To All NEPBA Members:

I am following up on an important issue that was posted on the NEPBA website a few weeks ago.  The Governor has introduced legislation that would remove several paid Civil Service Commissioner positions, leaving only two commissioners to decide officers’ appeals.  This move would likely gut the Commission of any real means of deciding cases timely or fairly.  It is very important that all members email/call their state representatives and tell them to vote this legislation down.  Significantly – if no action is taken to vote down the bill, it will become law automatically on March 27^th.    I have included below a list of email addresses of the members of the House Committee on State Administration.  Please direct your letter to all of them, as well as any other representative you think should know about this harmful bill.  All email addresses can be found on the House website.  A copy of the bill is attached, and a brief explanation is below.  CLICK READ MORE

Concord, NH – New Hampshire Senate President Sylvia Larsen sponsored and introduced to the Senate Judiciary Committee SB500 on Tuesday February 16^th.  This Bill is a direct result of a yearlong study of the NH Department of Corrections called “Justice Reinvestment in New Hampshire” authored in part by Marshall Clement, Project Director of the Council of States Government’s Justice Center, commonly referred to as the PEW report.  The report addresses the goal(s) of reducing recidivism in the State of New Hampshire, which quite simply implements a plan to release non-violent prisoners back into society. The proposed law also specifies the criteria for the release and requirements for reporting for these identified and qualified offenders.  The final point on this Bill is that this is alleged to cost the state of New Hampshire nothing.

NEPBA Local 250 NH Department of Corrections Officers, Local 265 New Hampshire Probation and Parole Officers and Local 270 New Hampshire Probation and Parole Chiefs, accompanied NEPBA-NH Legislative Director Steve Arnold to the unveiling of this Bill. Senate President Larsen had a great deal of support when Governor John Lynch, Speaker of the House Terie Norelli, Attorney General Michael Delaney and NH Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick all appeared and testified in support of this.

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CHELMSFORD, MA - While the man, who touts “TOGETHER WE CAN”, didn’t have the guts or the intestinal fortitude to address the AFL-CIO in Plymouth, MA – he somehow thought it would be fine to have tea & crumpets in the quiet hamlet of Chelmsford, MA last Saturday morning. Unfortunately, Governor Deval Patrick didn’t realize the Town of Chelmsford is the Headquarters of the New England PBA, I.U.P.A, AFL-CIO and that the Town has just told the Chelmsford Police Union’s they would have to pay back this year’s Quinn Bill retro-actively.

Over 60 local members transcended upon Ginger Ale Plaza to confront the Governor on his anti-police agenda.  He was first greeted by New England PBA Executive Director Jerry Flynn, who personally handed the Governor one of the New England PBA Bumper Stickers which read, “DUMP DEVAL – TOGETHER WE CAN!”

To his credit the Governor listen attentively with his usual look of serious concern, but it was clear that he continues to attribute our displeasure with the one issue – Police Details!  Nothing could be further from the truth, as he was drilled by Flynn about the Quinn Bill, Pension Reform, Increased Years of Service and the fact that these initiatives ONLY affect municipal police officers – NOT the Massachusetts State Police, who just happen to provide him with security details!

Perhaps, the most telling example of his being out of touch was that he knew nothing about his own legislation on Pension Reform and could not answer the tough question; WHY UNDER HIS PLAN ARE MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICERS PENSION CAPPED AT $85K, - YET HIS PENSION IS NOT!

To make matters worse, his “PUNK” Press Secretary ALEX GOLDSTEIN attempted to engage Flynn into a confrontation with his comment “Are you proud of yourself”… to which he was told by Flynn, “As a matter of fact I am!”  Goldstein then tried to give the Governor credit for local aid money, which Flynn fired back, “That money came from the Federal Stimulus package…how are you going to make up that money this year!” The disheveled Punk Press Secretary turned and walked away in silence.  In the future, we would encourage PRESS SECRETARY GOLDSTEIN to tuck in his shirt, stop wearing blue jeans while working and try to act in a more professional manner, as the Governor’s lackey! 

DUMP DEVAL – “TOGETHER WE CAN!”