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,
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
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
Cover Now
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Tunnel to Towers Foundation
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SBA Statement on Senate Passage of LE Bills
Dear Fellow Sergeant,
I am pleased to report that this evening the U.S. Senate passed two SBA priorities by unanimous consent: H.R. 6943, the “Public Safety Officer Support Act”; and H.R. 2992, the “Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)-PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act.” Both bills now head to the White House where President Biden is expected to sign them into law.
The SBA has been a leader on the “Public Safety Officer Support Act” since its inception because the legislation ensures coverage under the federal Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program for those officers who succumb to injuries resulting from job-related PTSD or acute stress disorder. For the first time ever, the law will recognize the link between recurrent on-the-job exposures to traumatic events and the rise in deaths by suicide within the ranks of the NYPD and our nation’s law enforcement officers. As such, H.R. 6943 represents an extremely important step in addressing the unseen yet heavy toll that stress and exposure to trauma have on law enforcement by ensuring access to PSOB for those officers who die by suicide or succumb to injuries resulting from PTSD or acute stress disorder.
I am proud of the SBA’s work on this important bill, and our role working with Members of Congress, the Biden Administration, and many allies over this past year to advance H.R. 6943. We are extremely grateful for the leadership of chief bill sponsors Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Rep. David Trone (D-MD) whose support and persistence were critical to the successful effort to pass this important legislation.
In addition to H.R. 6943, the SBA’s advocacy also helped to push through the Senate H.R. 2992, the “TBI/PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act” that the SBA helped to develop. This legislation directs the U.S. Justice Department to develop crisis intervention training tools for use by law enforcement and other public safety employees when interacting with community members who have TBI or PTSD. This type of training is extremely important, as law enforcement officers are often the first to respond to individuals experiencing mental and behavioral health crises, including those affected by TBI or suffering from PTSD. These situations can quickly escalate, placing the safety of both the officer and the individual at risk. Importantly, the bill also includes a critical officer mental health and wellness component, directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study and report to Congress on the incidence of concussion and TBI in law enforcement. This research will help lead to the development of resources to improve officer safety and support officers who have experienced TBI on the job. I would like to thank chief bill sponsors Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) for also working with us to achieve final passage of H.R. 2992.
Additionally, I would like to applaud and express the SBA’s appreciation for the congressional leaders who helped champion H.R. 2992 and H.R. 6943. In particular, Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA), House leaders Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Ranking Member Jim Jordan (R-OH).
Finally, the SBA is pleased that the Senate also approved this evening several other SBA legislative priorities that must still be passed by the House of Representatives, including:
- S.4007, the “Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act,” which directs the Justice Department to develop new programs for making state-of-the-art treatments available to officers suffering from job-related PTSD or acute stress disorder;
- S. 4003, the “Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act,” to provide resources to improve law enforcement training on alternatives to use of force, de-escalation, and mental and behavioral health crises;
- S.3860, the “Invest to Protect Act”; which improves federal COPS grant funding for smaller law enforcement agencies; and
- S.2151, the “Strong Communities Act”; a bill that provides grants for law enforcement recruits to attend school or academies in exchange for service in their communities.
Fraternally,
Vincent J. Vallelong
President
Sergeants Benevolent Association
SBA Contract Pay Dates
The Office of Labor Relations (OLR) has notified the SBA that All Raises from the 2018-2021 contract will be implemented for the March 4, 2022, paycheck. The new pay charts will be posted on the SBA website February 1, 2022.
The increases will include
• 2.25% that was effective August 30, 2018
• 2.50% that was effective August 30, 2019
• 3.00% that was effective August 30, 2020
• 1.00% for Sergeants with five years in rank effective August 30, 2018. If you did not have five years in rank prior to August 30, 2018, you will receive the additional 1.00% on your fifth anniversary as a Sergeant
• 1.25% increase at the 10, 15 and 20 year longevity steps effective August 29, 2021
Additionally, retroactive payments for base pay increases, overtime earned and night shift differential will also be included in the March 4, 2022 paycheck. Retroactive payments for Holiday pay will come at a later date.
If you wish to change your deferral rates for the Deferred Compensation Plan or the 401(k) Plan, you must make this election by 4:00 pm February 4, 2022, to be effective for the March 4, 2022 paycheck. It is important to remember that if you increase your deferral rate for the March 4, 2022, paycheck you must switch your rate back prior to 4:00 pm February 18, 2022, or your March 18, 2022, will be processed with the larger deferral rate. Please see the Deferred Compensation Plan Calendar and instructions on how to change your deferral rate.
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Fraternally,
Vincent J. Vallelong
President
Sergeants Benevolent Association