Governor Whitmer signs extreme risk protection orders in effort to prevent gun violence
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed gun violence prevention bills establishing extreme risk protection orders in Michigan, ensuring police officers, health care professionals, and family members concerned about someone who may harm themselves or others can seek a court order to temporarily confiscate their firearms.
Whitmer was joined by bill sponsors, legislators, public safety advocates, and law enforcement officials at the bill signing.
“No Michigander should fear going to school, work, the grocery store, or their own home because of
gun violence,” Whitmer said. “Extreme risk protection orders have been proven to reduce suicides, save lives, and keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and violent criminals. I am proud to sign this legislation to keep Michiganders safe, and I want to thank my partners in the legislature for getting this done, the advocates who fought so hard to make this happen, and every Michigander who works hard to build safe communities where everyone can thrive. Only thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. Let’s keep taking commonsense action to reduce gun violence and keep families and communities safe.”
“Too many Michiganders have lost people they love to the senseless tragedy of gun violence,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Today, we are taking action to save lives, prevent tragedies, and protect communities. Extreme risk protection orders, safe storage laws, and universal background checks will save lives and help keep families and kids safe at home, in the streets, at school, and at work. Governor Whitmer and I will continue investing in public safety and working with anyone to prevent gun violence.”
Whitmer signed Senate Bill 83 and House Bills 4146, 4147, and 4148.
“In the aftermath of gun violence tragedies, we often hear from families who said that they knew their loved one was in a dark place, but there was nothing they could do to get the guns out of the equation,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids). “That will not be the case any longer. I am so proud and relieved that this lifesaving policy has made it across the finish line. Whether it’s domestic violence, homicide, mass shootings, or suicide, we want to address gun violence in all its ugly forms. This legislation helps law enforcement and the courts do that effectively and swiftly, and Michigan will be a safer place because of it.”
Read more: Governor Whitmer signs extreme risk protection orders in effort to prevent gun violence
Beverly Hills Public Safety Officers
CONTRACT
“We received a 12% pay increase,” said William Brewster, Beverly Hills Public Safety Officers Local Union President. “We eliminated a two-tier Vacation program … which gave Officers more steps and more hours. Now, Officers receive 96 hours of Paid Vacation Time after one year of service, and after 20 years, they receive 200 hours. We increased the Employer’s portion to the Defined Contribution pension by 1.5% through the duration of the contract. It’s half of a percent increase for every year of the contract. At the sunset of this contract, the Village will be contributing 13.5%. We took no concessions on this contract. We actually added strong disciplinary language. We added strong promotion language and transfer language. We never had any discipline language or Weingarten language. We established a procedure for promotions and transfers. The department has to notify the Member and Association within 90 days of finding out that a Member will be disciplined more than just a verbal discipline and the Association has to be given information regarding the investigation. When Members separate from the department in good standing, Officers receive their full Comp Time bank, half of their Sick Time bank, and all of their Furlough Time bank. There was no language about this in the prior agreement. It was subject to management decision. We have a really nice, strong contract now. We’re being competitive in the current market with recruitment and retention. The pay increases are definitely a big external factor and so are the improvements in the language for Association protections within the contract. The newer Officers didn’t receive as much Furlough Time as more senior Officers (over the course of their career). Now Officers receive more steps and more Furlough Time, which is popular for recruitment.”
Contract Duration: 3-year agreement ratified February 2023 and effective July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026.
Wage Increases:
5% increase effective July 1, 2023.
4% increase effective July 1, 2024.
3% increase effective July 1, 2025.
Gun violence prevention laws signed by Michigan Governor
Legislation signed into state law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on April 13, will require universal background checks for all firearms purchases and safe storage of weapons.
Whitmer proposed the legislation in January during her State of the State address and worked together with the Michigan Legislature, law enforcement agencies, community groups, students and parents to get the gun violence prevention measures signed into law.
The legislation follows two deadly mass school shootings in the state in recent years – at Michigan State University in February 2023 and Oxford High School in November 2021.
“Today, we are turning our pain into purpose and honoring those we have lost with commonsense gun violence prevention legislation supported by a majority of Michiganders,” Whitmer said. “Universal background checks and safe storage are long-overdue steps we are proud to take today that will save lives by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and domestic abusers and children in the home. I want to thank my partners in the legislature for getting this done, the advocates who fought so hard to make this happen, and every Michigander impacted by gun violence who shared their stories. We will keep working together to prevent mass shootings, reduce gun violence, and save lives.”
Gov. Whitmer signed Senate Bills 79, 80, 81, and 82 and House Bills 4138 and 4142.
"This legislation is a commonsense approach to keeping children and communities safe,” said Marquette County Sherriff Gregory Zyburt. "These bills will ensure those that do not qualify to purchase guns, don't. I'm thankful to work alongside legislators to prevent gun violence and keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who intend to harm others."
Read more: Gun violence prevention laws signed by Michigan Governor
Governor delivers tributes to MSU shooting First Responders, Dispatchers, medical professionals
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced she will be delivering tributes to 25 public safety agencies, 9-1-1 Dispatchers and Sparrow Hospital medical professionals for their critical lifesaving response to the Michigan State University shooting.
MAP-represented unit, Livingston County Sheriff's Lieutenants, is among the agencies recognized for acting to secure Michigan State’s campus and save lives while medical professionals are working to treat the five students who were injured in the Feb. 13 shooting. The public safety and medical professionals worked together in response to a gunman who opened fire at Michigan State University (MSU) killing three students and injuring five others.
"I want to thank the first responders for their swift actions to keep people safe and save lives,” Whitmer said. "Officers answered the call from hours away and put their lives on the line to secure campus and so many off-duty nurses and doctors showed up to Sparrow to volunteer that they had to turn people away. These Michiganders are the best of us and their heroism deserves recognition. Together, we will support the MSU community and tackle gun violence, which is a top public safety and public health priority. I look forward to working with our first responders and health care professionals to pursue commonsense reform and save lives.”
Karoub Associates releases Michigan Government Directory for 102nd Legislature 2023-2024
Karoub Associates released the Michigan Government Directory for the 102nd Legislature (2023-2024), which features contact information for the Governor's office, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Legislature and State Department Directors. The directory also lists legislative committee members and subcommitee members.
Nearly $25 million in grant funding awarded to hire 195 Michigan School Resource Officers
Nearly $25 million in grant funding has been awarded to 195 school districts, intermediate school districts, and public-school academies to support hiring 195 School Resource Officers (SROs) in Michigan for the next three years.
“Every parent wants their kids to be safe at school,” said Governor Gretcher Whitmer. “These grants will help us hire almost 200 more School Resource Officers so we can make sure our children, teacher, and staff are safe at school. Let’s keep working together to make record investments in our students and improve their classroom experience, build up school infrastructure, hire excellent educators, and invest in their comprehensive well-being, from mental health to safety.”
More than 334,000 Michigan students will benefit from improved safety and security provided by these Law Enforcement Officers.
The grants were awarded by a panel consisting of representatives from education and policing. They gave priority to schools and school districts lacking a School Resource Officer and schools from more communities with lower student enrollment and less total per pupil funding. These funds administered by the Michigan State Police (MSP), Grants and Community Services Division, may be used to support salaries, benefits and training for SROs. Each applicant jurisdiction is required to provide a 50 percent match.
“These grant awards will not only help to provide better safety in our school buildings by increasing the number of schools throughout the state with at least one SRO, but very importantly, by prioritizing smaller schools in more remote areas, we will reduce the time it takes for a police response in the event of an emergency,” said MSP Director Col. Joe Gasper.
In June, Gov. Whitmer signed legislation that fully funds risk assessments and critical incidence mapping at every school in the state to help protect students and create safety plans in the event of an emergency.
SERESA Dispatchers
CONTRACT
“I believe the increases in wages and the tuition bonuses for those that came in with a degree are the biggest takeaways,” said MAP Labor Relations Specialist Gregg Allen. “I think there were several Employees who have degrees and would benefit from the annual bonuses.”
“The best part of the contract is probably the education incentives because a lot of people have either been looking to go back to school or already have completed degrees,” said Ashley Obodzinski, SERESA Dispatchers Local Union President . “We don’t technically need a degree, so they’re … not being compensated at all. Our director is really big on furthering your education. He always gives us the opportunity to sit in with him and learn more and really pushes education, so his say on that played a big part in the decision the board made. They’re now letting supervisors cover part of the Overtime, so we’re not burning out Dispatchers for Overtime every day. If you’re forced (into Overtime) more than 12 hours within a 7-day work period, (the new contract) says Dispatchers receive credit for double those hours for any OT hours (beyond) 12 hours in that rolling week. Whoever has the lowest hours gets the forced Overtime. Everyone wants off the holidays, but with this type of job it’s just not going to work like that.”
Contract Duration: 3-year agreement ratified Oct. 12, 2022 and effective 7-1-22 to 6-30-25.
Wage Increases:
2% increase effective July 1, 2022.
4% increase effective July 1, 2023.
4% increase effective July 1, 2024.
Whitmer signs legislation protecting public safety, municipal retirees
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed several bipartisan bills including legislation to protect public safety and municipal retirees, improve mental health standards, increase polling locations, and explore further clean energy production.
“These bipartisan bills deliver on a range of kitchen-table issues and are proof of what’s possible when we work across the aisle to put Michiganders first,” Whitmer said. “Together, we are increasing the number of corrections officers, immediately establishing stronger standards for mental health transport for involuntary hospitalizations, increasing the number of polling places available to voters, and conducting a study to determine the feasibility of nuclear energy in Michigan. Let’s keep getting it done and move Michigan forward.”
Bills signed into law which impact public safety and municipal employees include:
- HB 5765: Allows retired corrections officers to work as needed under certain circumstances without losing retirement allowance.
- HB 4414: Relieves the burden on counties and sheriffs by immediately allowing them to contract with a private entity to transport a person taken into protective custody by an officer to get a mental health screening or treatment.
- SB 1041: Updates the administrative procedures act to ensure it does not conflict with the municipal employees retirement act.
- SB 1042: Provides retirees the option for a hearing to address a grievance in Municipal Employees Retirement System.
Please click here for more details on recent legislation signed into law.
Career MAP member, longtime Firefighter shares Union background as Labor Relations Specialist
By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor
After spending nearly his entire law enforcement career as a MAP member and several years as a Local Union representative, Gregg Allen is sharing his experience as a MAP Labor Relations Specialist.
Allen was hired Oct. 3, 2022, after retiring as a Waterford Township Police Detective in July 2022. He served the department 21 years, spending the last two years as Local Union President.
“I was the Local Union Trustee for several years before becoming the Secretary for two years and then President for the last two years,” Allen said. “Initially, I wanted to get more involved with the Union so I began working as a Trustee because … there weren’t any (board) positions available. When the Secretary retired, I put in for it and got more involved with negotiations, grievances and discipline. The President later retired, but the Vice President didn’t want the position and I had more experience than him, so I ran for President.”
Allen is in his 12th year protecting his community as a Paid-on-Call (POC) Firefighter with North Oakland County Fire Authority, in Holly and Rose Township. A former POC Sergeant, he’s represented North Oakland County Firefighters Association members as an Executive Board Sergeant At Arms and Secretary for one term each. Through the Association he’s helped with many local fundraisers for area children.
“I was a Sergeant for three years, but because I was Paid-on-Call when they hired full-time staff and couldn’t devote the amount of time needed to fulfill the responsibilities, the position was offered to a full-time member,” he said.
The issues he sees as the most pressing to Union members are retirement benefits and health care.
“A lot of our departments are going to Health Savings Accounts and that’s drastically affecting Employees and their families and forcing them to work longer,” he said. “That takes many Employees into their 60s, which shortens their lifespan by causing them more health issues (as they continue to work).”
SERESA moves to MAP for additional services, no-nonsense approach to representation
By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor
It’s hard enough in today’s job market to attract and keep Dispatchers in the fast-paced stressful profession, so when South East Regional Emergency Services Authority (SERESA) Dispatchers turn to their Union for help the last thing they need is more stress.
SERESA, a municipal consolidated dispatch center in Macomb County, services the cities of Eastpointe, Fraser, Roseville and St Clair Shores. Since SERESA’s formation in 2010, they have been represented by Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM).
That representation ended in May 2022 after being introduced to Michigan Association of Police (MAP) by their supervisors, who joined MAP a year prior. SERESA Dispatchers liked what MAP had to offer and their no-nonsense approach to representation.
“Honestly our supervisors were never in a union before. They just joined MAP and MAP had asked if we wanted to talk to them about what they had to offer,” said Melanie Pasco, SERESA Dispatchers Local Union President. “It was just a matter of our (Local) Union saying, ‘Yeah, let’s check them out,’ and they voted to switch over.”
“For one MAP is little less expensive,” Pasco said of Union dues. “MAP came in and explained what they do and talked about some of the services and classes and programs we can attend. They were very down to earth, a ‘We’ll be here if you need us’ type of situation.”
Read more: SERESA moves to MAP for additional services, no-nonsense approach to representation
Birmingham Police Officers impressed with communications, comprehensive MAP representation
By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor
Birmingham Police Officers had been with their former union for decades, but Michigan Association of Police (MAP) has given them a fresh perspective on Union services that works better for them.
The 32-member unit joined MAP in April 2022, parting ways with the Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM).
“We just weren’t receiving adequate representation,” said Josh Bouchard of Birmingham Police Officers Association. “I’ve been the Union President for four years now. We were with them probably since I was born. It’s been a long time, at least 20 years, and it could definitely be more.”
Their contract expires June 30, 2022, so MAP Labor Relations Specialist Chad Trussler got to work immediately organizing negotiations meetings. Bouchard said the group’s interactions with Trussler have been so impressive that he considers Trussler the primary reason Birmingham POA joined MAP.
“He worked for Beverly Hills, a neighboring department to us, and all of the older guys are friends with Chad,” Bouchard said. “Once they got wind we were starting to shop around, we met with Chad and a couple others from MAP and we’ve been happy with them ever since.”
St. Clair Shores Command
CONTRACT
“This is a very nice contract. The Lieutenants’ salary will be six figures,” said MAP Labor Relations Specialist Joe O’Connor. “Starting this July 1, 2022, the base wage for Lieutenants is $102,600. It goes up $2,000 in 2023 and the following year another $2,000, for a base wage at end of the contract of $106,782. The Sergeants starting base wage July 1, 2022 will be $93,600 with their top out at $97,000. When the tentative agreement was presented to Council for approval, the pension board attorney had an issue with the DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Plan) language. This led to a delay in getting final approval. When St. Clair Shores Command Officers reach eligibility to retire … they may apply for the DROP plan, continue working or simply retire. Once they enter the DROP, they calculate their pension and their pension is frozen. They can continue working, however, they must leave City employment within 3 years. In the end, there wasn’t a change in the DROP. We were just waiting for the City Manager to sign the contract after he gave his resignation. Once we signed it, the Employer paid them retroactive back to July 1, 2021.”
“We definitely wanted to keep the DROP option in the contract. That was important for us,” said Jenna Conrad, St. Clair Shores Command Local Union President. “It’s only advantageous to those retiring during the contract. We wanted to keep it so it’s there to be negotiated for the next contract moving forward. We did get a few changes here and there that were advantageous to us. Initially, when we had Sergeants getting promoted, they would not get full pay for a year even though they were off probation in 90 days. Now they get the raise in pay after 90 days. We were able to keep the medical insurance we have with all the same coverage and the DROP program. We got what we think are fair wage increases and we really didn’t lose anything.”
Contract Duration: 4-year agreement ratified Sept. 30, 2021 and effective 7-1-21 to 6-30-25.
Wage Increases:
3% increase effective July 1, 2021.
3% increase effective July 1, 2022.
2% increase effective July 1, 2023.
2% increase effective July 1, 2024.
- After the contract was signed, all Employees received the first year pay increase retroactive to July 1, 2021.
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