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A Letter from President Robert Baker
Dear Members,
Happy Holidays. As the proverb says, “May you live in interesting times.” This past year has certainly been an interesting year for us all. We had two major elections, one expected (for Mayor) and one unexpected (the statewide special election). We met some challenges regarding use of force and other issues, and we laid the groundwork for our contract negotiations in 2006. If you want more information on our efforts in 2005, please take a look at our annual report, which will be coming out next month. Copies of it will be available from our office.
At the end of the year, our thoughts go to those who are not with us. We honor those 46 members of the Department who are on leave to serve with the armed services and who will be celebrating Christmas and the New Year away from family and friends, many of them in Iraq and Afghanistan. We also honor those 142 officers who gave their lives this year in the service of law enforcement nationwide. We especially honor local law enforcement heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our community.
On behalf of all of the Directors and staff of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, I wish you and your families a safe and rewarding holiday season.
Very truly yours,
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Los Angeles Police Protective League
BOB BAKER
President
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Welcome to Director
Scott Rate
Welcome to new LAPPL Director Scott Rate, whom you elected to the Board of Directors last month. Scott had been assigned to the Employee Representation Section, where he was supporting officers through disciplinary hearings, supporting legal efforts and protecting officers’ rights.
Scott has the singular distinction of starting out in show business and then joining the LAPD. Although he has been an officer for 18 years, and pretty much bleeds LAPD blue, for a brief time, he was a performer with the Young Americans troupe and traveled around the world singing. Scott grew up in Montana, where he was a tailback and middle linebacker on his school football team and wrestled in the middle weight classes. Scott had always thought that a career in law enforcement would be a great fit, so he tested for the LAPD recruitment exam, a decision he has never regretted.
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Holiday Cheer
All of our members give back to the community day in and day out by risking their lives for the safety of others, but there are several units within the Department that have a long-standing tradition of service during the holidays to help underprivileged children and their families. This year, Metro Division’s Mounted Platoon continues their partnership with the City of Hope’s Comprehensive Cancer Center to donate blood in return for entertainment vouchers to reward needy children in their jurisdiction. Through the program, children who maintain good grades and citizenship are deputized as “Metro Mini Mounties,” and have fun attending local amusement parks and entertainment events with officers. This year, the Platoon has plans to take Mini Mounties from the 9th Street Elementary School to see Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Pantages Theater.
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Double Referral Bonus
Money in your pocket: As part of the efforts to increase recruitment for new officers, the City has doubled the recruitment bonus to $1000. The bonus incentive program has been around since 2000, and it is pretty clear that our friends and families make the best candidates to be our colleagues. Referred applicants have a much better rate of success getting through the hiring process than the outside population.
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NAPO TOP COPS: Call for Nominations
We want to get out the word about the good work of our members, so please take a moment to nominate a fellow officer, who has gone above and beyond the call of duty, for the 2006 TOP COPS Awards from the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO). Nominations must involve a specific incident or case occurring between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005. Your nominations should be forwarded to League Director Paul Weber by January 3rd, 2006. With the information you provide, the League will finalize the nomination application and send it in on behalf of the League. You can use the attached form or simply fill the information out in an e-mail or attachment.
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In the News
You may have read in the LA Daily News on November 23, 2005, that there’s been some tough talk from Mayor Villaraigosa in response to demands from city unions for wage increases. Since the League also has upcoming negotiations, LAPPL President Bob Baker was quoted in the article as saying that the DWP contract does raise expectations for PPL members. In the same vein, League Director Cliff Ruff is quoted in the Los Angeles Times on December 5, 2005, as saying that the League will closely watch current city contract negotiations with the Engineers and Architects Association, even though the Mayor announced at a recent LAPPL Board meeting that money was tight.
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Delta Dental
Now there’s a helpful new Delta Dental website tailored specifically for PPL members. It’s a great resource with answers to many of your questions about Delta Dental PPO (formerly DPO) and DeltaCare. If you’re up late at night worrying about a nagging toothache and need answers fast, go to the website for details on benefits/eligibility, dentist directory, frequently asked questions, and a great section on dental care tips. So before you think you need a root canal, try reading the sections on “Special Dental Issues” and “Dental Problems” for facts on common complaints. Also, be sure to review “Dental Health Terms” as you write a list of questions before your next doctor’s visit. And there’s good news for chocolate lovers everywhere, who will be relieved to know that raisins are more likely to cause cavities than a Hershey bar; go to the “Test Your Dental Health Knowledge” section to find out why.
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Blue on the Inside and Out?
With family obligations and work pressures mounting, the holidays can be the bluest of times for our officers. So if you’re faced with a problem that has no easy answers, call DirectLinc at (877) MHN-LAPPL or (877) 646-5275 (TDD: 800-526-7014) to schedule an appointment with a professional counselor. The full cost of DirectLinc services—up to 10 sessions per family unit per benefit period—is paid for by the League. There are no co-payments, co-insurance, or deductible payments although some limitations and exclusions apply. The LAPPL and Managed Health Network provide DirectLinc as a confidential service for you and your eligible dependents to help resolve a broad range of personal issues including alchohol/drug dependency, marital/family concerns, stress, legal matters among others. The referral hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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© 2005, Los Angeles Police Protective League. All rights reserved.
1308 West Eighth Street - Los Angeles, CA 90017
Tel. (213) 251-4554 or (800) 53-LAPPL | leaguemail@lappl.org
www.lapd.com
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