The Chief-Leader NYC Civil Service Newspaper

Local 100's Toussaint Taking on Major Role For TWU International; Still Plans Re-Election Bid; Watt Takes TWU Safety Post, Tate Steps Up

By RICHARD STEIER — 12/05/2008

Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint has been given two posts at his international union that at least temporarily will lead him to relinquish many of his duties at the local, with one conspicuous exception being the negotiation of a new contract.

Reduced Cop Classes Will Cut Force to 34,000 Soon; Would Be Lowest Since Mid-'90s

By TOMMY HALLISSEY — 12/05/2008

If Mayor Bloomberg's proposed budget cuts take hold, the Police Department's headcount will drop to just above 34,000 by 2010 compared to an authorized maximum of 37,838 earlier this year and a high of 41,000 in 2001. The proposed 2009 budget decreases the headcount more than 1,000 officers, to 34,878, by cancelling a scheduled Police Academy class in January.

On Trial in Cop-Killing, 'Bronx Tale' Star Dims; Faces 'Blue' Jury As Well

By TOMMY HALLISSEY — 12/05/2008

With his hands cuffed behind the back of his brown suit, Lillo Brancato walked into Bronx Supreme Court Nov. 25, the second day of his trial for the murder of an NYPD cop, and lifted his head long enough to see a dozen police officers seated in the courtroom, waiting to hear two of their colleagues testify against him.

Local 371 Rallies Against Housing Authority Job Cuts; 'Can't Destroy Our City'

By DAVID SIMS — 12/05/2008

District Council 37 Social Service Employees Union Local 371 members rallied Nov. 24 outside City Hall to protest the recently announced Housing Authority budget that requires the closing of HA community centers and the loss of 236 jobs, 165 of them within the local.

Even in Death, He Offered Reasons to Be Thankful; Mourn Fire Lieutenant

By RICHARD STEIER — 12/05/2008

"You have a real brotherhood," Father Louis Jerome told the firefighters packed into Sacred Heart Church in Staten Island Nov. 26 for the funeral of Fire Lieut. Robert J. Ryan Nov. 26.

COBA More Than Doubles Bi-Weekly Dues, Now $45

By TOMMY HALLISSEY — 12/05/2008

The Correction Officers Benevolent Association has raised its dues for the first time in 13 years from $20 per pay period to $45.

New Traffic Agents Worth Their Weight In Added Revenue

By TOMMY HALLISSEY — 12/05/2008

As a means of driving up revenue, the city has funded an additional 200 Traffic Enforcement Agents and 34 Supervisors, according to Mayor Bloomberg's November budget plan. TEAs would be dispersed into gridlock locations in four of the five boroughs, excluding Staten Island.

A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY:

12/05/2008

The Chief-Leader/Michael O'Kane NYPD Emergency Services Unit Det. Michael O'Brien is welcomed home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan by his wife, Debbie, and their 7-year-old son, Francis, at La Guardia Airport Nov. 25.

Dozens of Sgt., Detective Promotions Made in NYPD; New Inspector and 3 Deputies

12/05/2008

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly Nov. 25 promoted an Inspector and named 41 new Sergeants and 34 Detectives among more than 100 uniformed upgrades in a ceremony at Police Headquarters. Jeffrey B. Maddrey, who joined the NYPD in April 1991, became an Inspector Nov. 25.

CSA Backs Mayoral Control But With Key Modifications; Limit Chancellor to 4 Years

By DAVID SIMS — 12/05/2008

Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Ernest Logan has endorsed the continuation of mayoral control of schools, while proposing major amendments that would limit School Chancellors' terms and subject them to greater scrutiny.

DC 37 Drug-Price Lawsuit Produces $350M Settlement

By DAVID SIMS — 12/05/2008

District Council 37's Health and Security Plan is championing its part in a proposed $350 million settlement from health-care services company McKesson in a case spurred by the alleged artificial inflation of drug prices.

Fine Ex-Principal $3G For Putting Her Sister And Niece on Payroll

By DAVID SIMS — 12/05/2008

The city Conflicts of Interest Board has fined a former Principal $3,000 for hiring her sister and niece at her school, and for using Department of Education funds to compensate them for working in an after-school program. Terry Ballard, a DOE employee from 1996 to 2007, was Principal at the Forward School of Creative Writing in The Bronx.

Auxiliary Cops Seek Gains In Stature and Training; Class Graduates Next Spring

By TOMMY HALLISSEY — 12/05/2008

The year-old Auxiliary Police Supervisors Benevolent Association is gearing up for the first Auxiliary Police Officer graduation, at the end of March or the beginning of April, since training for such officers became more uniform and regimented after the fatal shooting of two Auxiliaries 20 months ago.

Rule Captain Pressured CO During Dispute With ADW; Demotion Recommended

By TOMMY HALLISSEY — 12/05/2008

An Administrative Law Judge has recommended demotion for a Correction Captain who improperly pressured a subordinate to write a report in a certain manner to support her account of a dispute. On Jan. 14, 2006 Capt. Robin Walker, an 18-year veteran of the department, was assigned as the "B" house supervisor in the control room at the Rose M.

BCB Tosses Complaint Against HA's Requiring Employee Job Reports

By DAVID SIMS — 12/05/2008

The Board of Collective Bargaining have dismissed an improper practice petition filed by Civil Service Technical Guild Chapter 25 President Mitchell Feder against the Housing Authority, charging that it had violated bargaining laws by making employees complete weekly status reports updating management on their work.

Ex-Cop and Firefighter Sets Sights on Council; Gleason to Seek Gerson Seat

By ARI PAUL — 12/05/2008

Beneath Pete Gleason's cool demeanor is a growing frustration with politicians and city managers that has led him down a winding career path, his tools shifting from gun to fire hose to attorney's briefcase.

Euphoric Over Obama And a Return to Merit; A Victory for Idealism

By BRANDON WARD — 12/05/2008

On Nov. 4, 2008 history was made: a black guy with a funny name, Barack Hussein Obama, was elected the 44th president of the United States (and by a landslide): 52 percent of the voters chose to hire him based on his qualifications and not his pigmentation.

Clear Tech Guild Of Poor Representation

By DAVID SIMS — 12/05/2008

The Board of Collective Bargaining has dismissed an improper practice petition filed by a member of the Civil Service Technical Guild that alleged that her union had misrepresented her in an arbitration proceeding after she was dismissed for refusing to continue her duties at the Department of Environmental Protection.

No Prison Time For Ex-Head of Bellevue Under Bribery Plea

By RICHARD STEIER — 12/05/2008

The former Executive Director of Bellevue Hospital has pleaded guilty to seeking $7,500 in bribes from a company seeking to obtain a contract to provide medical transcription services for the hospital.

Appeals Court Upholds Sgt.'s 20-Day Vacation Loss for Dereliction

By TOMMY HALLISSEY — 12/05/2008

An appellate court has upheld an NYPD finding that a Sergeant should forfeit 20 vacation days for failing to fill out a Fitness For Duty report on two Detectives who after drinking at the Puerto Rican Day Parade were accused of groping a woman.

Correction

12/05/2008

Last week's story concerning a Border Patrol Agent exam listed the wrong phone number to contact for further information. The correct number is 1-877-277-9527.

FOR THE RECORD

12/05/2008

In a variation on the old "I found my job" ad, Mayor Bloomberg last week joined two Governors with large urban populations in trying to generate their Federal infrastructure package through the New York Times. A letter from Mr. Bloomberg, California Gov.

Why De-Civilianize NYPD?

12/05/2008

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly presented a paradox during his testimony to a City Council budget hearing last week: he said he was unhappy about a reduction in the uniformed force because "we can do a better job the more officers we have," but he also said an increasing number of cops would be performing civilian duties.

Term-Limiting Chancellors

12/05/2008

The Council of School Supervisors and Administrators is backing a continuation of mayoral control of the city public schools, which comes up for renewal next year in Albany.

Toussaint's International Intrigue Thickens Plot

By RICHARD STEIER — 12/05/2008

Some Transport Workers Union Local 100 officials thought a memo issued by their International President meant they wouldn't have Roger Toussaint to kick them around much longer. The Nov. 19 memo from James C. Little, which came to public light last week, certainly sounded as if Mr.

Track Workers' Bum Rap

12/05/2008

(The following letter, which was written to WABC-TV in response to a story on Track Workers spending work time away from the subways, is published here at the request of its author.) I am writing to you because I feel that the NYC track workers in your investigation are being wrongly portrayed as getting paid to do nothing.

Unfair Regardless of Race

12/05/2008

To the Editor: In response to an article in last week's Chief "Residency Standard Unfair," as a retired DC 37 member I agree with the opinion of Eugene Towba that the residency law does indeed discriminate. It discriminates against everyone — not just minorities.

Don't Cry for Eliot Spitzer

12/05/2008

To the Editor: I was surprised to read that Rep. Barney Frank and others on the House Financial Services Committee plan to take up the question of what prompted the federal investigation of Eliot Spitzer when he was governor.

Current Pension Topics: Now Must Seek All N.J. Pension Loans On-Line

By JOEL FRANK — 12/05/2008

ATTENTION: Members of a New Jersey State Administered Retirement System: The New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Pensions and Benefits has implemented a significant change to the pension loan application process. As of Nov.

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

By DAVID BROWN — 12/05/2008

Discover a wealth of information and services at www.socialsecurity.gov. You can apply for Social Security retirement benefits online. Not sure whether you're ready for retirement? We can help you plan ahead with our online benefit planners.

TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AGENT JOBS AVAILABLE

12/05/2008

Filing is open for an exam leading to Traffic Enforcement Agent jobs in the Police Department, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services announced, with hundreds of jobs expected to be filled. The starting salary is $27,013 based on the previous Notice of Exam. The multiple-choice test has not been scheduled yet. Applications will be accepted starting Dec. 3.

CITY CERTIFICATIONS

12/05/2008

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services has certified sections of the eligible lists below for appointments and promotions in city agencies, subject to the 1-in-3 rule. Some of the appointments and promotions may already have been made.

ROUNDUP OF EXAMS LEADING TO JOBS

12/05/2008

Below is a roundup of New York City and State exams leading to public service positions. Most of the jobs listed are located in the New York metropolitan area and upstate. There are residency requirements for many New York City jobs and for state law-enforcement positions.

Environmental Police List; 184 Eligibles

12/05/2008

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services has established a 184-name list for Environmental Police Officer based on Exam 8040 given in June 2008. 8040 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICE OFFICER 1 Yilmael J. Diaz .......... 98.

Bridge and Tunnel Maintainer Roster Has 62 Eligibles

12/05/2008

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services has established a list for Maintainer (Bridges and Tunnels) based on Exam 8008 given in April 2008. 8008 MAINTAINER (BRIDGES AND TUNNELS) 1 Dennis P. Burke .......... v97.