Professional Services

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

MAPO representatives recently participated in a meeting with the leadership of the West Michigan Policy Forum to discuss ways to tackle unfunded liabilities in communities without breaking the bank when it comes to the state’s budget. This meeting was connected with Gov. Rick Snyder’s Responsible Retirement Reform Task Force.

Attending on behalf of MAP members was Rich Heins, MAP President, to hear concerns of task force members which include state and local officials, private sector business leaders and employee representatives. Michigan Association of Police Organizations (MAPO) President Mike Sauger is a member of Governor Snyder’s task force. MAPO represents MAP and several other Michigan public safety unions.

“We’re going to have all the information first hand because he’s on that task force,” Heins said of Sauger.

The Feb. 15, 2017 meeting in Grand Rapids at Western Michigan University highlighted concerns leaders have with municipalities, such as Detroit and Flint, both previously placed under the leadership of state Emergency Managers to fix their budgets in an effort to avoid bankruptcy. Going forward Snyder and other leaders are trying to avoid situations like these where communities cannot afford to fully fund pension plans and retiree healthcare.

“Now the governor has taken this on as one of his causes,” Heins said. “He’s trying to figure out a way to fix it without it being entirely on the state.”

Union leaders want to ensure their members aren’t stuck paying the bill either now or in their retirement. “In the lame duck session this past year, there was an effort to pass legislation that would harm retirees and the prospect for retiree health care for active employees” Heins said.

Read more: MAPO takes part in Governor’s task force to analyze retirement funding for public employees

Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Executive Director David L. Harvey recently highlighted new licensing standards for Michigan Law Enforcement Officers. Prior to the changes to PA 289 in December 2016, Law Enforcement Officers were certified. Now they are licensed and must adhere to the following standards to remain licensed:

• License is revoked if the licensee obtained it by making misrepresentation or fraud.

• License is revoked if the licensee obtained it because another person made a misrepresentation or fraud. (Note: If an agency falsely attests that a candidate has complied with the licensing standards, the officer’s license will be revoked.)

• License is revoked if the licensee is adjudicated as guilty of any offense in any jurisdiction punishable by more than 1 year of imprisonment.

• License is revoked if the licensee is adjudicated as guilty of any of the following Michigan misdemeanors, or their equivalents in any jurisdiction:

1. Second offense of domestic violence.
2. First offense of assaulting an individual without a weapon and inflicting serious injury, without intent to commit murder or to inflict great bodily harm.
3. First offense of domestic violence without a weapon and inflicting serious injury, without intent to commit murder or to inflict great bodily harm.
4. Stalking.
5. Unauthorized possession of hallucinogens or Schedule 5 drugs.
6. Unauthorized use of Schedule 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 drugs, ecstasy, cocaine, or hallucinogens.
7. Second OWI or OWPD within seven years.

(While felony convictions at any time would result in license revocation, there is no retroactivity of this law for officers convicted of misdemeanors.)

• An order of probation for a first-time domestic violence offense is now an adjudication of guilt that may result in revocation for a qualifying offense.

Read more: Major changes to PA 289 require officers to be licensed

Sterling Heights Police talked with Santa during New Day Foundation for Families Holiday Gift Giving Program. Det. Ken Mercer (above) and MAP Executive Board President and Sterling Heights Officer Rich Heins (below) along with other Sterling Heights Patrol Officers sponsored a cancer patient’s family in December 2015 & 2016.

 By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Sterling Heights Police have a history of helping their community and they are encouraging other area departments to join them in supporting the newest organization they are helping, New Day Foundation for Families.

On Dec. 12, 2016 Sterling Heights Police Officers Association (POA) President and MAP Executive Board President Rich Heins along with Det. Ken Mercer, Sterling Heights POA Vice President, presented gifts for a single mother, who suffers from cancer, and her three children during the New Day Foundation for Families Holiday Gift Giving Program. New Day Foundation for Families in Rochester supports area cancer patients and their families, who are struggling financially, physically and emotionally.

Sterling Heights Patrol Officers shopped for and wrapped gifts of needed and wanted items for the 34-year-old and her sons ages 15, 10 and 7. Mercer and Heins presented the gifts to a family friend since the woman was unable to attend due to treatments and a weakened immune system. She was diagnosed with B-cell Lymphoma in July 2016 when a tumor was found behind her sternum. Lymphomas are blood cancers in the lymph nodes. Now she is undergoing six 21-day treatments, which involve in-hospital stays.

“She was working full-time,” Heins said of the single mom. “She had two jobs.”

Diagnosed July 28, 2016, she is unable to work due to treatments and her weakened immune system. “She’s a waitress and she hasn’t been able to work,” Mercer said. “She was just so lethargic and short of breath that the doctors said she’s not allowed to work. Her blood cell count is down from chemotherapy and she could get sick.”

New Day Foundation for Families is the genesis of Gina Kell Spehn and Michael Spehn after losing their young spouses to cancer. They married and between them have five children who have lost a parent to cancer. Together they wrote the New York Times bestselling book “The Color of Rain,” which was adapted for the screen as a Hallmark Movie Channel original, premiering on May 31, 2014, and continues showing throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

“New Day provides short-term financial assistance for basic living expenses and emotional resources to family members. By reducing financial and emotional burdens, our programs have a profound impact on quality of life and treatment outcomes for cancer patients and their families,” said Josephine Long, Development Director at New Day.

Read more: Sterling Heights Police encourage area departments to help cancer patients' families