New Labor Rep. talented at balancing roles while representing members
— By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor
Baraga County Sheriff’s Deputy and L’Anse Area Schools Resource Officer Michael Griffin is used to balancing multiple roles so it was a natural progression for him to begin 2024 by adding a new role — POLC/GELC Labor Representative in the Upper Peninsula.
Griffin has plenty of Union experience serving as President of Baraga County Deputies Local Union since 2019. He began his career as a Baraga County Sheriff’s Deputy in 2017, initially serving in Corrections. That same year, he became President of Baraga County Corrections Officers Local Union, a position he held for two years.
“So far, I’ve been involved with contracts, some grievances, some mediation, nothing with arbitration yet,” he said. “We never had to go that far thankfully, but we always had everything ready to go as far as research and wage studies.”
“I’m excited to learn from (POLC/GELC Labor Representatives) Chris Watts and John Stidham,” Griffin said. “I’m kind of like their little Jedi and they’re the Jedi Masters. John and Chris were taking over the U.P. after (Labor Rep.) Hal (Telling) passed away. I worked hand-in-hand with Chris during our last contract negotiations. They’re more or less showing me the ropes.”
The 33-year-old first became involved in unions in 2013 when he began working in gas and oil pipeline construction as a Local 1329 member in North Dakota. He continued that line of work in Minneapolis from 2015 to 2017 as a Local 563 Laborers Union member.
With a diverse background in military service, law enforcement, and community engagement, Griffin has been a member of the Michigan National Guard since 2009. He received bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Business from Northern Michigan University. In 2023, he expanded his community involvement as a School Resource Officer at L’Anse Area Schools and he’s coached football at L’Anse Area High School for the past 3 years.
A highly organized hard worker, Griffin is excited to share his advocacy skills to support Union members in the U.P. “I live a balanced life. Whether at the school teaching classes to students to getting ready for contract negotiations, everything is very organized and I keep it on the straight and narrow,” he said. “My wife helps me a lot with the calendar. She has an iPad and it’s linked to my calendar so I can call her if I need to check something quickly. She’s like my personal assistant.”
Key issues for the Union to address today are wages for police officers that are in line with inflation and working to restore full pensions to officers, said Griffin, adding these changes are needed to greatly improve recruitment and retention outcomes.
“A lot of people don’t want to be police officers. A lot who did started out making $40,000 to $50,000 and house prices doubled and interest rates tripled,” Griffin said. “That’s really hard for someone in the police industry. Having a family and stable home is one of the most important things you can have as a stable cop and not being able to afford that can be detrimental.”
Since many municipalities dropped fully funded pensions in exchange for less costly retirement plans, such as 457 and 401k plans, they are now facing difficulties filling vacancies.
“They’re not getting quality employees,” he said. “A lot of places are starting to backtrack to full pensions instead of a 401k and the departments that do have it — I want to make sure we retain those. We need to make sure we hold on tight to those things for 20 to 30 years.”
Griffin is thrilled to represent Union members on a larger scale. “I have always liked being involved with the community and taking a room with people and making people feel comfortable,” Griffin said. “(POLC/ GELC Director) Jim Stachowski has been awesome! Jim, Chris and John are more than willing to get me what I need to make this job work. It’s very exciting to work with that motivated team!” d
POLC/GELC Labor Rep. Michael Griffin
Retired Executive board member proud of POLC growth, is continuing family legacy
— By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor
Former POLC/GELC Executive Committee member Troy Taylor is proud to have been a part of the Unions’ growth and while he’s retired, much like the Unions, he is not slowing down.
A POLC member for 22 years, Taylor spent the past three years serving on the Executive Committee before retiring as an Oak Park Department of Public Safety Lieutenant in April 2024. He served 25 years with the department, spending his last years in command of the Investigations Bureau.
“As I was telling (Director) Jim (Stachowski) and (Labor Rep.) Rob (Figurski) when I visited the office before I left, being on the Executive Committee is definitely one of the highlights of my career,” Taylor said. “I wish I would have gotten involved in the board a heck of a lot earlier than I did. To be a part of an organization that is growing is very satisfying.”
“I think the POLC/GELC is in great hands as they continue to grow,” he said. “It’s headed in the right direction with a lot of technological updates, including grievance tracking. It was all hand-typed grievances before. Now it’s all in a program or an app.”
Taylor, 48, spent the past 12 years serving in various roles on the Oak Park Public Safety Command Association Board, including Vice President and then Local Union President the past 9 years.
“I think the biggest challenges for the POLC kind of mimic the challenges law enforcement agencies have as of recent — attracting member participation,” he said. “The old regime is moving out and the new kids are coming in. Showing them how important labor relations are in this profession by making sure we put out all the services we offer. Getting young people to buy in is a bigger challenge. We all grew up with our parents in unions. A lot of these new police officers didn’t grow up that way. The stuff that was important to us growing up in this career is not as important to this younger generation. It’s up to us to reintroduce what we bring to the profession to support their careers.”
Taylor was a Special Response Team Commander, Field Training Commander, Firearms/Tactics Instructor and the Team Commander for the OakTac Mobile Field Force, which covers all of Oakland County. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from University of Michigan-Dearborn and completed the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, Class #285.
As a former University of Michigan-Dearborn Ice Hockey player, he was a two-time All-American. His family’s love of the game has propelled him into the next chapter of his life. The married father of three is continuing to coach his teenage children in hockey and lacrosse. He will also continue to run his business, which he co-owns with his brother, Tom
“I plan to spend more time with my family,” he said. “I have three children that are very busy in athletics, and continuing to grow our business as well.”
who retired in April from the POLC/GELC Executive Committee, accepts a $2,000 donation for the 2024 Michigan Special Hockey Clinic from POLC Director Jim Stachowski (right).
(For more details, please see the Michigan Special Hockey Clinic article posted on www.polc.com)
Taylor, a Grosse Pointe Park Public Safety Officer. Blue Line Hockey Development in St. Clair Shores provides youth hockey development, clinics, camps and private/semi private training.
“I plan to spend more time with my family,” he said. “I have three children that are very busy in athletics, and continuing to grow our business as well.”
Taylor’s 18-year-old daughter is graduating from high school in June and plans to attend U of M Dearborn. He also has a 16-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son. “They all play hockey and lacrosse,” he said. “I’m at a hockey rink on average 6 hours a day, coaching hockey. I’m also coaching lacrosse, running a business, and spending a lot of time with family. It’s not a lot of relaxation but I say that in a good way. If I had idle time, I’d go stir crazy.”
He’s coached St. Clair Shores Saints travel hockey teams since 2010, and coaches L’Anse Creuse Unified High School Boys Hockey and Regina High School Girls Varsity Lacrosse teams. “I can’t say ‘No’ that’s my problem,” he joked. “I just try to fit it in and sometimes I spread myself way too thin, but I make it work.”
He is carrying on the legacy of his father, Frank Taylor, manager and coach of the Michigan Flyers, a co-ed hockey team for developmentally or physically challenged athletes of all ages from various counties in southeast Michigan. In July 2023, Taylor became the President of American Special Hockey Association, which sanctions special needs hockey events throughout the nation. For the past 3 years, Troy and Tom Taylor have organized the Michigan Special Hockey Clinic, which brings together special needs hockey players from around the country. The POLC has been a steadfast event sponsor, donating $2,000 this year alone. (For more details, please see the Michigan Special Hockey Clinic article posted on www.polc.com) d
Troy Taylor (left),
2024 Annual POLC/GELC Meeting & Labor Seminar
Wednesday – Friday September 11-13, 2024
Park Place Hotel & Conference Center
300 E. State Street Traverse City, MI 49684
Attendance limited to registered delegates and invited guests only
RESERVE ROOMS by August 11, 2024 to receive POLC/GELC discount: Call 231-946-5000 and request POLC/GELC Block
Questions? Call the POLC/GELC Office: 248-524-3200
Seminar Sessions
• Featured Speakers Mikayla Hamilton and Robert McFarlane present a case review showing the importance of PORAC Legal Defense Fund.
POLC Business Meeting
• Outstanding Service Awards
• POLC Business Agenda
• POLC Board and Officers elections
Come join us for an outdoor Cocktail Reception, 8-11 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2024
SECTION 1. Each participating bargaining unit in the Labor Council shall be entitled to one (1) delegate to the Annual Meeting for each ten (10) members or major portion thereof in their unit, provided however, that each participating unit shall have at least one (1) delegate.
SECTION 7. Any delegate from a bargaining unit that is delinquent in payment of dues shall not be admitted or seated at the Annual Meeting.
There is no fee to register this year. Please fill out and return this registration form.
Name of your unit and its current enrollment.
Number of delegates allowed
List names of all unit delegates here: (Please type or print neatly)
This registration must be returned before Friday, August 30, 2024 to: Police Officers Labor Council • 667 E. Big Beaver Rd, Ste. 205 • Troy, MI 48083-1413
®
4thAnnual Poker Run
For those interested in an alternative to the golf outing, a Poker Run will be available from 2:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Thursday, September 1 2th with beverage stops at some local establishments – all while trying to win some $money$ picking up a card or two at each stop
Call Nancy Ciccone at (248) 524-3200 before Friday, August 30, 2024 to reserve your spot.
26th Annual POLC/GELC Golf Outing
The Crown Golf Course
provides a scheduled diversion for attendees of the Police Officers Labor Council’s Annual Conference in Traverse City on September 11-13, 2024. Reserve your spot now.
Four-person Scramble
(Limited to first 100 golfers)
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Tee-off time: 2:00 p.m.
Cost: $60 per person
Includes 18 holes with cart (non-refundable) Reservations guaranteed only when golf is paid in full.
The Crown Golf Course – Golf attire is required by the course; all golfers must be in a collared shirt, walking shorts or long pants. Denim jeans or denim shorts are NOT permitted. NO tank tops, NO tee shirts, NO spikes.
Names Phone # and Department Name
Macomb Academy Cadet sets ‘great example’ for class earning Robert Figurski Award
— By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor
Macomb Police Academy graduate Anes Cehic was honored with the Robert Figurski Award for his determination during the academy, successfully putting what he’d learned into practice.
“Mr. Cehic is humble but is willing to step up and get the work done,” said Macomb Police Academy Director Michael Ciaramitaro. “He was a great example to others, displaying hard work and dedication to becoming a police officer.”
The 21-year-old was chosen from 34 cadets in his graduating class May 10, 2024 to receive the $500 Robert Figurski Award. He graduated from Macomb Community College Police Academy with a 3.2 GPA.
The Robert Figurski Award, sponsored by the POLC, is awarded twice annually at the discretion of the police academy to graduating cadets. To qualify, cadets must pass the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) certification test and meet MCOLES employment standards for certified Michigan Law Enforcement Officers.
“I was very happy about receiving the award. I instantly told my parents,” however, Cehic said, at first he was concerned when someone from the college called him. “I was surprised when I was called after receiving our test scores. I had just passed (the academy) and I was hoping there wasn’t a mess up in the system or anything. Instead, I learned, it was more good news.”
Cehic’s career decision was shaped by his parents’ experiences during wartime and his older brother’s friends, one of which is a Redford Police Officer. “My parents are from Bosnia,” he said. “My dad (Mirsad Cehic) was a soldier in the Bosnian War and my mother (Izeta Cehic) was in the warzone as a citizen. She just moved around to stay safe as best she could and kept up with minimum firearms requirements for each citizen. Their background in understanding firearms has helped me in the academy.”
He was torn between pursuing a degree in Forensics or Law Enforcement. “A lot of my brother’s friends took up the profession of law enforcement. A lot of what those friends were saying and suggesting (becoming a police officer) was something I could quickly achieve,” he
LERTA grad honored
continued from page 6
there were not a lot of openings.”
He earned his associates degree in General Studies from Washtenaw Community College, taking classes focused on Criminal Justice and Computer Systems Networking. Billings left his Milford Cadet position in December 2023 to becoming a LERTA Cadet in January 2024.
“To be able to receive this award for being this high academically was really surprising,” he said, noting that his GPA at LERTA was better than in high school. “It felt really good to get that award today. I did a lot of work prior to this. Out of a class of 21, being one of the three cadets that didn’t have a job, it definitely motivated me to better than my peers. I wanted to look good for potential departments to hire me.”
He was hired as a Fenton Police Officer, starting in mid-May. He sees
said. “I wanted to be a police officer because it felt like a better path for me. You’re able to be an evidence technician as a police officer, so that’s exactly what I was looking for in the forensic field. I learned I could do so much more as a police officer.”
Cehic, who received his associate’s degree in Law Enforcement from Macomb Community College, was hired as a Southfield Police Officer, beginning May 24. “I’m already 20 and I have a job, so I’m very thankful,” he said.
The lessons and skills he acquired in the academy solidified his choice, especially participating in simulated law enforcement situations. “Our Scenario Days were setup to see how we perform in common real life situations, such as domestic violence,” he said. “You have to take control of situations. If I know something is right, I have to lead by example.”
“It’s good to make sure everybody’s on the same page in certain scenarios,” Cehic said. “With more and more scenarios, I realized I really can see some things better and work to prevent things from escalating or help de-escalate things.” d
the job as coming full circle since he lived in Fenton Township as a young child and enjoyed watching police cars in town and during parades.
“I was just fascinated with police from a young age and I wanted to go somewhere where I had some kind of connection,” he said. “Some of my earliest memories are in Fenton, so it will be really nice to go back. My extended family is there. I will be the first generation in my family in law enforcement. My grandad on my dad’s side (James Billings) was in the Army.”
He’s thankful for the support of family, friends and the other two preservice LERTA Cadets, Gabe Burroughs and Marshall Nolff.
“They equally deserve as much credit as I do,” Billings said. “The academy was tough and having the support of my family and friends gave me motivation to keep doing it.” d
Photo courtesy of Macomb Police Academy POLC Director Jim Stachowski (left) presents the Robert Figurski Award to Macomb Police Academy graduate Anes Cehic.
Eager returns to POLC/GELC as Labor Rep
— By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor
Former POLC/GELC Executive Committee member Scott Eager was welcomed back to the Unions April 1st in a new role he was thrilled to be offered — Labor Representative.
“I’m definitely passionate about representing police officers,” Eager said. “To me, it was a long-term plan to be a POLC/GELC Labor Representative, so when they called me out of the blue, I was more than happy, more than excited to consider it.”
Eager retired as a Battle Creek Police Sergeant in October 2021, requiring his departure from the Executive Committee. But he wasn’t done with police work, spending the past 2-1/2 years as an Investigator for the Kalamazoo County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI).
“The Sexual Assault Kit Initiative derives from all the untested sex assault kits back in the mid-2000’s,” he said. “It spurred this huge initiative. They had each police department search to see if their kits were tested. Kalamazoo County had 200 untested kits. My group … investigated those cases and brought charges when we could.”
The Kalamazoo County SAKI team began their work in 2017 with a special attorney general and additional investigators. “Every kit (in the state) had to be tested,” Eager said. “How it was investigated depends on the location. Some communities had investigators or teams.”
In mid-April 2024, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel commended the Kalamazoo County SAKI team for solving a 2010 cold case, which ended with the conviction of a former Fabius Township Supervisor, who was sentenced to 19 to 50 years in prison.
“Our SAKI units in Kalamazoo and across the State perform incredible work in our pursuit of justice in cold-case sexual assaults,” Nessel said. “These are often very difficult investigations and prosecutions, and our talented SAKI teams rise to the occasion time and again.”
“I am incredibly proud of the work done by the Kalamazoo SAKI team,” said Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Getting. “This trial was the culmination of hundreds of hours of work by dedicated investigators, victim advocates, and attorneys. With their help and support, a survivor of sexual assault has seen that the system works.”
Weiler award
continued from page 6
voted back in by my peers, which is awesome, for the last month and that made me Class Captain and Class President,” Hassler said.
He also received the Chief’s Outstanding Award from the WCRPTA coordinators and Director, who rated pre-service cadets in leadership, demeanor and their history before coming to the academy.
“It means everything to me to receive all the awards I got that night,” he said. “It’s been my greatest accomplishment! All the awards and recognition I received yesterday were just an absolute honor. I told my fiancé last night, ‘It’s all kind of been a dream for me.’ When I went into the academy five months ago, I didn’t expect this outcome.”
He served in the U.S. Army 2-1/2 years and obtained his bachelors degree in Filmmaking from The Los Angeles Film School in Hollywood, CA. “I got into filmmaking initially, and when COVID hit, I was at the
Once all investigations are complete for each area, SAKI teams are disbanded. “In Kalamazoo, they’re getting close to the end,” Eager said.
So when the Unions reached out to him, he was eager to accept the Labor Representative position, something he’d been longing to do since his departure from Battle Creek PD.
“They had a sudden opening for a southwest Michigan area Rep. They were looking for someone who could step right in,” he said. “They knew my information from my previous work on the Executive Committee.”
Eager was a POLC member for 25 years and POLC/GELC Executive Committee member for 8-1/2 years, serving on the board’s Finance Committee. During his Battle Creek career, he represented the Patrol and Detectives Local Union as Chief Steward and Board Chairman for 8 years, gaining experience in contract negotiations and handling grievances.
“I also provided Union support to members during several critical incidents, including officer involved shootings,” Eager said.
He worked in the Detective Bureau for 15 years, assigned to general investigations, the Special Investigations Unit, and as a Task Force Officer for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. A Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, he also worked as an Animal Control Supervisor with Battle Creek PD.
Eager earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Olivet College and his associate’s in Criminal Justice from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. He has a keen understanding of current issues impacting police and government employees. “Catching up with wages seems to be a pretty chief concern with inflation,” Eager said. “Our people are looking for a little more substantial wages to bring us up with the rest of the world.” d
end of my studies. Things politically got a little out of hand in the film industry and society in general,” Hassler said. “The film industry is very political and it’s really difficult to get in especially if during that time you didn’t fall in line with what everyone felt. If I don’t believe in something, I have a strong moral compass. Everything happened for a reason, so I just stepped away. I served in the Army active duty and I deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 to 2014 and I fell in love with the comradery with the people I served with and I really liked the structure as well. So it was honestly very easy for me to transition over to policing.”
“It goes back to my comradery with the military,” Hassler said. “I just love the recruits and I showed them that every single day. When I was made their Captain the first time, I went to work for them every day. I cared for them and I think they all realized that and I would like to think that’s why they voted me back in.”
Hassler is the process of applying to law enforcement agencies in Oakland and Macomb counties. d
Labor Rep. Scott Eager
POLC-represented Dispatcher helps save fellow Union members’ toddler
By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor
POLC members are dedicated to protecting the public, but on Dec. 6, 2023 a POLC-represented Dispatcher helped save another Union member’s child.
Leslie Clink, the wife of POLC member Rob Clink, an Oscoda Township Police Officer, was caring for her 1-1/2 year old daughter who was running a high fever and had just been diagnosed with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) that day, when suddenly the child had a febrile seizure and stopped breathing.
Mylah began twitching, then her head went back, her eyes rolled back and she began foaming at the mouth. “I immediately called my husband. I couldn’t believe she was having a seizure,” Leslie said. “He said … ‘Keep her head up so as not to swallow her tongue. Get cold rags. Put her on her side. Call 9-1-1. Don’t let her lean back. Keep her conscious.’ I knew all of this stuff, but none of that could come to my head.”
“I raced home. I was 6 miles away at the doctor’s office,” said Officer Clink adding he was very sick and just diagnosed with COVID-19.
An On-Call Lincoln Volunteer Firefighter since he was 18 years old, a former medical first responder, and a police officer the past 13 years, Clink knew how to help his daughter. But Leslie was screaming and unable to process what he was saying. She called 9-1-1 and heard the calm voice of Alcona County Dispatcher Samantha LeBlanc, a neighbor and friend of the Clink’s. LeBlanc gathered critical information, contacted first responders who lived close by, and instructed the mom how to help her toddler.
“I remember Leslie being really frantic and screaming and crying. She was pretty tough to calm down at first and she was by herself,” LeBlanc said. “As soon as I heard who it was, I got everyone I knew en route. They live right down the road from me. Our kids go to school together. I didn’t want her to be alone. My first goal was to get help there and everyone was really eager to help.”
Leslie, an assistant teacher at Alcona Community School, was formerly a front desk receptionist at a Lincoln health clinic where she trained co-workers to handle emergency medical situations. “I’ve been in health care for a decade, so I’ve had people drop dead in front of me. I have performed CPR, but all my natural instincts went out the window,” she said.
LeBlanc worked to calm the mom of four while helping her toddler survive the critical 5 minutes before Officer Clink arrived. “She said, ‘Talk to her. Do not lean her head back. Don’t let her jerk her head to the side. Just keep her protected while she gets through it. Rub her chest,’” Leslie said, adding she didn’t realize she was talking to her friend at the time.
“I was trying to talk her through … and get Mylah to wake up and open her eyes,” LeBlanc said.
The toddler stopped seizing, but then she stopped breathing and her lips began turning blue. “Then, out of nowhere, (Rob) comes running in the door. Her little body is pale. He immediately grabs cold towels, tells me to give her sternum rubs, and do not stop talking to her,” Leslie said.
“Sam (LeBlanc) said, ‘Please listen to Rob. Rub her chest. Talk as happy as you possibly can in this moment.’ I’m inconsolable and Sam is talking me through this. Rob is continuing to change out rags.”
“I draped her in cold rags, trying to get her temp down. Her temp was 105,” Officer Clink said. “Then she takes this big gasp of air and starts crying,” Leslie said. “‘Leslie, you did it,’ Sam says.”
“I remember her crying and telling Leslie that was a good thing — that meant she was breathing,” LeBlanc said. “(Leslie) was able to take a breath and calm down. After (Mylah) began crying, first responders began arriving. There was one first responder just down the road.”
“The 911 operator was helping her the whole way,” Officer Clink said, adding he’s worked with Alcona County Dispatch first as an Alcona County Sheriff’s Deputy for 10 years and the past 3-1/2 years as an Oscoda Township Police Officer.
Mylah was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where she made a full recovery. Considering Alcona County is one of Michigan’s largest counties, Officer Clink was very thankful the nearest ambulance wasn’t 40 minutes away. “We got lucky being close by. Medical first responders arrived 2-3 minutes after I did. They were close and (a friend from) Lincoln Fire Department showed up,” he said.
Leslie was very thankful for the rapid help of all the first responders, especially her husband and LeBlanc. “When I’m going crazy, she kept her voice loud enough to hear through my screaming. She kept her voice calm and stable enough to reach me. She was able to pull me out of this trance I kept going into … keeping me concentrated,” Leslie said. “There was a kindness in her voice and a firmness. Her being another mom and helping a mom though this is amazing. I would have let my emotions completely take over.”
While this was her first 9-1-1 call involving a toddler seizure, LeBlanc said she was well-prepared by Alcona County Dispatch through monthly and yearly emergency response trainings. “It worked out really well and I was happy to hear the updates that Mylah was doing well. That made me feel good,” LeBlanc said, adding, “It’s great that you guys are doing articles, but … I don’t do this for any recognition.” d
POLC member Oscoda Township Police Officer Rob Clink with daughter Mylah.
Member News
Contract Settlements
— As Reported by POLC/GELC Labor Reps
Elk Rapids Police
New three-year agreement expires Feb. 28, 2027.
Wages:
4% increase effective March 1, 2024.
4% increase effective March 1, 2025.
4% increase effective March 1, 2026.
Fringe Benefits: Add Senior Officer pay increase of 2% at 25 years of service. Employees who work Holidays receive an increase in pay from 2.5 times their normal hourly pay to 3 times their hourly pay for all hours worked on Holidays. The Employer added the following paid Holidays: Veterans Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Juneteenth and removed Good Friday as a paid Holiday. Employees can now buy back up to 40 hours of Vacation Time per year. The Footwear Allowance increased from $200 to $250 per year. Paid Sick Leave expanded to include Employees acting as caregivers.
Health Care: Newly added Health Insurance Opt-out payment of $2,000 per year for Singles and $4,000 annually for two-person and family coverage.
Bargaining Team: Jamie Peterson and Mackenzie Paul with POLC Labor Representative John Stidham.
Kalkaska County Sheriff’s NonSupervisory
New three-year agreement expires Dec. 31, 2026. Wages:
$2.50 per hour increase for Deputies effective Jan. 1, 2024.
$1.50 per hour increase for Corrections and Dispatch effective Jan. 1, 2024.
$1.25 per hour increase for Administrative Secretaries effective Jan. 1, 2024.
$1.00 per hour increase for all Employees effective Jan. 1, 2025.
$1.00 per hour increase for all Employees effective Jan. 1, 2026.
*Pay increases are retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024 with the contract being ratified Feb. 13, 2024.
Manning & Safety: Shift Differential increased from $.35 cents per hour to $1 per hour for Employees working 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shifts.
Bargaining Team: Todd Jones and Regan Forster with POLC Labor Representative John Stidham.
Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Supervisors
New three-year agreement expires Dec. 31, 2026. Wages:
$2.50 per hour increase effective Jan. 1, 2024.
$1.00 per hour increase effective Jan. 1, 2025.
$1.00 per hour increase effective Jan. 1, 2026.
*Pay increases are retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024 with the contract being ratified Feb. 13, 2024.
Manning & Safety: Shift Differential increased from $.35 cents per hour to $1 per hour for Employees working 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shifts.
Bargaining Team: Scott Griffith and Kevin Schaub with POLC Labor Representative John Stidham.
New two-year agreement expires June 30, 2025. Wages:
3% increase effective July 1, 2023.
3% increase effective July 1, 2024.
*As the Part-Time Officers first POLC-represented contract, they received significant wage increases due to being added to the same pay scale as Full-Time Officers. Prior to this contract, Part-Time Officers wages were below or at the bottom of the pay scale. Now Part-time Officers hourly rate will increase by advancing them one step on the pay scale for each 2,080 hours worked. Full-Time Officers continue to advance yearly on the pay scale as follows:
2023 Starting Pay = $58,558
• 1 Year = $62,670
• 2 Years = $67,802
• 3 Years = $71,301
2024 Starting Pay = $60,315
• 1 Year = $64,550
• 2 Years = $69,836
• 3 Years = $73,440
**Full-Time Officers received a $500 signing bonus.
***Part-Time Officers received a $300 signing bonus. Fringe Benefits: Part-Time Officers normally scheduled to work a Holiday will be paid two times their normal rate of pay for every hour worked on the Holiday. Part-Time Officers called into work or held over to work a shift they were not normally scheduled to work on a Holiday will receive two times their rate of pay for all hours worked. Part-Time Officers reporting for court will receive a minimum of 3 hours pay for Court Time. Compensatory Time was added to the contract, allowing Employees to bank up to 240 hours of Comp Time. Vacation Time accrual for Full-Time Officers increased as follows:
• Years 1-4 = 8 hours per month
• Years 5-10 = 12 hours per month
• Years 11 and over = 14 hours per month
Health Care: The Employer increased their contribution into each Employees’ Health Savings Account (HSA) from $1,350 to $1,500 per year for singles and from $2,700 to $3,000 per year for two-person and family HSA plans.
Retirement: Officers hired on or after July 1, 2017 are eligible to participate in a MERS Defined Contribution Pension plan with the Employer contribution increasing from 5% to 6% of gross wages. If the Employee contributes 5%, the Employer will additionally contribute 5% for a total of 11%. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, the Employer will contribute an additional 1% for a total contribution of 12% if the Employee contributes 5%.
Discipline & Discharge: Part-Time Officers now have POLC representation for any disciplinary action imposed by the Employer.
Bargaining Team: Robert Alonzi and Kevin Oliver with POLC Labor Representative Jim O’Connor.
Kingsford Public Safety Department
New three-year agreement expires June 30, 2027. Wages:
7% increase effective July 1, 2024.
3% increase effective July 1, 2025.
3% increase effective July 1, 2026.
* Sergeants Differential was established at 8% above the top PSO pay.
Fringe Benefits: A new Longevity step was added at 5 years of service for $335 additional annual pay. Vacation Time increased from 60 hours to 72 hours for Employees with under 2 years of employment.
Manning & Safety: Firefighting trainees will receive an additional $.25 cents per hour while in training. Probationary Employees will be able to work available Overtime after 90 days of employment.
Health Care: The contract may be re-opened solely for health care benefit changes each contract year.
Bargaining Team: Jeremy Maki, Brian Adams and Ron Woodward with POLC Labor Representatives John Stidham and Michael Griffin.
Midland County Deputies & Detectives
New three-year agreement expires Dec. 31, 2026. Wages:
$.60 per hour market adjustment increase effective Jan. 1, 2024.
3% increase effective Jan. 1, 2024.
3% increase effective Jan. 1, 2025.
3% increase effective Jan. 1, 2026.
*The contract was ratified April 16, 2024 with Employees receiving retroactive pay increases back to Jan. 1, 2024.
Fringe Benefits: The Employer added 4 paid Holidays, increasing the annual paid Holidays from 8 to 12. Manning & Safety: The Employer increased Shift Premiums from $140 per month to $150 per month for Employees working afternoons or night shifts. Contract Language: Non-economical contract language clarifications were made to prevent any future issues with contract interpretation.
Bargaining Team: Local Union President Conner Smith, Vice President Scott Holzinger, Secretary Brandon Charbonneau and Treasurer Kristopher Purdy with POLC Labor Representative Christopher Watts.
Ottawa County Detectives & Road Patrol
New three-year agreement expires Dec. 31, 2026. Wages:
6% increase effective Jan. 1, 2024.
4% increase effective Jan. 1, 2025.
3% increase effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Fringe Benefits: Annually, the Employer pays out 75% of the accumulated Sick Time hours an Employee has in their Sick Bank that are over the 16 days maximum allowed to be in the Sick Bank in January of each year. The maximum amount of banked Vacation Time an Employee is allowed increased from 200 hours to 240 hours. One additional Floating Holiday was added. Drone Operators and Crisis Negotiation Team mem-
New Units
Midland County Deputies, Detectives move forward after shift to POLC
— By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor
Midland County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives were feeling stuck with their former longtime Union and chose Police Officers Labor Council to help them move forward.
The 21-member group had been with Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM) for at least 30 years when they voted to join the POLC in October 2023.
“Essentially we were with them for a long time and we felt pretty stagnant and were not getting any sort of traction with improvements,” said Conner Smith, Midland County Patrol Deputies Association Local Union President. “I’m not sure if it’s solely the business agent or the company, but we just felt like, given the circumstances, we needed to try to do something to benefit our unit for pay and benefits.”
Since their contract expired Dec. 31, 2023, POLC Labor Representative Christopher Watts helped the group with their union transition and got to work reviewing their existing contract. The POLC also researched wages and benefits of surrounding agencies.
Due to the change of representation, Midland County Deputies and Detectives’ contract settlement was delayed, but it didn’t negatively impact them. The POLC helped the group settle a new three-year agreement, ratified April 16, 2024, with retroactive wage increases back to Jan. 1, 2024.
“We received a $.60 cent (per hour) market adjustment plus a 3 percent wage increase the first year,” Smith said. “We were looking at the overall comparables, and then trying to increase (our wages) to keep us competitive in addition to the 3 percent.”
They also received another 6 percent in pay increases over the next 2 years of the bargaining agreement, which expires Dec. 31, 2026.
“It’s been wonderful! The POLC is very open to conversation,” said Conner Smith.
bers were added to the list of specialties that receive additional specialty pay.
Bargaining Team: Joseph Monger, Jeffrey Jones, Cameron Malkewitz and Travis Babcock with POLC Labor Representative David Thomas.
Ottawa County Corrections
Sergeants
New three-year agreement expires Dec. 31, 2026.
Wages:
6% increase effective Jan. 1, 2024.
4% increase effective Jan. 1, 2025.
3% increase effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Fringe Benefits: Annually, the Employer pays out
75% of the accumulated Sick Time hours an Employee has in their Sick Bank that are over the 16 days
“Our last year’s wage re-opener, a 4 percent increase, was the highest we received (before this contract). This one — for wages for 2024 — is now the highest we’ve ever received in one year so that’s terrific,” Smith said.
“We added four additional paid Holidays. We went from eight Holidays to 12,” Smith said. “Plus, eight paid Holidays was one of the lowest when looking at 53 of the easily available contracts. So that puts us in the average of several other counties, including those outside of the comparables as well.”
Midland County Deputies and Detectives also received an increase in their afternoon and night shift premiums, from $140 to $150 per month, and contract language was clarified to prevent issues with contract interpretation.
“Under the simple clarifications, it was not anything we really had issues with. We were mostly trying to prevent future issues,” he said. “One example is we had a dive team where there was reference to a non-paid bargaining unit member, but we don’t have any, so we clarified and got rid of it.”
The group was very pleased with the outcome of their first POLCrepresented contract and overall experience with the Union. “Between investigating and looking at comparables, and trying to figure out our best options, this is what we came up with,” Smith said. “The big ticket items were the pay and holidays. This contract definitely moved us in the right direction and thus a more equal and fair compensation package.”
“It’s been wonderful! The POLC is very open to conversation,” Smith said. “You shouldn’t feel like you’re group is a number and you don’t hear from them until it’s time to have contract negotiations. Chris is always reaching out, whether it’s a phone call or a text. He’s talking about work and non-work stuff. He is very personable and hospitable.” d
maximum allowed to be in the Sick Bank in January of each year. The maximum amount of banked Vacation Time an Employee is allowed increased from 200 hours to 240 hours. One additional Floating Holiday was added. Drone Operators and Crisis Negotiation Team members were added to the list of specialties that receive additional specialty pay.
Bargaining Team: Matthew Wildfong, Lee Sandoval and Cal Keuning with POLC Labor Representative David Thomas.
Ottawa County Road Patrol
Sergeants
New three-year agreement expires Dec. 31, 2026.
Wages:
6% increase effective Jan. 1, 2024.
4% increase effective Jan. 1, 2025.
3% increase effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Fringe Benefits: Annually, the Employer pays out
75% of the accumulated Sick Time hours an Employee has in their Sick Bank that are over the 16 days maximum allowed to be in the Sick Bank in January of each year. The maximum amount of banked Vacation Time an Employee is allowed increased from 200 hours to 240 hours. One additional Floating Holiday was added. Drone Operators and Crisis Negotiation Team members were added to the list of specialties that receive additional specialty pay.
Bargaining Team: Matthew Wildfong, Lee Sandoval and Cal Keuning with POLC Labor Representative David Thomas. d
