July 2010 Issue - Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego County

HUGE SAVINGS!Only $15.95Deputy Sheriffs’ AssociationMembers can get an UnlimitedWristband for only $15.95 from6/05/10 thru 8/29/10Offer valid Fri. after 5pm, Sat. &Sun.* WITH VALID ID. GOOD FOR UP TO SIX PEOPLE PER ID.NOT VALID WITH GROUPS OR ANY OTHER OFFERS ORPROMOTIONS. OTHER RESTRICTIONS APPLY. VALID ATVISTA, SAN DIEGO & EL CAJON BOOMERS6999 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.• San Diego, CA • 858-560-4212 • BOOMERSPARKS.COM1525 W. Vista Way, Vista, CA 760-945-9474 *1155 Graves Ave. El Cajon, CA 619-593-1155HANK TURNER ELECTED PRESIDENTOur new president aims to strengthen communicationand focus on pay and benefits by Kristie MacrisDuring the June 10 board meeting, Vice President Hank Turnerwas elected by his fellow directors to serve as president of theassociation. The office was vacant after Ernie Carrillo was voted outduring the May 27 board meeting, six months prior to the end ofhis term. This left Hank’s former role vacantuntil the June 24 meeting when MattClay was elected to serve asvice president. The term ofthe current executive board ends in January.President Hank Turner brings over 18 years of experiencein detentions, courts, and patrol to the office of president. Beforejoining the department in 1992, Hank was a Sheriff’s Explorer atthe Santee Station. In late-2004, Hank was promoted to Sergeant,working a variety of assignments at the EL Cajon Jail, George BaileyDetention Facility, the Santee and Imperial Beach Patrol Station,and the Child Abuse Unit. He is currently a Lieutenant.Having stepped into the role of vice president shortly afterbeing elected as a director for his first term, Hank has taken on theresponsibility of being a director at full speed, quickly becomingone of the most active directors on the board. He has served onseveral committees and participated in each and every fundraiserand charity event the association has participated in. One of hiscommittees was meet and confer: “I have already improved workingconditions and policies for the membership, by serving on meet andconfer for over a year. I hope I can use my experience on the line,as a sergeant and as a lieutenant, to explain why we need to make achange in conditions or why a ‘policy’ causes more heartache thanit solves. A policy does not take the place of supervision. Policiesshould be a guideline not a replacement for supervisor.”As president, his focus must change as he takes on newresponsibilities: “The role of the President is to represent the‘rank and file’ while implementing the will of the board. All ofus need to listen to the membership, but when the board givesdirection, I need to implement their directives because the boardapproves items and requests on behalfof the membership.”Hank moved quickly into his newposition as president, starting his full release time on June 21,hoping to keep the board focused on matters important to themembership, pointing out that, “We are in the toughest financialtimes in the county in the last 60 years.”With contract negotiations starting in just six months, theboard is already working hard to prepare. Hank says his numberone priority right now is pay and benefits. “Our ‘2 percent raisethis month’ only covers the 2 percent we lost in 2008. A Deputy istaking home less money in June 2010 than they were taking homein November 2007. Our entire board and the membership need toconcentrate on this issue.”He also hopes to raise the 40-hour cap on comp time. Hepoints out the flaw in the current limit: “I think it is too low. Weare trying to cut overtime but are routinely telling Deputies theyneed to take time off because they are capped out on Vacation andComp. Time. If we raised the caps and let the Deputies bank moreit would reduce overtime costs and not cause Deputies to lose theirtime because they had to finish a case or could not get the day offthey wanted.”As president, Hank also hopes to open up communication onthe board, both between directors and with the membership. “WeA Deputy is taking home less money in June 2010than they were taking home in November 2007.are discussing holding the entiremembership meeting in frontof the membership except forclosed session. My hope is toallow the membership see how we come to decisions.”Moving beyond meetings, he hopes to bring more informationdirectly to members, saying “I plan to attend briefings at the courts,jails, and patrol stations more often. I think it is important for thepresident to be involved with the political offices, but not at a ratioof 50 to 1 spent with the membership. I have already been to sixbriefings in three days. I am also encouraging our board membersto get out to work locations more.”Opening the lines of communication ties in directly withthe main focus of his first few months as president, as negotiationsoften move rapidly and information needs to be disseminated asquickly as possible. While the Silver Star provides updates, decisionsthat happen mid-month often go unnoticed until the next issue ispublished. For instance, “90 percent of our members are not awarethat the membership dues will not be going up with the next raisebecause of the good financial management practices by the board.We approved this at our meeting on June 10, but hardly anyoneknows about it yet.”Our entire board and the membership need to concentrate on this issue.During his term, Hank also hopes to continue strengthening theDSA in the eyes of the public. He says that, “Public EmployeeUnions are the whipping boy of the media. We need to explain whythe DSA is different from all these other groups! We need to do abetter job promoting how much the DSA does for the communityon a charitable basis.”When he became a director, Hank stepped into a boardalready dealing with tough negotiations in a tough economy.With law enforcement officersPublic Employee Unions are the whipping boy of the media.We need to explain why the DSA is different from all these other groups!around thestate beingattacked and blamed for the budget crisis due to their pensionsand benefits, the DSA Board has had an uphill battle working forits members. Moving into the role of President will be no easierfor Hank, as he leads the board uphill in order to work for ourmembers during the next negotiation, just six months away. EVERGREEN TREE SPECIALISTTREE CAREAND REMOVALCertified Arborist#WC-3509AFFORDABLERATESRESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIALLacing • Pruning • Stump Grinding • Complete RemovalEdward Gross - Owner619-255-3719 Bus. Fax619-850-9583 CellFully Licensed & InsuredContractor’sLic #731377Silver Star July 2010 13