On April 15, 2008, Gambit Weekly reported on FOP's "Giant Leap Forward" (click here for story).  The news entry originated from an email disseminated by Jim Gallagher referring to the CAO's Office agreeing to meet with the FOP to discuss the possibility of collective bargaining for members of the New Orleans Police Department.

As a credit to the CAO's Office, the FOP is still scheduled to meet with CAO's Office, the Mayor's representatives, and representatives from the City Attorney's Office. 

Any further information will be posted here.

The first 2008 Regular Legislative Session was called to order on March 31, 2008.  There are a number of bills which effect law enforcement.

The F.O.P. delegation traveled to Baton Rouge today for hearings on House Bills 1129 and 1148.

House Bill 1129 seeks to expand upon the Police Officer's Bill of Rights (The Rights of Law Enforcement Officers while Under Investigation).  In particular, the bill would guarantee an officer the right to effective counsel.  This would include an officer's right to confer with his or her attorney during an interrogation or statement, to have comments and remarks entered into the record, and to call witnesses in any disciplinary hearing.  To see the exact language of the new bill, you can click on this link. 

House Bill 1148 seeks to add a section to the Police Officer's Bill of Rights with regard to obtaining a copy of the investigative report and the expunging of complaints that were not proven.  An officer would be eligible to receive a copy of the investigative report at least fifteen (15) days prior to any disciplinary hearing.  Additionally, if a complaint was not proven, the officer would be able to expunge the complaint from his or her record.  The bill was initially intended to include only departments for a municipality with more than 450,000 people based on the current U.S. Census.  Since the Census will be redone soon, Orleans will likely have less than 450,000 people based on the census, and it is simply more fair for this to apply to all police officers protected by this legislation, the bill was amended to remove the population restriction.  For the exact language for HB 1148, click this link.

For other information on the current legislative session, you can click on this link.

On April 24, 2008, House Bill 1129 was heard in committee.  The F.O.P. delegation argued in favor of this bill and it was reported favorably by the committee.  The bill will now be introduced on the Floor of the House of Representatives.

Also on April 24, 2008, House Bill 1148 was heard in committee.  As with House Bill 1129, the F.O.P. delegation spoke in favor of the legislation and it was reported favorably, with the one amendment described above.  This bill will also be introduced on the Floor of the House of Representatives.

We will keep you updated on any other progress with regard to legislation effecting law enforcement officers or members of the New Orleans Police Department.

Please take the time to email your legislator or you can use the CapWiz function found on this website.

Thanks to F.O.P. Legal Counsel Claude Schlesinger for this report.

The trial of the individual accused of shooting fellow officer Andres Gonzalez during a traffic stop in 2006 is underway in Section G, Judge Julian Parker's Court, in Criminal District Court.  The trial started Monday, March 10, 2008 and will likely conclude Thursday, March 13, 2008.  Closing statements are expected on Thursday and the case will probably be given to the jury after that.

Please attend, if possible, to show your support for our brother.

UPDATE

On Thursday, March 13, 2008, Eddie Harrison, III was convicted of the Attempted First Degree Murder of Officer Andres Gonzalez.  With a unanimous verdict, the jury returned a guilty verdict to a packed courthouse.  On Wednesday, March 19, 2008, Judge Parker will hold a hearing on the multiple bill aspect of the conviction.

The W-2's issued by the City of New Orleans to members of the New Orleans Police Department were erroneous.  If you have not filed your 2007 taxes yet, it would probably be in your best interest to wait for the revised W-2's before you do so.

The 2007 W-2's issued to members of the New Orleans Police Department contain errors.  The current plan is to run the new, revised W-2's after running this week's payroll.  The W-2's will be distributed after that.  M.I.S. personnel have been working to correct the problem since it was discovered.

If you have already filed your 2007 taxes, it will probably be necessary to file an amended return.  If you have not filed your 2007 taxes yet, you would certainly benefit by waiting for the new W-2's to be issued, which will be soon. 

The Crescent City Lodge attempts to keep all of our members advised of the work the F.O.P. is conducting on your behalf.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to convey all of the ongoing and recent work designed to make the F.O.P. better for you, the members.

F.O.P. representatives, including Capt. Pat Yoes (F.O.P. State President), Sgt. Jim Gallagher (Ret.), Sgt. Donovan Livaccari, Claude Schlessinger and Ted Alpaugh (Crescent City Lodge Attorneys), and Sgt. Eric Hessler (Ret. - F.O.P. Legal Plan Attorney) recently returned from Las Vegas, Nevada, where the National F.O.P. hosted its annual Labor Counsel Forum and Legal Counselors Seminar.  In addition, Pat Yoes and Jim Gallagher returned to New Orleans on Sunday and left again Monday for the F.O.P. Day on the Hill, where F.O.P. representatives from around the country have the opportunity to meet personally with our elected members of Congress to discuss issues that are important to the members of their respective Lodges. 

The Labor Counsel Forum focused on labor issues facing law enforcement personnel across the country.  It provides a unique opportunity for those agencies with collective bargaining contracts to share information with other collective bargaining agencies, and more importantly, with agencies without collective bargaining contracts.

While the New Orleans Police Department does not currently have a collective bargaining contract, the possibility exists that a collective bargaining contract could become a reality in the near future.  The F.O.P. is primarily responsible for H.R. 980, which would give police, fire, and sheriff's departments throughout the country the right to enter into collective bargaining contracts with their employers.  In addition, the Crescent City Lodge plans on introducing legislation that would grant that right to police departments in Louisiana in the upcoming Regular Legislative Session in Baton Rouge. 

The Labor Counsel Forum covered a myriad of topics, including the F.O.P.'s current position as the preeminent union for law enforcement agencies across the country, the challenges of being a representative organization, and numerous discussion forums for the exchange of information and tactics.

The Legal Counselors Seminar, geared mainly toward F.O.P. attorneys, covered important topics such as the Hatch Act, Ethics and Professional Conduct, Politically Incorrect Statements, Actions, and Off-Duty Conduct, the Importance of Utilizing the News Media, Use of the U.S. Constitution and State Constitution Actions for 1983 issues (Civil Rights Violations), and additional topics such as the Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007, and First Amendment Rights of Public Employees.  Larry James, General Counsel for the National F.O.P., also presented numerous recent court decisions that directly effect our profession for discussion and brainstorming.

The F.O.P. Day on the Hill provides a unique opportunity to meet privately with our elected officials.  We look forward to hearing from Jim Gallagher upon his return.

Rest assured that the Crescent City Lodge is constantly working to improve representation of our members and will continue to do so.  As our membership continues to grow, we are moving forward to make life better for members of the New Orleans Police Department. 

The Crescent City Lodge currently has over 1,100 active police officer members and over 700 retired New Orleans Police Department members.  There is strength in numbers and as the largest representative organization for the New Orleans Police Department, the F.O.P. is uniquely positioned to positively impact the lives of our members.  Anyone interested in participating in this progress  is certainly welcome to do so.

The Crescent City Lodge is well-positioned for the future and will continue work hard on your behalf.

Registered users are now able to throw in their two cents about article placed on the front page of the web site.  Feel free to let everyone know your thoughts in the matter.  'your comments could change the FOP's policy on the matter - at least spur some debate.

I look forward to at least reading your thoughts.