Arizona State F.O.P. Response to

Dale Norris's

Misleading and Defamatory Commentaries

In the March 2008 PLEA Recap, A.P.A. Executive Director Dale Norris published one of the most misleading and defamatory commentaries we have ever seen.  As we have been forced to do in the past, we must again respond with the truth.

Norris neglected to check with the Fraternal Order of Police to verify the facts relating to the prosecution of Border Patrol Agent Nick Corbett or on the participation of Lee Rappleyea as an investigator for the state.  Mr. Rappleyea, a distinguished, retired Phoenix Police Department detective and former chief investigator at the Arizona Attorney Generals Office, does not work for the F.O.P. nor does his work in the Corbett case have anything to do with the F.O.P. 

Even in the face of these defamatory comments by Norris, the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police has no connection whatsoever with the Corbett prosecution.  In fact, neither does PLEA or Dale Norris.  Norris only claims knowledge of the case from a website posting!  As usual, Norris’ effort is just shameless usage of a very serious and controversial matter in an effort to recruit for the A.P.A. and to bash the F.O.P.

As a result of this article, we have looked into the public record of the case.  We suggest all who are truly concerned with justice do the same.  You will find that Norris has once again not done his homework.  To label this “a shameless prosecution” and “a war on a law officer” and to describe the work of Rappleyea and Woods as “traitorous to the profession” ignores compelling exculpatory evidence that exists in this case.  The Corbett case is not about police unions.  To use it in that fashion cheapens the work of all law enforcement officers in this state.

It is a shame that Norris is wasting his time trying to slander the F.O.P. instead of presenting the best possible defense for one of his members.  It looks to me like he is trying to deflect the blame of poor representation by trying to drag the F.O.P. into this.  Mr. Norris, you would be wiser to expend your time and energy ensuring that Agent Nick Corbett is given the best defense possible rather then trying to make other entities responsible for your short comings in this case.  Corbett’s life and career are on the line, and all you can do is blame the F.O.P. who has had nothing to do with this case.  I’m very disappointed that you would even dare to use this case for your own personnel gain.  Mr. Norris never asked the F.O.P. about this case even as he stood just a few feet away from me at the democratic dinner in Phoenix; you didn’t even have the fortitude to verify facts but instead wrote this shameful, untruthful article.      

The Arizona Fraternal Order of Police has not, and will not use Agent Nick Corbett’s situation, or any other similar situation, to evoke an emotional response for recruiting purposes.  Agent Corbett’s future is on the line.  

Fraternally,

Bryan G. Soller

Bryan G. Soller

President

NEWS ALERT

Mesa F.O.P. Meets with City Manager

On April 10 the Mesa Fraternal Order of Police had a meeting with City Manager Chris Brady to discuss several new police employee benefits: the proposed pay raise, email investigation, public safety property tax, and special assignment pay.

·         Sworn pay raise and the COLA:  We talked to Mr. Brady and voiced our concerns about what the mayor said during the last council meeting.  Mr. Brady assured us he understands the need for proposed pay raises and COLA and that he will continue to work for their passage.  Mr. Brady knows the competitiveness to hire and retain sworn officers and that the City of Mesa must stay competitive with the other valley cities if it wants to hire and retain the best officer recruits and officers.  We advised Mr. Brady we will be following up with the council members.  The new mayor and council will make the decision on this issue; you can rest assured that the Mesa F.O.P. will continue to fight for these raises.

·         Email Investigation and removal of discipline from employee’s files: Our department is in the process of removing the discipline from all files (I.A., Chief’s, Personnel, and Workstation) for the members who settled the lawsuit with the city.  We asked Mr. Brady if he would allow all employees who had been disciplined in the email investigation to have their files purged on this matter.  City Manager Brady agreed to this and stated that employees should make a request through their chain of command to purge files on the email investigation.  The Mesa F.O.P. highly encourages all employees to request that their files be purged and to follow up by checking that all email investigation discipline is removed.

·         Specialty Assignment Pay and the FTO position:  We went into great detail with Mr. Brady on how our department allots specialty assignment pay.  Mr. Brady informed us that he was just looking into specialty pay in all city departments.  One of the biggest areas in the police department is FTO specialty assignment pay.  We covered all aspects of the FTO program and the importance of the FTO position in our department.  We informed Mr. Brady that our FTO program is the national standard and most departments across the country and internationally use the Mesa FTO program model for their departments.  The FTO pay is an essential part of the program and needs to remain a full time specialty pay assignment.  Mr. Brady now has a full understanding of the FTO program and the department’s specialty assignment pay philosophy. 

·         Off duty jobs to be paid as overtime pay:  This proposal is a win/win for employees and the city.  The Mesa F.O.P. has been working with our Off Duty Coordinator and believes we have come up with a plan that will benefit all parties involved.  We have proposed this several times in the past, and Mr. Brady will now have Assistance City Manager Brian Rains meet with the F.O.P. to discuss the proposal.

·         Tuition Reimbursement:  With the budget being what it is and college tuition continuing to raise, the Mesa F.O.P., working with our Continuing Education Coordinators, asked the city to wave the stipulation that deducts grants and scholarships from employees’ city tuition reimbursement.  Mr. Brady agreed to allow our employees to use their initiative by getting grants and scholarships and be rewarded by keeping their full city tuition reimbursement.  The city does not reduce tuition reimbursement for military funding.

·         Public Safety Property Tax:  The Mesa F.O.P. is firmly behind Chief Gascón’s recommendation on how to properly fund public safety.  During the council meeting, Chief Gascón advised the council that the best way to fund public safety is through a public safety property tax.  The Mesa F.O.P. has been pushing for a public safety property tax since the mid 1990s.  We advised Mr. Brady that we agree with Chief Gascón and are willing to put the full strength of the F.O.P. behind such a proposal.  Mr. Brady will work with us after the upcoming bond election to discuss this issue in more detail.  

·         Ballistic Vest reimbursement:  The Mesa F.O.P. recommended to Mr. Brady to allow officers to keep vest reimbursement allotments not spent on a ballistic vest and to use the money for uniforms or equipment.  Some vest dealers offer level II and IIIA NIJ certified vest for as little as $450.  Mr. Brady agreed to split the saving 50/50 with the employee.  So if you by a ballistic vest for $500, you get $125 and the city keeps $125.  

·         Retirement Health Savings Accounts (RHSA):  Mr. Brady likes the idea of a RHSA and has asked us to look into bringing a plan to him in the future.  The Mesa F.O.P. will work on finding the best plan and bring it back to Mr. Brady.