more strong it will send a clear message that he will not win this battle. Just a suggestion. Who would be up for it???

WK

FOP Members Vote No To City's Proposals

November 28th, 2008 @ 1:53PM (15 years ago)

HEY EVERYBODY, WE'RE GOING STREAKING!!! DOWN BY THE QUAD TO THE GYMNASIUM!!!!!! HEY HONEY, DO YOU THINK KFC IS OPEN???

Teamsters are weak

December 1st, 2008 @ 7:23AM (15 years ago)

I only wish the Teamsters were as united. Dennis Norris went on the news and said the stewards were split on whether to agree to the Mayor's demands. The meeting among the stewards was apparently pretty heated so now we are voting by mail. I just don't see how anyone can afford to give up the 2%. The dummies that voted for this contract are probably kicking themselves now. They gave up our no-layoff provision! Less than 2 dozen voted to reject it (including me). They just couldn't wait to get that retro pay.