ANNOUNCEMENT

FROM THE EPOA

December.2011

Santa Comes Early to Escondido

“It is people like this that restore our faith in mankind…”
Deann Mace
Director of Finance
California Center for the Arts, Escondido

What started off as a rather routine police call, ended with a tremendous act of kindness to a mother of three.

On Friday December 16, 2011, just before midnight, 30-year-old Rebecca Lojeske from Valley Center, was finishing her Christmas shopping but needed to make one last stop before heading home. Rebecca stopped momentarily at a local drug store to pick up some photos. However when she returned to her car, she noticed that someone had entered her car and stolen all of her Christmas presents.

Rebecca has three children, a 9-year-old son, a 3-1/2 year-old son and a 13-month-old daughter. Rebecca works very hard to make ends meet. Rebecca saved all that she had in order to give her children a special Christmas. Rebecca was devastated at this loss. Rebecca called Escondido Police to report the theft. When the first officer arrived on scene, he knew that he needed to do more than just take a report. The responding officer broadcasted the theft and a list of the stolen items over the police radio in hopes that another officer might find the suspect(s) with the stolen gifts.

After completing the report, every officer working Friday night as well as the dispatcher on the call reached into their own wallets and pulled together more than $300 in cash to replace the stolen items.

On the morning of Saturday, Dec. 17, two Escondido Police Officers drove to Rebecca’s house and delivered the following replacement gifts:

• 4 boxes of Matchbox cars
• 1 Razor scooter
• 1 Case of Mega Blocks
• 1 Mega Blocks toy bus
• 2 Fisher-Price Dinosaurs
• 1 Hot Wheels race track + batteries
• 2 Polly Pockets toys
• 1 set of Scooby Doo PJ's
• 1 girls PJ's
• 1 Angry Birds T-Shirt
• 2 Sets of Legos

In addition to the toys and clothes, the officers gave Rebecca a $50 Visa gift card and a $50 Wal-Mart gift card.

These young officers likely have financial struggles of their own, as do many people in our community, and yet they selflessly put their needs aside to help a stranger.

One of the involved officers stated, “We all know that we work in a profession that regularly see the ugliest side of society. Our graveyard team is not looking for any special recognition. We all took great pride in being able to help someone in need.”

“Escondido residents should be very proud of their Police Department, I know that I am every day and this is a great example why.” Chief Jim Maher said.

The suspects who stole from this considerate mother of three did not care what their actions did to her or her children and for that reason, I am happy to report the following score: GOOD GUYS, 1, Bad Guys, 0.

December.12.2011

Seven Pension Myths To Know
Compiled by the Escondido Police Officers’ Association with information retrieved from PORAC | www.porac.org
READ MORE >

September.2011

Download Important AB109 Information HERE >>

August.2011

The Escondido Police Officers' Association represents 195 members. This includes sworn officers(from the Chief to the line officer), community service officers and dispatchers. Out of the 195 members 56 reside in Escondido.

July.2011

Escondido Police Officers Suffer Financially From Ongoing Stop Gap

Lack of inclusion in city's recently announced two year budget raises issues

San Diego, CA (July 22, 2011) – In 2009, in response to shrinking tax revenue, Escondido's City Management froze contractual compensation plans for Escondido police officers. This compensation plan included incremental step increases, an educational incentive for officers holding a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, and Police Officer Standardized Training (POST) pay for those achieving higher levels of training as recognized by the state. All are components of income for Escondido's officers. Step increases have been established components of pay for four decades and are standard practices across all agencies. A new officer, fresh out of the academy, will earn significantly less than more experienced officers but, with each year of experience year, would gain a step increase until reaching the top step provided in the contract. In Escondido, before the 2009 freeze, there were six “step” or "merit" increases before a new officer became a full journey level officer. In order to encourage officers to make a career with Escondido, a seventh "longevity step" is provided upon reaching 10 years of service with the City. At the time the compensation plan was frozen, City Manager, Clay Phillips described the action as an "emergency stop gap" intended to combat shrinking revenue. Phillips claimed the ability to do this once the city declared a financial emergency; however, this financial emergency no longer exists and revenue has been on the incline. Phillips promised all employees would be brought to their proper step at the time of revenue increase, but this action has not yet been taken.

Before the freeze was imposed, these components of pay were given in writing to every officer upon hire. Based upon the City’s promises, individuals planned their financial futures, but many now find themselves making up to 20K less than other officers with whom they attended the academy. Morale is defeated, officers are leaving Escondido, and there is little ability to recruit qualified replacements. Furthermore, it was revealed at Mayor Sam Abed's most recent Town Hall meeting that no provisions for step increases were made in the City's recently approved two-year budget. An internal memo sent from Police Chief Jim Maher to the City Council and City Manager in April described the "Escondido Penalty". He explained that officers hired as laterals from other agencies are earning more or the same as Escondido officers who may possess significantly more experience. He resolved that officers starting their careers in Escondido are penalized for doing so. Chief Maher's concerns about compensation plans were ignored, despite being routinely told they would be unfrozen, a message he had conveyed from December 2010 until recent.

City management has been disingenuous in providing reasons for the ongoing freeze. No longer a stop gap, it has recently been converted to a bargaining chip for the City to be exchanged for additional cuts in the officers’ compensation package. One step increase has been offered in exchange for a two tier retirement formula. In contrast, the Escondido Police Officers Association (EPOA) voluntarily aided the city during the height of the economic crisis by deferring additional compensation and benefits totaling over $2 million in savings.

Prior to the recently announced budget approval, EPOA leaders met unsuccessfully with City Management and Mayor Abed to emphasize the need to restore step increases, explaining the importance in protecting the long-term health of the Escondido Police Department. Mayor Abed ignored the EPOA's offer of full pension reform for newly hired officers, who would pay all of their contribution and accept a new retirement formula raising the minimum retirement age by five years. This reform, dismissed by the Mayor, has become the new standard in San Diego County and many jurisdictions throughout California.

Escondido is the only agency in California that attempts to save money by maintaining this form of "nickel and diming" newer officers who made the ill-fated decision to come to work for our community within the last two years. With a dim future on their horizon, Escondido's officers are quickly re-evaluating their employment and departing from Escondido for other agencies wanting to invest in career-minded officers. In sum, what was intended as a temporary stop gap has turned into an endless freeze of compensation, leaving the City of Escondido and the Escondido Police Department to deal with a future that appears bleak and devoid of career committed police officers.

SEE THE PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT HERE