SERGEANTS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION
Pension Seminar Sold Out
State of Hawaii Police Officers in Need of Assistance
Dear Fellow Sergeant,
As most of you know, the SBA has become very close with many police unions and organizations throughout the country. One of these groups is the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO). The recent Maui Fire has killed many people and destroyed countless homes and businesses. Many of our law enforcement friends and colleagues have been directly impacted.
I called Bobby Cavaco, the President of SHOPO and expressed our sympathies and willingness to help out. Below are excerpts of a letter I received from Bobby, as well as instructions on how to provide financial assistance during this catastrophic time.
Dear Police Union Leaders,
I write this letter from Maui this morning with a heavy heart. The loss of life and absolute destruction caused by these fires is indescribable. I also write today with immense gratitude that our SHOPO members have received the care, concern, and support from so many of our nation’s police unions. Thank you. There are few silver linings in Hawaii today, the support of your organizations is one of them.
Many of you have asked how you can help. On behalf of our 2,600 members, thank you. Below is a quick status report on the impacts of the fires on SHOPO residents and SHOPO’s efforts in Maui as well as how you can assist our members and their families.
Impacts on SHOPO Maui Members
• All SHOPO members who live on Maui are safe and accounted for.
• 9 active police officers lost their homes (full loss).
• 1 active police officer suffered partial loss of home.
• 1 SHOPO staff member (retired police officer) lost his home (full loss).
• 1 retired police officer lost their home (full loss).
How you can help
If you want to help our officers and their families you can donate to the SHOPO Benevolent Fund, an IRS recognized 501c3 non-profit established to assist officers and their families facing hardship and tragedies. Below are the details for making contributions via check.
Make checks payable to SHOPO Benevolent Fund and mail to: SHOPO Benevolent Fund, c/o SHOPO, 1717 Hoe Street, Honolulu, HI 96819
Fraternally,
New Pension Seminar Date Has Been Added
Dear Fellow Sergeant,
Due to the high demand, the SBA, in conjunction with our fellow police unions, has added an additional date for the Tier 2 Pension Seminar.
The additional date is Wednesday, November 8, 2023, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Click on the flyer below for details.
Fraternally,
Fall Dependent Student Certification Form
Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan Update
State of Hawaii Police Officers in Need of Assistance
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Temporary Restraining Order Regarding Implementation of AETNA Medicare Advantage Plan
Dear Fellow Sergeant, On May 31, 2023, the New York...
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Temporary Restraining Order Regarding Implementation of AETNA Medicare Advantage Plan
Dear Fellow Sergeant,
On May 31, 2023, the New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees filed their Third Legal Action, Petition and Complaint, requesting court intervention in addressing the legality of the NYC Office of Labor Relations’ (NYC-OLR) implementation and mandated participation of most Medicare qualified NYC retirees and their families in a new AETNA Medicare Advantage Plan.
On July 6, 2023, Judge Lyle E. Frank heard legal arguments from all involved parties.
Today, July 7, 2023, a decision found in favor of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees and ordered a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).
This decision STOPS all actions that advance the implementation and mandatory participation of all Medicare qualified participants into the new AETNA Medicare Advantage Program.
NYS-OLR is expected to file an appeal to the NYS Appeals Court, and it is likely that this action will not be heard until October 2023 at the earliest.
We will keep you posted on all future developments as they occur.
Fraternally,
Aetna Medicare Advantage Update June 21, 2023
Aetna Medicare Advantage Update
Dear Fellow Sergeant,
It is with much joy and relief that I report that Sgt. Hugh Barry was acquitted of all charges related to the death of an emotionally disturbed woman named Deborah Danner on October 18, 2016. The three-week bench trial was heard before Judge Robert A. Neary in Bronx Criminal Court.
Ms. Danner was shot while wielding a baseball bat with which Sgt. Barry believed she was going to use to attack him in her apartment. Sgt. Barry was assigned to the 43 Precinct at the time of the incident.
While I offer empathy and sympathy to the Danner family, I have nothing but outrage toward Mayor Bill de Blasio, Police Commissioner James O’Neill, and Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark for the malicious prosecution that was conducted for the most nefarious of reasons.
Just hours after this tragic incident occurred, Police Commissioner O’Neill stated that ‘we’ as a department failed in our quest to assist Ms. Danner. By the next day, the mayor was lambasting Sgt. Barry in the media, which all but guaranteed a politically motivated indictment. The Bronx district attorney continued to perpetuate this travesty of justice by indicting Sgt. Barry.
So many people were failed in this case. The police commissioner and the mayor knew the basic facts on the night of the incident, yet they had neither the courage nor the integrity to call this incident for what it was for fear of public unrest.
They blatantly lied to the people who they are entrusted to represent. They created a false hope for police detractors, and acted in a manner that was based solely on cowardice and a lack of personal and professional integrity. Their false narrative was put forth for no other reason than to politically enrich themselves. They owe an apology to the Danner family for misleading the facts, as well as Sgt. Barry, all of the hardworking members of the NYPD, and the people of the city of New York who were failed by their ineptitude and dishonesty.
Sgt. Barry committed no crime and was justified in his actions. I commend Judge Neary for recognizing that and acquitting Sgt. Barry of these horrendous charges.
I want to thank all of the police personnel who were in court each day to support Sgt. Barry, as well as the nationwide law enforcement community who offered their assistance in immeasurable ways during this ordeal.
2023 SBA Scholarship Winners
Dear Fellow Sergeant,
The SBA is pleased to announce that we awarded 22 college scholarships yesterday to the sons, daughters, and dependents of active and retired Lifetime members. The winners were chosen from the top 20 SAT, ACT, and PSAT scores, plus ties, and each recipient received a Certificate of Achievement and a check for $2,500. The total amount of scholarships awarded today was $55,000.
The scholarships are made possible by the sale of SBA cards and generous donations from the membership and the public and private sector.
Scholarship applications for 2024 will be available online and in SBA publications later this year. For more information, contact SBA Health & Welfare Secretary Donald Kipp, the Scholarship Chairman, at 212-226-2180 or by email at dkipp@sbanyc.org.
This year’s recipients are:
Member
Avezzano, Robert
Gembs, Paul
Itzhaki, John
Kurys, Mark
Kurz, Stephen
LaRegina, Thomas
Lau, Bobby
Lubrano, Cosmo
McCaffrey, Sean
Mrakovcic, Mark
O’Connor, Michael
O’Hare, Robert
Oldak, John
Parker-Thompson, Shavette
Reda, Joseph
Schroeder, John
Siegel, Neil
Spataro, Nicholas
Staudinger, Arthur
Tom, George
Valentino, John
Wu, Dennis
Student
Lilly
Julianna
Aaron
Kaylee
Ryan
Elizabeth
Mason
Giulia
Ann
Nicholas
Kyle
Katharine
Margaret
Kyra
Caitlin
Isabella
Jared
Nicholas Jr.
Michaela
George
Jamie
Angelina
College
Embry-Riddle
Cornell
Pittsburgh
University of Delaware
Binghamton
Georgetown
Columbia
University of Michigan
U.S. Naval Academy
South Carolina
Cornell
Boston
Stony Brook
Boston University
Clemson
University of Maryland
Northern Arizona
Hofstra
Wake Forest
Hunter
University of Connecticut
Cornell
Fraternally,
Vincent J. Vallelong
President
Sergeants Benevolent Association
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