The Police Officers Journal | Winter 2024

J urnal The Police Officers

®

VOLUME 34, NUMBER 1 • WINTER 2024

ON THE INSIDE: Executive Committee welcomes 2 members – Pg. 2-3 Save the Date for POLC/GELC Conference – Pg. 3 Committee Chair accepts Chief’s position – Pg. 4 POLC awards Police Academy Scholarships – Pgs. 5-7 & 10

VOLUME 34, NUMBER 1 • WINTER 2024

Police Officers Labor Council (POLC) 667 E. Big Beaver Road, Suite 205 Troy, MI 48083.

(248) 524-3200 FAX: (248) 524-2752 POLC membership: www.polc.org EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

CHAIR: Brian McNair

Chesterfield Township Police Dept.

VICE CHAIR: Greg Alexander

Oscoda Township Police Dept.

Scott Beggs

Flat Rock Police Dept.

Adam Byrd

Van Buren Township Police Dept.

Robert Gaiser

Caro City Police Dept.

Leigh Golden Flint Police Dept.

Ryan Strunk

Battle Creek Police Dept.

Troy Taylor

Oak Park Public Safety Dept.

Jacob Theisen

Royal Oak Police Dept.

DIRECTOR: Jim Stachowski

Clinton Township PD (Retired) MEMBER SERVICES Christopher Watts PUBLICATIONS Executive Editor: Jennifer Gomori

Royal Oak Lt. expands Union leadership experience on Executive Committee — By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

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oyal Oak Police Lt. Jacob Theisen enjoys playing an active role as President of his Local Command Union board. So when the opportunity to assist the Union as a whole presented itself, he stepped forward.

A law enforcement officer for over 18 years, Theisen, 40, was appointed to the POLC/GELC Executive Committee in September 2023 to fill the remainder of John Huizdos’ term, which expires in the fall of 2024. Huizdos vacated his seat when he retired as a Bloomfield Township Police Detective.

“I’ve always wanted to have input and always wanted to be involved in making sure the benefits of everyone else are taken care of and we’re pushing forward as a group,” Theisen said. “I’ve never been the Executive Committee member Jacob Theisen kind of person to just sit back and watch things go by.”

A 16-1/2 year veteran of the Royal Oak Police Department, he rose through the ranks from Police Officer to Detective and Sergeant before serving as Lieutenant since 2021. Theisen currently oversees Patrol and Dispatch Operations and has worked as an Evidence Technician, FTO, CTO and Cadet Training Coordinator.

He began his law enforcement career as a Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy in January 2005.

He became a POLC member when he was promoted to Detective in 2013 and has served on the Local Command Officers Union board the past 7-1/2 years. “I have been President of the Local Command Officers Union since January 2021, Vice President from March 2019 to January 2021, and Sergeant at Arms from August 2016 to March 2019,” Theisen said.

He’s participated in a few contract negotiations and “only one grievance so far, thankfully,” he said.

“I’m interested to learn more about the grievance process and how it works at the Executive board level,” he said. “Just having the ability to know about the ins and outs and having the ability to effect any necessary changes is interesting to me.”

POLC/GELC Director Jim Stachowski tapped Theisen as a good fit to apply for the Executive Committee.

Stachowski was Royal Oak Command’s POLC Labor Representative at the time.

“So I decided to put in a letter of interest for it,” Theisen said. “It had crossed my mind. I was not looking at it seriously, but when the opportunity arose I became very interested in that.”

With an associate degree in Criminal Justice from Washtenaw Community College (WCC), he graduated WCC Police Academy, where he was Class Vice President and received the MCOLES Outstanding Recruit Award. Theisen graduated Eastern Michigan University’s School of Police Staff and Command Executive Leadership Program Class 36 in 2020.

He is continuing the law enforcement legacy in his family. “I’m the fifth person in my extended family who is a police officer,” he said.

Theisen’s aunt, retired Flat Rock Police Lt. Tammy Painter, was the first female officer in the history of Flat Rock PD. She passed away in 2021 from cancer. Her widowed husband, and Theisen’s uncle, is retired Romulus Police Lt. Eric Painter, who also is a former Flat Rock Police Officer. Their son — Theisen’s cousin Robert Painter — is a Livonia Police Sergeant. Theisen has two other cousins in law enforcement: Brownstown Police Road Patrol Officer Ben Gruber and Monroe Police Detective Captain Tyler Dickerson.

Now he is looking forward to being part of the larger picture working together for positive changes for POLC and GELC members. “There’s a lot of talent already on that board, a lot of experience, and I’m just really looking forward to joining them and being another piece of that puzzle,” Theisen said.

“I think the biggest issue police unions are facing are recruiting new officers and retaining officers who have valuable experience,” he said. “It’s incumbent on us, as Executive board members and the POLC as a whole, to come up with the solutions to help with those problems.” d

The Police Officers Journal

New board member is young, but already very involved in Union representation — By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

H

e may be a bit younger than his counterparts on the board, but Flat Rock Police Corporal Scott Beggs has plenty of Union experience which has prepared him for his new role on the POLC/ GELC Executive Committee.

Beggs was appointed in September 2023 to fill the vacancy created when former board Chairman Steve McInchak left to become Flat Rock Police Chief. McInchak, who served with Beggs on Flat Rock’s Local Patrol Union board, recommended Beggs for the appointment.

“I was in the Patrol Union with him here until I got promoted,” McInchak said. “I worked with Scott on some things and he’s just got a very good understanding of doing the Local President’s job. That’s why I thought he’d make a good fit … to replace me because I’ve been the longest serving person on the board. I figured if he got in at a younger age, hopefully he can have a long-seated run on it like it did.”

McInchak, who served on the board 11 years, said longevity benefits the Executive Committee since most turnover is due to retirements. “I think with any young person they bring a lot of energy to the table,” McInchak said.

While Beggs has only been with Flat Rock PD for 5-1/2 years, he has taken an active role in the Police Officers Labor Council (POLC) serving as the Local Patrol Union Treasurer from November 2018 to January 2020; Vice President from January 2020 to October 2021; and has been

Flat Rock Patrol’s Local Union President since October 2021. Since joining his department in 2017, he has handled multiple grievances, class actions, two contract negotiations and a mediation.

“I became involved in the Union because I wanted to be a part of starting a change for the better within my department and to better help the guys I work with now Executive Committee member and for the future guys to come,” Scott Beggs he said.

Beggs has also served his department as a Police Officer, Evidence Technician, Field Training Officer and Interim Sergeant. A graduate of Wayne County Regional Police Training Academy at Schoolcraft College, he earned his Criminal Justice associate degree from Henry Ford Community College.

Beggs made an impression on his superiors early on, being honored as Officer of the Year by his department in 2018 for overall excellent performance. d

www.polc.org • 3

The Police Officers Journal

Executive Committee Chairman leaves post to become Flat Rock Police Chief — By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

S

teve McInchak has been a highly involved POLC member for 28 years and had planned to continue serving the Union once he retired from Flat Rock PD. That plan suddenly changed when he was offered and accepted the Flat Rock Police Chief position.

“I left Gibraltar to come here and (becoming Police Chief) was not on my radar when I left,” he said. “I figured I’d retire as a member of the Labor Council forever.”

McInchak stepped down as Chairman of the POLC/GELC Executive Committee immediately following the unions’ Annual Conference in September 2023. Even with his early departure, he managed to set a record for the longest serving Executive Committee member — 11-1/2 years.

“Anytime you’re a part of an organization that long it’s a difficult separation. It was a tough decision,” McInchak said. “I always envisioned myself being a business agent or directly involved with the Unions’ daily operations.”

Serving on the Executive Committee since August 2012, McInchak was elected Vice Chair in 2016, and board Chairman from 2017-2023.

Before and during his time on the board, he served on his Local Unions’ boards. ”I’ve been a Local Rep. all the way through, serving as President, Vice President, and Treasurer (of Lincoln Park Police Officers Association). I continued that path in Gibraltar, serving as Local Union Vice President (2010-2021) and President. Here, I just helped out behind the scenes,” he said of Flat Rock PD. Beginning his law enforcement career as a River Rouge Police Officer in 1992, he served Brownstown Police Department from 1993-1995.

McInchak became a POLC member in 1995 when he was hired by Lincoln Park Police Department. He took a deferred retirement in 2008 and continued his career at Gibraltar PD from 2008 to 2021, rising through the ranks as a Detective and Detective Sergeant. Hired as a Flat Rock Police Officer in 2021, he quickly ascended to Detective in 2022 and Police Chief by the fall of 2023.

A Downriver SWAT Team member for 23 years, he moved from Assistant Team Leader to Team Leader to Assistant Commander. He served as Team Commander from 2009 until he retired from the team in 2020.

When the former Flat Rock Police Chief made plans to retire and encouraged him to apply for the position, he said, “I was kind of twisted on what I was going to do. I was really looking forward to spending

McInchak said he will miss the comradery and teamwork he experienced as a POLC board member and is proud of the Executive Committee’s accomplishments over the past decade.

my post career time with the Labor Council,” however, McInchak said, “I’m from the downriver area and spending an hour to 1-1/2 hours driving to Troy is not appealing, especially in the winter months. My parents live right by me too, so they’re closer as they get older.”

As Chief, McInchak went from hearing about problems in the office to experiencing the difficulties of find- Photo by Dave Millar, Photographic ing new hires within the limits of the Impressions Former POLC/GELC Executive City’s budget. “I was on the POLC/ Committee Chairman Steve GELC Grievance Committee for 7 years McInchak was hired as Flat and did a lot of work on the labor side Rock Police Chief. of it and now I’m on the other side,” he said. “Being on either side is very challenging right now. Some places have the luxuries of better pay and benefits. If they come to work here, they have to pay the 80/20 or hard cap on health insurance. That’s a $400 premium per month.”

McInchak said he will miss the comradery and teamwork he experienced as a POLC board member and is proud of the Executive Committee’s accomplishments over the past decade. “The Grievance Committee was one of my favorite things to do. We streamlined that process,” he said. “We used to meet four to five times a year for 4 to 8 hours a day.

We changed them to monthly meetings and that was one of the things I was very proud of. It kept us more up-to-date and we eliminated the long meetings at the office where people were traveling to come in.

COVID assisted us in shaping better monthly grievance meetings, which made us way more efficient. We just realized doing it on the phone, and then Zoom — it allowed more interaction.”

The time savings was immense for some committee members and attendees who drove 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours to and from Troy. “When I got to the Detective Bureau, I could just close the door and the meeting would take 1-1/2 to 2 hours at the most,” McInchak said.

Due to his position as a part-time NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Referee for the Big Ten, CCHA and Hockey East, McInchak noticed a potential cost savings for the Police Officers Journal. “With my involvement with NCAA hockey, the portals can give you all the information online,” he said. “We put the Journal online and wouldn’t have 20-40 copies sitting around the police stations.”

“I think the technology part of the POLC is what’s going to take the Unions into the future. Before you would read a case folder and pass it along to the next person,” he said of in-person Grievance Committee meetings. “This way it’s on screen in front of you. When a Rep. says I have a five-page document from the Employer, all of us can look at it at the same time.”

Continued on page 5

4 • WINTER 2024

The Police Officers Journal

Former Marine, Weiler Award recipient follows brother into law enforcement — By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

N

ewly hired Farmington Hills Police Officer Joe Benson is extremely grateful for his $500 Richard R. Weiler Scholarship Award after paying his way through the Wayne County Regional Police Training Academy (WCRPTA).

“I just want to say a big thank you to the Police Officers Labor Council (POLC) for the support they give to the academy and all the recruits and I just really want to share my appreciation of the opportunity to receive the Weiler Scholarship Award,” he said.

The Richard R. Weiler Scholarship Award, sponsored by the POLC, is awarded twice yearly at the discretion of the college police academy to graduates who have not been sponsored by any police agency. Qualifying cadets must pass the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) certification test and meet MCOLES employment standards to become certified Michigan Law Enforcement Officers.

Benson, 29, immediately launched his law enforcement career Nov. 13, a few days after completing the academy. He was well-prepared, building on his four years of Marine Corps Infantry service (2014-2018) and following the lead of his older brother, Grosse Ile Police Sgt. A.J. Benson. A law enforcement officer for over a decade, A.J. began his career as a POLC-represented Taylor PD Reserve Officer.

“I’ve always followed in my brother’s footsteps growing up. He has always been a role model and mentor for me,” Benson said. “He was diagnosed with cancer when he was 14, so having the feeling of losing my big bother terrified me. I really latched onto him after that.”

Benson was one of 15 non-sponsored recruits in the WCRPTA graduating class of 60 cadets on Nov. 9. He graduated with a 3.8 GPA and was the top scoring recruit in Defensive Tactics, successfully completing a blindfolded takedown and handcuffing timed drill. Benson served as a Sergeant and Lieutenant for his class before his classmates voted him in as their Captain the last four weeks of the academy.

“I asked some of my classmates why they voted for me. I think it’s just the way I present myself,” Benson said. “I’m very approachable. I’m a very humble and very down to earth person.”

WCRPTA Director Fred Stanton said Benson was chosen for the Weiler Scholarship Award based on “His hard work, communication skills, leadership skills, and his ability to get along with others.”

He also received the Photo courtesy of WCRPTA Wayne County Chiefs of WCRPTA graduate Joe Benson received Police Association Chiefs the Richard R. Weiler Scholarship Award Award ($500); Nehasil at graduation Nov. 9, 2023.

Award ($500) in honor of fallen Livonia Police Officer Larry Nehasil (EOW Jan. 17, 2011); and Stephen Thomas First Responders Scholarship, sponsored by Michigan Schools & Government Credit Union ($2,000).

“I was shocked and surprised. They didn’t tell us who won any of the awards and it took me a second to process everything when they said my name,” Benson said. “I was greatly appreciative of receiving the awards. This will definitely help backfill financially when I was not getting paid during the academy. It will help ease that burden with the family.” d

Committee Chairman leaves

Birnie with Leigh Golden. That was the lowest point on the board,” McInchak said referring to Birnie’s passing in a car accident.

The major challenges for the POLC, he said, are recruiting new officers in a competitive market and settling the divide between MCOLES licensing and Union members’ rights to binding arbitration. Employers are asking MCOLES to overturn/overrule Arbitrators’ decisions about MCOLES licensing. “Our representation stops at the arbitration level,” he said. “There’s no challenging the process with MCOLES. I don’t know of any way to appeal their decision at this point.”

McInchak is deeply grateful for his involvement with the Unions.

“All you wonderful people I dealt with from Cindy, Cindy Rose, Brendan, Mike and Nancy in the office, all the great Reps. over the years… to the three Directors I worked for, I met some wonderful people during my time there,” he said. “It was a great run. I would not trade the experience for the life of me.” d

continued from page 4

“The technology is going to make us able to represent people better along the way,” he said. “Even as an Executive Committee, in the past we would push things to the next meeting. Now, if something important came up, we could call a Zoom meeting and talk about things that needed emergency or expedited attention.”

McInchak enjoyed working for three different Directors (and helping to hire two); partaking in and expanding the Annual Conference offerings; providing PORAC legal insurance to POLC members; and establishing a formal process for appointing board members. “We turned it into more of a vetting process, an interview process getting to know the candidates,” he said, adding previously appointees were invited based on being a good fit. “We’ve certainly diversified the board during that time period. Jennifer Flick was the first female and we replaced Collin

www.polc.org • 5

The Police Officers Journal

Inaugural Robert Figurski Scholarship Awards bestowed upon 2 Macomb Academy grads — By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

T

he Police Officers Labor Council (POLC) honored two graduates of Macomb Community College Police Academy as the first Robert Figurski Scholarship Award recipients.

Cadets Alex Roberts and Luxie Kouza each received the $500 awards named in honor of POLC/GELC Labor Representative Robert Figurski, who served as the Unions’ Director from May 2016 until June 2023.

Roberts and Kouza, both 23-year-olds, were chosen from among the 12 pre-service cadets in the Dec. 18, 2023 graduating class of 24 police cadets.

The Robert Figurski Scholarship Award, sponsored by the POLC, is awarded twice annually at the discretion of the police academy to graduating cadets who have not been sponsored by any police agency.

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.

ALEX ROBERTS

Alex Roberts wasn’t entirely sure about his career while attending college, so after graduating with a business degree he went to work for the local Parks and Recreation department while weighing his options.

In January 2023, he entered the Shelby Township Police Cadet program and that solidified his career choice — law enforcement.

“Right out of college, I worked for Alex Roberts Shelby Township Parks and Rec. for Photos courtesy of Macomb Police Academy six months, then I went right into the cadet program,” Roberts said. “Basically, that’s how Shelby Township sends their cadets to the police academy to become police officers.

Instead of waiting to be sent by them, I just enrolled myself in the police academy and sent myself.”

Roberts made the right career choice as far as Macomb Police Academy Director Michael Ciaramitaro is concerned, which is why he was selected for the Robert Figurski Scholarship Award. “Cadet Roberts is hardworking and dedicated to becoming a professional law enforcement officer,” said Ciaramitaro.

“I could not be more grateful for receiving the Figurski Scholarship. It means a lot to me,” Roberts said. “I sent myself (to the academy), so I had to pay for it, and not having an income while doing the police academy for 18 weeks is difficult.”

Roberts graduated from the academy with a 3.16 GPA. He began his

The Robert Figurski Scholarship Award, sponsored by the POLC, is awarded twice annually.

6 • WINTER 2024

career as a Sterling Heights Police Officer on Jan. 8, 2024, following the lead of his father, retired Utica Patrol Officer Michael Roberts, who served his department for 25 years.

“My dad was a police officer so initially it was always part of the plan, but I was never dead set on being a police officer,” Roberts said of his decision to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Cleary University in 2022.

However, he just kept returning to the idea that he should become a police officer. “It’s something I always thought I would go into. It pretty much found me,” he said. “It’s a respectable and noble profession and you also have a career with a pension where you can provide for yourself.”

His experiences at Macomb Police Academy and in the Shelby Township Police Cadet program cemented his decision.

“I can’t thank the people at Macomb Police Academy — all my instructors or anyone who has helped me along the way — enough because that’s why I’m still here,” he said.

LUXIE KOUZA

Luxie Kouza was influenced by law enforcement in her formative years.

“At a very young age, I always looked up to law enforcement,” she said.

“The first law enforcement contact I had was at a (career day) when the officer who came approached me and gave me a sticker. Ever since then I always have looked at law enforcement as role models. He inspired me Luxie Kouza to become one.”

“Right after I graduated from Sterling Heights High School, I immediately started my career path,” said Kouza, who was hired as a Somerset Collection Security Guard. “I remember working security when I was 19,” she said. “I was in college and I started working for Somerset mall and working with the Troy Police Officers and they really humbled me. I was talking to police officers and hearing their experiences on the job and they seemed to really enjoy it.”

She graduated with a 3.03 GPA in the academy and earned her Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement at Macomb Community College. The day after academy graduation, Dec. 19, 2023, she was sworn in as a Birmingham Police Officer.

“Cadet Kouza consistently strives to do her best. She has shown great improvement since the beginning of the police academy and will be an outstanding law enforcement professional,” Director Ciaramitaro said.

“I was actually very excited when the Director had mentioned I was receiving the (Figurski Scholarship) Award,” Kouza said. “It’s truly an honor to receive this award, especially with how hard I worked every day.”

Continued bottom of page 7

The Police Officers Journal

Academy graduate honored with Weiler Award for drive, positive attitude — By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

K

lodian Cizmja had a good job working as a project underwriter for a wholesale mortgage lender, but there was just one problem — he was not fulfilling his dream.

The 39-year-old married father of a 1-1/2 year old son decided it was time to take the final step to become a law enforcement officer. Cizmja graduated from Oakland Community College Police Academy on Dec. 7, 2023 with a 94.8 percentile. His tenacity earned him the Richard R. Weiler Scholarship Award.

“It’s all about drive and attitude when it comes to the police academy and Klodian had a great attitude and was always very driven during the academy,” said Oakland Police Academy Director David Ceci.

“He worked hard, scored extremely high in all areas, and yet was extremely humble and had a great sense of humor. He is one of those individuals you know is going to go out into the law enforcement world and make a difference.”

The $500 Richard R. Weiler Scholarship Award is sponsored by the Police Officers Labor Council (POLC). It is awarded twice annually at the discretion of the police academy to graduating cadets who have not been sponsored by any police agency. 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.

In 2013, Cizmja obtained his bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a focus in Criminal Justice from Oakland University. “They didn’t have a major in Criminal Justice when I went to college,” he said. “I studied Sociology because I wanted to go into law enforcement. My minor was in General Studies but my coursework was in Criminal Justice.”

Paying to attend police academy at that time was too costly for Cizmja. “I always wanted to be a police officer,” he said. “Life kind of got in the way. I didn’t have the means and time to go to police academy.”

A decade later he knew he had to quit his job and pursue law enforcement to feel fulfilled in his career. “I used to underwrite the HOA (Homeowners Associations) when we had condos coming in for loans. This is not what I want to do,” he said. “I want to do something that I’ve always wanted to do — I want to be a police officer.”

Despite the financial challenge, Cizmja’s wife, Jordan encouraged

Two receive awards continued from page 6

While running in the academy was intense, she said, “The most challenging part for me about the academy was I wasn’t necessary the best test taker. Every week we’d have a 100 question test and the Director would send us material to prepare. I would go through every single test and module.”

Despite the preparation, she was struggling to do well until the instructor offered to allow students who needed it some extra time to take their tests. “It really is helpful. Ever since then I saw my test scores improve,” Kouza said.

Photo courtesy of Oakland Police Academy

POLC Director Jim Stachowski (left) and Oakland Police Academy Range Master Keith Waller (right) congratulate Cadet Klodian Cizmja, who received the Richard R. Weiler Scholarship Award at the academy graduation.

him to finish what he started so he could have a job he truly enjoyed while their child was growing up. Her father, Robert Patterson, was a U.S. Army Military Police Officer “back in the day,” Cizmja said, adding Jordan told him, “‘This is what you always wanted to do, so this is what you need to do.’”

“I actually put myself through the academy — I paid for it. Having that award will really help me and my family to get back on our feet after using most of our savings for me to go to the academy,” Cizmja said.

Cizmja was one of 17 non-sponsored cadets in the graduating class of 62. He was hired as an Oak Park Department of Public Safety Officer, beginning his law enforcement career Dec. 11, 2023.

“Almost all of us got hired,” he said. “Only two were left to be hired by the end of the academy. This academy was one of the best choices I ever made! It was by the will of God that I ended up going here. The instructors are phenomenal. The Director is one of the greatest men I have ever met. They are very helpful people, always there for us.”

Cizmja also received the $500 Davis/Sawyers Memorial Endowed Scholarship in honor of Mark Anthony Sawyers, a Sterling Heights Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty June 5, 2004, and Bloomfield Township Police Officer Gary Cooper Davis (EOW May 13, 2004).d

Her advice for enrolling police cadets is to set their mind to perseverance and prepare in advance through endurance training.

“Don’t give up — always push yourself and believe in yourself no matter how hard the running is and the test taking is,” she said. “It was pretty rough in the beginning. I knew prior to the academy I would be running a lot and, had I prepared myself a little more, it would’ve been easier. The Lieutenant of our program, Troy Police Lt. Frank Shuler, said, ‘The struggle will make you better.’”

“Toward the end it really paid off,” Kouza said. “If you stay true to yourself, you can do anything you want.” d

www.polc.org • 7

Member News Contract Settlements

— As Reported by POLC/GELC Labor Reps

Cheboygan City Police

New three-year agreement expires June 30, 2026.

Wages: 3.5% increase effective July 1, 2023.

3.5% increase effective July 1, 2024.

3.5% increase effective July 1, 2025.

Fringe Benefits: Added Veterans Day as a paid Holiday.

Bargaining Team: Daniel Loder with POLC Labor Representative John Stidham.

Clawson City Patrol Officers

New 5-year agreement expires June 30, 2028.

Wages: 3% increase effective July 1, 2023.

3% increase effective July 1, 2024.

3% increase effective July 1, 2025.

2.5% increase effective July 1, 2026.

2.5% increase effective July 1, 2027. * Members received a 2% base Wage Inflation Stipend effective July 1, 2023 in addition to the above listed wage increases.

Fringe Benefits: Members will receive 1 hour of regular pay for every day they perform Field Training Officer (FTO) or Officers in Charge (OIC) duties. The Federal Holiday schedule was adopted for a total of 11 Holidays. Members required to work those days will be paid double their normal rate of pay. Floating Holidays are eliminated and Employees will receive one annual Holiday check for all Federal Holidays. Any changes to the Federal Holiday schedule will be applicable to the contract. Members who successfully complete a syllabus in a course of study and are awarded a bachelor’s or master’s degree will receive an Educational Benefit of $500 per year for a bachelors and $1,000 annually for a master’s for the following programs: Police Admin, Criminal Justice, Public Admin, Law Enforcement, Psychology, Sociology, Emergency Management, Finance, Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science/Engineering, Library Science, Economics, Computer Science, Recreation Management, Human Resources or Museum Studies at an accredited school. Employees who also have a major in Finance will receive an additional $1,000 per year.

Retirement: Members are eligible to place their 2% Inflation Stipend or their Holiday payout into their MERS 457 Deferred Compensation account.

Manning & Safety: Members will receive an increase in their Shift Premium from $1 per hour to $1.25 per hour for all hours worked during the midnight shift. The Union and City agreed to implement 12-hour shifts for a period of 12 months for evaluation and may agree to continue these shifts through the duration of the contract.

Health Care: The Employer increased their contribution into each Employees’ Health Savings Account from $150 to $200 per month.

8 • WINTER 2024

Recruitment Incentives: The City will be able to

grant a New Employee an increased salary up to Officers pay at 48 months, with 2 weeks paid Vacation eligibility on date of hire. The City has the right to develop Recruitment Incentives, including academy tuition reimbursement, which leads to employment with the City. The City may also provide a signing bonus not to exceed $5,000, with half to be paid the first regular pay period upon employment and the remainder split evenly between the Employee’s next 2 anniversary dates.

Bargaining Team: Officer Jason Rands and Detective Ryan Tracy with POLC Labor Representative Christopher Hild.

Village of Elk Rapids DPW

New 3-year agreement expires Nov. 30, 2026.

Wages: 6% increase effective Dec. 1, 2023.

3% increase effective Dec. 1, 2024.

3% increase effective Dec. 1, 2025. * New starting wages for Laborers, Operator 1 and Operator 2 positions are as follows: • Laborer = Increased from $18 per hour to $21.50 per hour.

• Operator 1 = Increased from varying wages based on experience to $22.80 per hour.

• Operator 2 = Increased from varying wages based on experience to $23.80 per hour.

Fringe Benefits: Employees now receive a stipend of $25 per month toward the cost of using their personal cell phones for work.

Manning & Safety: The Boot Allowance increased from $250 to $300 annually.

Bargaining Team: Local Union Steward Scott Riddle and Alternate Steward Dale Hulburt with GELC Labor Representative Christopher Watts.

Gladstone Public Safety Command Officers

New three-year agreement expires March 31, 2026.

Wages: 5% increase effective April 1, 2023.

3% increase effective April 1, 2024.

2% increase effective April 1, 2025. * Members maintain 12% differential over top Public Safety Officers’ pay. ** Shift Premium traded for $.50 per hour wage increase for all. *** $1,000 lump sum Retention Bonus effective April 1, 2024.

Retirement: Employees can increase their contribution to MERS DC Plan from 3% to 4%.

Bargaining Team: Aaron Quinlan with POLC Labor Representative John Stidham.

Gladstone Public Safety Officers

New three-year agreement expires Mar. 31, 2026.

Wages: 5% increase effective April 1, 2023.

3% increase effective April 1, 2024.

2% increase effective April 1, 2025. * Shift Premium ($.50 afternoons/$.75 midnights) was traded for $.50 per hour wage increase for all.

** $1,000 lump sum Retention Bonus ® given effective April 1, 2024.

Fringe Benefits: New Employees receive 40 hours of Vacation Time upon hiring. Vacation Time increases based on the number of years worked. Vacation Time accrues more quickly as follows: • From 1-7 years to 1-5 years.

• From 7-13 years to 5-10 years.

• From 13-19 years to 10-15 years.

• From 19 years and up to 15 years and up.

Retirement: Employees can increase their contribution to MERS DC Plan from 3% to 4%.

Bargaining Team: Mallory Nelsen with POLC Labor Representative John Stidham.

Greenville Department of Public Safety – Patrol Unit

New three-year agreement expires June 30, 2026.

Wages: 5% increase effective July 1, 2023.

Wage Re-opener effective July 1, 2024.

Wage Re-opener effective July 1, 2025.

Manning & Safety: School Resource Officer (SRO) Duty Schedule was added to CBA as Monday – Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. during school year. SRO Summer Schedule is 12-hour shifts between the hours of 1-2 p.m. through 1-2 a.m. each day. The 12-hour shift is 3 days on, 2 days off, followed by 2 days on, 3 days off. Every other weekend is the 3-day on or off weekend. Detective Schedule is 8-hour shifts Monday – Friday. Field Training Officer (FTO) receives 2 hours of additional straight time pay for each FTO shift. FTO Time can be paid out to the Officer or banked to be taken off at a later time.

Bargaining Team: Chad Aniszko, Brandon Allen and Jamie Sorsen with POLC Labor Representative David Thomas.

Laurium Police Officers

New three-year agreement expires Dec. 31, 2026.

Wages: 2.5% increase effective Jan. 1, 2024.

3% increase effective Jan. 1, 2025.

3% increase effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Fringe Benefits: Added Juneteenth as a paid Holiday. Allow 48 hours of Vacation Time to be rolled over to the next year. Rollover time must be used by March 31 of each year.

Health Care: The Employer may re-open the health care provision of the contract each year that cost increases are in excess of 7%.

Bargaining Team: Kurt Erkkila with POLC Labor Representative John Stidham.

Mancelona Village DPW

New two-year agreement expires Dec. 31, 2025.

Wages: $3.50 per hour (16.5%) increase effective Jan. 1, 2024. $1 per hour (4%) increase effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Fringe Benefits: Added New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve as paid Holidays.

Health Care: All premium shares and Employer lump sum shares toward the premiums were eliminated

New Units Village of Elk Rapids DPW impressed with ‘phenomenal’ GELC representation — By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

T

he Village of Elk Rapids Department of Public Works (DPW) wanted the protections only a Union could provide and they got that and more after choosing Government Employees Labor Council (GELC) as their Union representation.

Internal issues, combined with a growing number of Village Employees leaving, led the six-member group to seek unionization.

“We were losing guys who were leaving to make more money. There was a lot of internal stuff getting shaken up and people were quitting,” said Scott Riddle, Village of Elk Rapids DPW Local Union Steward. “We just weren’t too happy.”

“The last 18 months there have been lots of changes in the Village management,” said Elk Rapids DPW Alternate Steward Dale Hulburt.

“We were at-will Employees and we felt like we were sitting ducks. From Village managers to clerks to the Treasurer, we started having a revolving door. We had some Employees that left and came back for more money. We thought we needed to have somebody to help support us.”

They didn’t have to look far as the Village of Elk Rapids Police Officers are represented by the GELC’s sister union, the Police Officers Labor Council (POLC). “They were all happy with negotiations and they were getting really good support and so we said. ‘OK, let’s see if we can get in on this,” Riddle said.

The group contacted GELC Labor Representative Christopher Watts in late January 2023. “They came out and told us what they do, what they were about,” Riddle said. “Later, we took a vote and it was unanimous — ‘Yes, this is what we want.’” for the City to follow the Hard Cap under PA 152.

Employees will be responsible for anything over the Hard Cap amount.

Bargaining Team: Craig Hart with GELC Labor Representative John Stidham.

Manistee County Sheriff’s Department

New three-year agreement expires Sept. 30, 2026.

Wages: 9.5% increase effective Oct. 1, 2023.

4% increase effective Oct. 1, 2024.

4% increase effective Oct. 1, 2025. * Added new Detective differential pay of 5% above the top Deputy’s pay. ** Increase Sergeants’ pay differential from 10% to 12% above top Deputy’s pay.

Fringe Benefits: Added new Retention/Longevity Pay of $1,000 per year for all Employees. Increased hourly pay for hours worked on a Holiday to double time. Change Vacation Time to a PTO plan with 40 hours of Paid Time Off that can be carried over to the next year and 48 hours of PTO front loaded at the

Elk Rapids DPW settled their contract in December 2023, which included 12 percent wage increases over the three-year agreement. Starting pay also increased from $18 per hour for Laborers to $21.50 hourly. Wages for Operator 1 start at $22.80 per hour and $23.80 per hour for Operator 2. Previously, starting pay for Operators was based on their level of experience.

“We raised their wages pretty well and we established the contract.

They never had one before,” Watts said.

The group received new cell phone stipends of $25 per month to pay for using their personal phones for work, and their annual Boot Allowance increased from $250 to $300.

Riddle summed up their experience with GELC with one word — “Phenomenal!”

“Chris is a great dude. I really enjoy working with him,” Riddle said.

“Communications have been awesome. We all love that now we have a voice, where we didn’t before. Chris is a no bull type of guy so he’s not afraid to throw punches with them.”

“I am pushing 60 years old and have never been part of a union so I was skeptical to be honest,” Hulburt said, adding that he decided to support his co-workers in the effort to unionize. “Through the process of negotiating the contract, I saw some benefits to having the Union have our back. I am more than pleased, and I was more than skeptical going in.” d

beginning of every year.

Retirement: Employees’ contribution to their pensions increased from 12.28% to 14.28%.

Bargaining Team: Mike Sekuris, Jason Treager, Steve Castonia, Nick Hawkins and Brad Boonstra with POLC Labor Representative John Stidham.

Plainwell Department of Public Safety

New four-year agreement expires June 30, 2027.

Wages: 5% increase effective July 1, 2023.

3.5% increase effective July 1, 2024.

3.5% increase effective July 1, 2025.

3% increase effective July 1, 2026.

Fringe Benefits: Incorporated the broad language of Michigan Medical Leave Act for the outline of eligible use of Sick Leave. Cap Sick Leave accumulation at 1,000 hours. The Employee has the option of converting Holiday Pay to Comp Time. The rate of Vacation accrual was dramatically increased by shortening the number of years worked to earn Vacation hours as follows:

• 0-1 years worked = 40 hours annually (New Vacation step) • 1-3 years worked = 80 hours annually • 4-5 years worked = 120 hours annually (Employees formerly received 80 hours.)

• 6-9 years worked = 144 hours annually • 10-12 years worked = 160 hours annually • 13-16 years worked = 180 hours annually (Employees formerly received 160-168 hours.)

• 17 plus years worked = 200 hours annually (Previously, Employees received 176 hours and had to work 20 years to receive 200 hours.)

Fringe Benefits: Employer contributes $5,600 a year into Employee’s Health Savings Account (HSA) for 2-person or family health care and $2,800 per year into a single person’s HSA. Employees contribute $1,400 into their HSA annually for 2-person or family coverage and single persons contribute $700 per year.

The Employer will pay $6,000 per year to Employees opting out of insurance coverage for 2 persons or families. The Employer pays $4,000 a year to single persons who opt out of insurance.

Continued on page 10

www.polc.org • 9

Member News Birnie Award recipient shifts career from nursing to law enforcement

— By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

B

y the time Ann Demaray graduated from Law Enforcement Regional Training Center (LERTA), she had a law enforcement position lined up and extra funding from the Collin Birnie Scholarship Award.

Demaray was among four non-agency sponsored cadets in the Mott Community College police academy graduating class of 26 cadets on Dec. 21, 2023. She was awarded the $500 Collin Birnie Award for achieving the highest score for pre-service cadets, graduating with a 95.18 percentile.

“I’m very honored. I did not realize that was something that was in the running or something I would even be eligible for,” she said. “Going through the academy as pre-service kind of puts you on the spot, because you don’t have a job going into it. I am appreciative my efforts were recognized.”

The Collin Birnie Scholarship Award, which is sponsored by the POLC, is presented twice annually at the academy’s discretion to graduating cadets who have not been sponsored by any police agency. 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.

A former nurse assistant, Demaray began her law enforcement career as a White Lake Township Police Officer Dec. 26.

“I’ve always wanted to help people physically. I went into the healthcare path as a certified nurse assistant,” she said. “I thought I would go into medical and follow in my mom’s footsteps, she’s a doctor. I did that for 3 years. It’s not path I wanted to take.”

The 22-year-old’s mother, Dr. Janice Demaray, worked most of her career as an emergency room physician in Shelby Township and is currently practicing at Beaumont Urgent Care.

Contracts – cont. from page 9 Bargaining Team: Joe Culver with POLC Labor Representative David Thomas.

Rogers City Police

Wage re-opener expires June 30, 2024.

Wages: 2.25% increase effective July 1, 2023.

2.25% increase effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Bargaining Team: Matt Bisson and Ryan Wiseley with POLC Labor Representative John Stidham.

Sault Ste. Marie Clerical

Wage re-opener expires June 30, 2024.

Wages: 4.5% increase effective July 1, 2023.

Bargaining Team: Laurie Smart-Gierke and

10 • WINTER 2024

Photo courtesy of LERTA

Flint Deputy Police Chief Jeff Antcliff (left) presented LERTA graduate Ann Demaray with the Collin Birnie Scholarship Award.

Ann Demaray received her associate’s degree in Criminal Justice at St. Clair County Community College and graduated in May 2023 with a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Ferris State University.

She credits LERTA for providing a supportive environment to help her achieve her goals. “The way our academy was run, every day the leadership roles changed,” she said. “I was the Class Leader three or four times.”

“I’m just very thankful I won the (Birnie) Award and I couldn’t have done it without my classmates or the staff,” Demaray said. “(Academy Director) Lt. (David) Livingston and Sgt. (Dunell) Chaney were amazing. I’m very thankful to have had them in my path helping me along the way.” d

Andrea Kinnear with GELC Labor Representative John Stidham.

Sturgis Police Department

New three-year agreement expires Sept. 30, 2026.

Wages: 3% increase effective Oct. 1, 2023.

3% increase effective Oct. 1, 2024.

3% increase effective Oct. 1, 2025.

Letter of Understanding (LOU): Established a Residency Stipend: • New Hires with 3 or more years of experience who live within a 20-mile radius of the center of the City, within 12 month of being hired, receive $3,000.

• New Hires with 3 or more years of experience who live within 6.5 miles of the City, within 12 month of being hired, receive $6,000.

• Current Officers who live within 8.5 miles of the City receive $2,500 annually.

• Any New Hires after Oct. 1, 2023 who live within 6.5 miles of the City receive $2,500 annually.

Fringe Benefits: Employees receive regular hourly pay for time spent at jury duty during their scheduled hours. Employees paid for Jury Duty Leave are to reimburse their witness fees paid by the Court to the Employer. Any Officer who is a military veteran shall receive Veterans Day as a Paid Holiday.

Retirement: The Employer’s contribution to Employees’ 457 Accounts was increased from 2.5% to 4%.

Bargaining Team: Greg Peterson, Adam Crites, Frank Noel and Jeremy Marsh with POLC Labor Representative David Thomas. d