Jul
Message to my friends and former Co-Workers at the Portsmouth Police Department,
I just received word that the International Brotherhood of Police Officers National President David Holway and regional National Vice-President Paul Birks will be at the Norfolk Local meeting hall from 10am to 6pm on Tuesday the 9th of July. Norfolk Officer Mike McKenna is the Norfolk Local President and has invited Portsmouth Officers & Dispatchers to come over, meet the Union management and talk about getting Portsmouth on board as a IBPO Local. They can talk cost, benefits and what the organization has to offer. Some information can be found here at the IBPO Website.
I know many of you are members of the FOP and PBA but I think that IBPO has some things to offer that both those organizations don’t. Their is no reason you can’t be a member of more then one. The IBPO is more geared toward the Police Officer that works the beat or is a Detective and are not in management. Portsmouth can setup it’s own by-laws and allow Sergeants to join but as non-voting members.
Some locals allow Dispatchers to join. Given the situation with their staffing shortages and their low pay (which makes it difficult to recruit quality candidates) I think having them in the group will foster more cohesiveness and perhaps foster better relations between Police Officers and the 911 Center. I am extending an invitation to the Portsmouth Police Dispatchers to come to the meeting below the rank of Supervisor.
I am still working through my grievance with the department to return to work and hope that I will be successful. Chief Corvello is an impressive person and has been very fair in my discussions with him. He offered reinstatement if I was willing to take punishment for something that I did not do so I had to turn him down. Chief Corvello appears to be the first step in the right direction made by the City Management. This opportunity to organize a real labor union local for the Portsmouth Police Department just like the Fire Department currently has will show unity and perhaps give the officers and the dispatchers in the trenches a better opportunity to vocalize their issues with the management of the City of Portsmouth. We do not know what type of person we will end up with once the city hires Chief Corvello’s replacement and we could end up back at the same spot we were before Ed Long left. Now is the time to prepare for that contingency.
I am going to make every effort to be there the entire time. Mike said that they will provide food and beverages at the meeting.
The meeting will be held at Norfolk Local’s Office at 5307 E. Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23502 phone: (757) 459-2232. This is on the right (south) side of Virginia Beach Blvd just prior to Military Hwy if your going toward Virginia Beach on the Blvd. Click on the link below for a Mapquest map;
Please spread the word as this is short notice and I know some people are not going to get this email prior to the meeting.
Hope to see you there .. Jim
