[Peace-discuss] Fw: [police oversight] fw: HR Bill 413 - A National Police Unaccountability Bill
Laurie Solomon
ls1000 at live.com
Fri Apr 16 12:10:19 CDT 2010
I thought some might want to take notice of this.
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Debbie Russell" <debmocracy at yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 11:26 AM
To: <policeoversight at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [police oversight] fw: HR Bill 413 - A National Police
Unaccountability Bill
> http://www.injusticeeverywhere.com/?p=2181
>
> I didn't realize all unions didn't have these powers already....being down
> har' in TX and all...
> Debbie
>
> URGENT UPDATE! -04/13/10 21:36PST
>
> Folks, congress is apparently trying to push this one through on a fast
> track. Last night Senator Harry Reid introduced Senate bill 3194 that has
> nearly identical wording as S.1611 and HR 413 in a way that will force it
> to the Senate floor for a vote tomorrow which would send the bill to the
> House where they plan to amend it to their bill which would do away with
> the need to put it in a conference committee, sending it straight to the
> president for signature into law.
>
> Simply put, this law would force every law enforcement agency in the US
> to allow police unions to have a say not only in pay and benefit issues,
> but also in disciplinary policies. If you thought it was hard to hold cops
> accountable for misconduct now, just wait until police unions get to
> influence disciplinary policies in every police department and sheriff's
> office in the US!
>
> This is one nasty piece of legislation and we must voice our opposition
> to it NOW, before they sneak it through congress before anyone knows what
> hit them!
>
> I've talked a lot in the past about how the inability of many police
> departments to hold police officers accountable for misconduct and the
> lack of transparency for disciplinary records and investigations into
> allegations of misconduct are the result of police unions having the
> ability to negotiate on disciplinary and investigative policy items during
> contract talks.
>
> For example, the police union here in Seattle Washington has been able to
> insert loopholes in the disciplinary process by imposing time limits on
> investigations. They have been able to tweak the contract language so that
> dishonesty cannot be grounds for dismissal even when the city thought it
> could be. They were able to give themselves five different avenues of
> appeal for overturning disciplinary actions against problematic cops,
> including use of highly biased arbitrators who almost always side with the
> officer in matters of disciplinary action. They have even been able to
> dictate what information can be shared with the public and even with the
> police oversight committees themselves.
>
> All this because the state has granted the police unions the right to
> negotiate the conditions of employment with their employers, which
> includes the right to negotiate how they can and cannot be investigated
> and disciplined for allegations of misconduct.
>
> Now, this isn't the case everywhere at the moment, but how would you like
> it if this right was granted to every police union in the United States
> and if federal law mandated that every police department in the US was
> represented by a police officer's union?
>
> This is what House Bill HR 413: "The Public Safety Employer-Employee
> Cooperation Act of 2009″ sponsored by Dale Kildee (D-MI) and 204
> other representatives, and it's Senate companion Senate bill S.1611
> sponsored by Judd Gregg (R-NH) and 20 other senators, would do.
>
> This bill, if passed, would force all local and state governments to
> follow these same problematic process that places like Seattle Washington
> and other similar cities have to follow by allowing police unions dictate
> police accountability and transparency policies for departments where
> officers almost never get fired and, when they do, they are always rehired
> with back pay at taxpayer expense after an expensive and biased appeals
> process.
>
> In essence, this bill would risk making it much more difficult for every
> local and state government in the US to hold their police officers
> accountable for police misconduct. It would do more harm to issues of
> police accountability and transparency that even Supreme Court Justice
> Anton Scalia ever could. All because it forces every department to
> negotiate disciplinary and public disclosure practices with police unions.
>
> Currently the National Fraternal Organization of Police is sending out
> mailers encouraging it's members to start pressuring their representatives
> and senators to support the bill based on assertions by US Rep Steny H.
> Hoyer (D-MD) who assured police union leaders that "H.R. 413 would be
> "among the first" bills considered on the House floor following the Easter
> recess". Which has sparked the push for police unions across the US to
> pressure congress into supporting the bill.
>
> This means that it's imperative that citizens call and write their
> representatives twice as hard as the police unions do because of the
> massive lobbying power that these unions possess through endorsements,
> campaign contributions, and political pressure on "law and order" types of
> congress members.
>
> If you doubt how influential police unions have been in their push to get
> these bills passed, during the last congressional session in 2007-2008 the
> equivalent of this bill, then called HR 980, passed overwhelmingly.
> However, the bill was barely killed by a minority of Senators who attached
> unpopular amendments to the bill after their filibuster failed in 2008.
>
> So, it's time to let your senators and representatives know about the
> pitfalls these bills represent. unless, of course, you like the idea of an
> unaccountable police force in every city, county, and state in America.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> 21 comments to HR Bill 413 - A National Police Unaccountability Bill
>
> *
> Michaelk42
> April 13th, 2010 at 9:33 AM
>
> If anything, we need the opposite of this bill. Something that
> federally prohibits secrecy in disciplinary records and requires
> misconduct reporting.
> *
> Thomas R. Griffith
> April 13th, 2010 at 1:14 PM
>
> Hey Packratt, thanks a million for bringing this to our attention.
> Regular news media isn't touching it. I hope that the students of Maryland
> get wind of it and send out mass tweets, emails, blogcast, phone calls,
> etc. alerting every single campus from coast to coast with a 'this could
> be you' & 'Hr 413, Senate Bill S.1611 has to go' message.
>
> I'm doing my part (calling/writing) today and I hope that others take
> your advice to heart and do the same. Thanks again.
>
> Re: the Maryland police beating, CNN's Rick is all over it and had a
> former lawman turned expert on security for large events (Mr. Palumbo) he
> showed just how misinformed or unaware he is when he said, "it doesn't
> happen all that often." & "It's an isolated incident." While he was very
> disgusted at the acts of violence, my message to Mr. Palumbo is Sir; you
> need to spend the afternoon checking out Injustice Everywhere including
> the Archives.
> If CNN's Rick is listening, you need to book Packratt.
> *
> no bad cops
> April 13th, 2010 at 1:18 PM
>
> The BIGGEST misconception about police abuse is that cops get rid of
> the bad ones! You always hear people say, "there's bad people in every
> line of work". Well of course there is.
>
> The difference is that normal people would be fired and sent to the
> unemployment line if we committed crimes or abused our positions.
>
> Cops are NOT like the rest of us in this regard!
>
> The degree of this needs to be understood by the general public, AND
> by ALL of our representatives, and REAL SOON.
>
> "Police Efforts Against Accountability NEVER Stop"
>
> "The first problem with this idea is that whenever police
> disciplinary policies are changed to make them more lax, it becomes
> exceedingly difficult to switch back from that due to union arbitration.
> Police unions often defend officers disciplined for misconduct by pointing
> out past disciplinary actions taken against other officers accused of
> similar acts of misconduct. Once you set a policy that reduces that level
> of discipline or abolish it all together, you cannot go back..If you do,
> the union just says "look, you let that guy go for the same offense, by
> disciplining this officer differently it's a matter of discrimination."
> And arbitrators ALWAYS rule on precedent.
>
> http://www.injusticeeverywhere.com/?p=834
> *
> no bad cops
> April 13th, 2010 at 1:33 PM
>
> YES, Thank You for letting us know about this!
>
> "he showed just how misinformed or unaware he is when he said, "it
> doesn't happen all that often." & "It's an isolated incident." "
>
> Ignorance on the issue of police abuse-
>
> THAT'S how they're going to try? to away with these 2 bills. Because
> on the surface they look relatively harmless.
>
> That's why I've posted all the past articles I can on the subject, so
> any new readers can understand the REAL consequences of giving the police
> unions {even more!?} power.
>
> I am hoping to motivate others to get to work on this! It sure is
> needed.
> *
> Union Fighting To Get Non Accountability Legislation Passed -
> INGunOwners
> April 13th, 2010 at 2:03 PM
>
> [...] case in Seattle and it will spread nationwide of supporters of
> this legislation get their way. via Injustice Everywhere [...]
> *
> Tweets that mention HR Bill 413 - A National Police Unaccountability
> Bill « Injustice Everywhere -- Topsy.com
> April 13th, 2010 at 6:03 PM
>
> [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Matt. Matt said: HR Bill
> 413 - A National Police Unaccountability Bill:
> http://www.injusticeeverywhere.com/?p=2181 [...]
> *
> FBM
> April 13th, 2010 at 11:20 PM
>
> California has many of these same measures in place already. But
> coming from a city with a department with a convicted police chief, an
> acting chief who covered it up, a deputy chief who announced his
> retirement today, it's clear that our so-called police department had
> serious problems with corruption even when it was released from its state
> consent decree in 2006.
> *
> adam
> April 13th, 2010 at 11:44 PM
>
> I just emailed both Cantwell and Murray. Thanks for the info!
> *
> Packratt
> April 14th, 2010 at 12:23 AM
>
> Thank you Adam, I really appreciate that!
>
> FBM, That's part of the point, there are states where this is already
> the law, but not all states. These bills would make all police departments
> just like the police departments where police unions have been able to
> weaken disciplinary guidelines through contract negotiations. That nobody
> is learning the lessons available to us is disheartening.
> *
> John P.
> April 14th, 2010 at 1:38 AM
>
> Just one step closer to Germany circa 1933
>
> Just you wait, next up will be a modern day version of Hitlers, Night
> and Fog Decree.
> *
> National Police Misconduct NewsFeed Daily Recap 04-13-10 « Injustice
> Everywhere
> April 14th, 2010 at 2:09 AM
>
> [...] HR Bill 413 - A National Police Unaccountability Bill [...]
> *
> POLICE STATE
> April 14th, 2010 at 2:23 PM
>
> Ever since they allowed police to form unions, Law Enforcement(sic)
> is run like a crime family and their cops are the street thugs in each
> city. The best you can do is get a camera and try to have video evidence
> against them because the odds are stacked against all of us. Cops and
> their ilk will lobby hard for this bill because they are trying TO SUBVERT
> ANY AND ALL FORMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY. To all the people who still support
> the criminal cops, you will get yours too someday. If not you personally,
> your children or someone in your family. Once tyranny of a system starts
> it only progresses to envelope the whole system.
>
>
> http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20100321_Why_it_s_so_hard_to_fire_a_Phila__police_officer.html?viewAll=y
>
>
> http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20100319_Cops_in_beating_get_jobs_back__free_FOP_beer__Suspects_were_cleared__too.html
>
> http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/90194952.html
>
>
> http://citypaper.net/articles/2010/02/04/who-polices-the-philadelphia-police
> *
> T.Mann
> April 14th, 2010 at 4:46 PM
>
> Thanks for making everyone aware of this, I have contacted my Senator
> and would like to mention to everyone, that you can do simply by going to
> the Senate web site.
> *
> J.L. Smith
> April 15th, 2010 at 5:09 AM
>
> This iis a grat bill and much deserved by o firefighters and police.
> I right to go broke ststes many of the public safety workers are living in
> poverty and on foodstamps. This bill will help put an end to this type of
> behavior, PASS THIS BIL NOW!
> *
> J.L. Smith
> April 15th, 2010 at 5:12 AM
>
> By the wat his bill already has enough vote in the House and Senate
> to pass, Our great President Obama also advised he islooking forward to
> signing the bill inti law by the end of April 2010.
> *
> no bad cops
> April 15th, 2010 at 9:49 AM
>
> Do you know if this is true, that the President is looking forward to
> signing this? Does anyone have a good sample letter for any who might to
> new to writing their representatives?
> *
> no bad cops
> April 15th, 2010 at 10:27 AM
>
> As to the comments above mine, please. What about the fact that most
> Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and countless of us have jobs without
> important benefits like health insurance?
>
> He's making some generalized statements which are far, far from the
> truth. The real truth is, in most states cops and firefighters are paid
> extremely well for a job that requires zero skills and only a high school
> diploma. I've seen their cars.
>
> Furthermore, there are already many avenues in place for them to
> leverage for wage increases if need be. They don't need to stack the odds
> any further against us real citizens.
>
> Those comments just go to show you, they care far more about their
> rights then ours. When confronted with monumental evidence of a problem,
> all you get is silence and "we are good, we deserve this and that".
>
> The Unaccountables
>
> "I thought that it may be a good idea to look at the real-world
> results of weakened accountability systems in police departments.
>
> http://www.injusticeeverywhere.com/?p=861
> *
> no bad cops
> April 15th, 2010 at 10:34 AM
>
> Furthermore I think it's important to note that the UNION gets to
> pick these arbitrators. This is NOT even close to a normal mediation or
> jury system, where at least they're *supposed to be* neutral. Take note of
> how even a POLICE CHIEF {of all people} has issues with one of these
> arbitrators! Considering how many chiefs side with their men and sweep
> stuff under the carpet, this just goes to show you how dangerous these
> union imposed systems will be!
>
> It's already bad enough as it is, we don't need any new legislation
> to make things worse.
>
> "Arbitrating Your Safety Away"
>
> A Toledo Ohio police sergeant is greeted with protests after police
> department is ordered by arbitrator to rehire him despite being found
> guilty of threatening to arrest a woman at a convenience store if she did
> not have sex with him. The officer is currently under investigation again
> for alleged unsuitable comments made to home invasion victim.
>
> Worcester Massachusetts police have been ordered by a permanent
> arbitrator, who was chosen by name by the police officer's union, to
> rehire a police officer who was accused of chasing down and pistol
> whipping two 15-year-old and a 14-year-old kids for trespassing on his
> lawn. The police chief there has vowed to appeal claiming the arbitrator
> was biased in his decision.
>
> http://www.injusticeeverywhere.com/?p=947
> *
> no bad cops
> April 15th, 2010 at 1:27 PM
>
> WOAH!! DO NOT MISS THE UPDATE HERE! Folks, it is really IMPERATIVE
> that we contact our representatives IMMEDIATELY, as now they're trying to
> cheat!
>
> **I don't think it would hurt to e-mail out of state reps either.**
>
> The police unions are COUNTING ON on the publics complete silence! I
> know some might be thinking "it's a waste" but you never know if there's a
> politician clever enough to fear reverberations from the public if
> something they support goes bad. Besides we have a moral obligation to
> fight this and-There's still time:
> http://news.opencongress.org/bill/111-s3194/show
>
> Here are some other perspectives on this so we can be better informed
> and maybe use some of their verbiage in our e-mails. Of course the main
> concern is the numerous abuses that would result from giving police unions
> more power.
>
> And another thing: this writer brings up an interesting point about
> how badly police unions must be pushing for this, and why we MUST push
> them back: "The fact that this bill was brought to the Senate floor
> without proper committee consideration is a prime example of how hard
> labor unions are working to advance their agenda in our nation's capital."
>
> http://www.greenvillenc.org/Call-to-Action.804.0.html
>
> "NATaT urges the Congress to reject this legislation because it
> undermines town and township autonomy with respect to making fundamental
> employment decisions, interferes with state and local laws, and may be
> unconstitutional."
>
> http://www.michigantownships.org/newsarticle.asp?SDBFid=217
> *
> no bad cops
> April 15th, 2010 at 2:19 PM
>
> UPDATE: THERE IS STILL {VERY LIMITED!} TIME TO OPPOSE THE ANTI POLICE
> ACCOUNTABILITY BILL, S. 3194
>
> "the senate stand adjourned until 10AM tomorrow morning"
> http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/292936-1
>
> Here is the direct link to e-mail our representatives:
>
> http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
>
> You can also e-mail Senators from other states, however "Please be
> aware that as a matter of professional courtesy, many senators will
> acknowledge, but not respond to, a message from another senator's
> constituent." I don't think {doing this} would be a waste of time as one
> never knows who may be receptive to the message.
>
> For the most respectful, professional and articulate among us:
>
> "You may phone the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A
> switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you
> request."
> *
> no bad cops
> April 15th, 2010 at 2:32 PM
>
> This site,
> http://unemployed-friends.forumotion.com/campaign-and-support-legislation-f79/e-mail-campaign-continues-take-action-t5352.htm
> links to direct fax information for ten Senators, including Senator
> Harry Reid:
>
> http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm Fax: (202) 224-7327
>
> Additionally, apparently there is a service called
> http://faxzero.com/ which allows you to send two FREE faxes a day. It's
> probably a good idea to fax the same message that you e-mail. And it's
> free so why not?
>
> I found yet another interesting viewpoint on this, which bears
> repeating:
>
> "the bill is so vague, there is no way to know what rules they would
> put in place." {!}
>
> "Contact.your own congressional representative as well as
> Senators...and tell them to oppose the bill. Tell them that you know what
> is best for your community. That.H.R. 413 and S 3194 would preempt local
> control by placing us at the mercy of a federal agency. That the federal
> government should respect the longstanding distinction between state and
> local responsibilities and federal ones."
>
> http://www.mml.org/advocacy/inside208/default.aspx
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
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