31ST ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL DETECTIVE MICHAEL “MICKEY” GILBRIDE PLAQUE DEDICATION 2
Message from the President... John Wighaus DAI EXECUTIVE BOARD RUNS UNOPPOSED FOR NEW 4 YEAR TERM On April 18, 2019 at our DAI open meeting, nominations for a new four year term for the executive board positions which include: President and subsequent ranks to include Trustees was held and I am happy to report the entire Executive Board ran unopposed for the new term, which begins July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023. I would like to thank our entire membership for their continued trust and support, as we continue to advocate for the membership. While we still have staffing issues, I can assure the membership that I and the entire Executive Board will not relent until we are fully staffed and the pride of being a detective has returned to the department. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING The DAI had our second negotiation session with the County and exchanged conceptual proposals. The DAI and the County both understand that the proposals highlight the topics that are going to be of interest to each party. But at this early point in negotiations, neither side has drilled down in substance on any one particular issue. However, I respect that you are all well versed and understand the issues that matter most and you can rest assured that fixing the steps, ending co-mingling with PBA steps, wage increases and expanding assignment pay were at the top of our conceptual proposal. LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS Chris Muchow and I recently met with all the members of the Nassau County Legislature during individual meetings over the course of several days to again discuss the severe shortage of detectives in the Nassau County Police Department. Every legislator, Republican and Democrat are behind us 100%. We are working with the legislators to get our word out to the public through their social media accounts, local newspapers and in future public safety hearings. We will continue to make the public aware of the dire need of detectives and we will not stop until we have a full complement of detectives in Nassau County. PUBLIC SAFETY HEARING AT NASSAU COUNTY LEGISLATURE Chris Muchow, Mike Maloney and I attended the Public Safety Hearing which was focusing on the reopening of the 6th and 8th Precincts. As the meeting progressed, it became a hearing on the detective shortage in Nassau County. The residents of Nassau County, along with the members of the Department deserve to have these two precincts reopened and the Detectives Association fully supports the reopening of the 6th and 8th precincts. The County Executive has stated these will be fully functioning precincts, but that is not the case as we do not have enough detectives to staff the precinct squads. A minimum of 16 detectives would be required to fill the chart in each squad, so as the precincts will reopen, they will open without detectives. Currently the Detective Division is 50 detectives short from the budgeted number of 360. The Detective Association has forecast what we believe is an imminent threat to public safety and now the data is proving us correct. Your most vulnerable constituents have become victims of a failure to repair the Detective Division. In a time of unprecedented gang violence and skyrocketing numbers of drug overdoses and fatalities, the DAI has informed elected officials and the public of the severe shortage of detectives in the gang investigation squad and the Narcotics/Vice Squad. There are just two Detectives assigned to investigate major identity theft, fraud and forgery cases for 1.4 million Nassau County residents. This includes the investigation of crimes associated with frauds on the elderly, which is up 62% from last year. Our senior citizens are suffering the consequences of this public safety crisis. The two pillars of law enforcement is to protect and serve and we can’t do that at the Detective Division level the way the Department and public expect due to the continued shortage of detectives. It is the County Executives responsibility to take action, failure to act and the detective shortage will only continue to worsen. PRESS CONFERENCE REGARDING BAIL REFORM The bail reform that the Governor included in the budget is a imminent danger to the residents of Nassau County and all the residents of New York State. Currently, we have just 2 detectives assigned to our warrant squad with over 100 thousand outstanding Nassau County warrants. Included in that are subjects who absconded in 3 violent crimes that continue to endanger our county and society. We predict with this delusion of so called criminal justice reform, the warrants will triple. The primary function of government is to protect the people it serves. This bill does nothing more but empower and embolden the criminal element and places law abiding citizens in peril. Nassau County residents should be keeping a scorecard of what bills our state senators and assembly members are voting on and hold them accountable. DETECTIVE MICKEY GILBRIDE PLAQUE DEDICATION On May 6th, the DAI held a plaque dedication ceremony at the 4th Squad in honor of Detective Michael Thomas Gilbride Jr. or as he was affectionately known to all as “Mickey”. There were many active and retired members who came out to honor Mickey as well as friends and family members including Mickey’s wife Kathleen, daughter Jennifer and son Michael. Mickey was a Nassau County Police Officer for over 44 years which he spent entirely in the Fourth Precinct. On October 20, 1970 Mickey was appointed a Police Officer. On April 16th 1993, Mickey was designated a Detective and was assigned to the Fourth Squad. After a distinguished career Mickey retired on June 29th 2015. As a member of the Fourth Squad, Mickey served the Detectives’ Association as a Delegate, Trustee, Secretary and First Vice President. Mickey’s tenacious nature made him a great detective who dedicated himself to investigating, arresting and prosecuting criminals making Nassau County safer. This plaque will remind us of our friend and colleague for years to come. For those who were fortunate enough to have worked with Mickey; and for those presently assigned as well as the next generation of the Fourth Squad Detectives, this plaque will be a symbol of what a detective is and what a detective should inspire to be. NASSAU COUNTY LEGISLATURE HONORS TOP DETECTIVES The Nassau County Legislators honored our Detectives for their steadfast efforts in their investigations leading to the arrests of violent individuals. I would like to congratulate the following Detectives on receiving this recognition: March 2019 The Electronics Squad April 2019 Detective Jeff Rios-3rd Squad Detective Bob Rizzi- Fugitive Squad Stay Safe and God Bless America
Change language