Howard County Police Officers' Association

History

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HCPOA PRESIDENTS

Frank Nestrole   1979-1981
Harry Wink   1981-1982
Robert Pollhammer   1982-1983
Charles Ellenberger   1983-1987
David Etheridge   1987-1989
Dale Hill   1989-1993
James Fitzgerald   1993-1995
John Paparazzo   1995-1999
Dennis Vittetoe   1999
James Fitzgerald   1999-2006
Ronald "Jason" Baker   2006-2007
Daniel Besseck 2007 - 2009
Gregory Der 2009 - Present

Important Events in the History of the HCPOA

1979 ..... Howard County Police Officers' Association is formed and affiliates with the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) as local 86 on September 20, 1979.

The chartering members & the first Board of Directors were:
Frank Nestrole - President ... Harry E. Wink - Vice President/Treasurer ... Larry Freer - Secretary ... Steve Drummond - Trustee ... Ed Buckman - Trustee ... Clark Ahlers - Trustee ... Scott Javins - Trustee

I.U.P.A. National Officers:
Edward Kiernan - President ... Robert D. Gordon - Secretary-Treasurer

1980 ..... The Howard County Council passes a collective bargaining ordinance granting county employees bargaining rights. A citizens group opposed to collective bargaining gathers enough signatures to place the ordinance on the 1982 election ballot.

1981 ..... Borad of Directors 1981-1983: Harry Wink - President (resigned 7-1-82) ... Robert Pollhammer - Vice President (President 1982 - 1983) ... xxxxx - Secretary ... Woodward Rush - Treasurer ... xxxxx - Trustees

1982 ..... The citizens of Howard County vote in favor of collective bargaining for Howard County employees. Court challenges to the collective bargaining bill would delay contract negotiations for several years.

1983 ..... Board of Directors 1983-1985: Charles Ellenberger - President ... xxxxxx -Vice President ... xxxxx - Secretary ... Woodward Rush - Tresurer

1984 .....

1985 ..... On April 30, 1985 the first collective bargaining agreement is signed.

          ..... Board of Directors 1985-1987: Charles Ellenberger - President ... Steven Keller - Vice President ... David Etheridge - Secretary ... Donal Conrad - Treasurer

          ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 1985 is $18,837 a year.

1986 ..... The HCPOA takes a vote of “No Confidence” against the Howard County Police Chief. Four HCPOA members are investigated for placing a “No Confidence” vote advertisement in local papers.

          ..... Staring salary of an officer on July 1, 1986 is $19,779 a year.

1987 ..... The HCPOA begins informal discussion with the County about improving retirement benefits.

          ..... Board of Directors 1987-1989: David Etheridge - President ... Dennis Vittetoe - Vice President ... Stephen Prozeralik - Secretary ... William McMahon, Treasurer

          ..... Staring salary of an officer on July 1, 1987 is $20,758 a year

1988 ..... On July 1, 1988 the HCPOA and County sign their first multi-year agreement, a 2-year agreement that expires on June 30, 1990.

         ..... The new contract contains a provision that requires the County Administration's support of an initiative to amend the Howard County Charter to provide for "Binding Grievance Arbitration." The amendment is placed on the 1988 election ballot and is passed by the citizens. The contract is amended and "Binding Grievance Arbitration" replaces the Advisory Arbitration for Grievances.

        ..... A new provision in the contract requires the Police and Fire Pension Committee to have developed a new and complete retirement package by January 15, 1989. This package would than be presented to the respected unions for a ratification vote.

        ..... A new provision in the contract establishes an "Agency Shop Clause" that requires officers hired after July 1, 1988 who elected not to join the union to pay a "Service Fee" to the union as a condition of employment.

        ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 1988 is $21,797 a year.

1989 ..... The second year of the contract requires the County to reduce an officer's work week from 42.75 hours to a 40 hour work week.

          ..... Board of Directors 1989 -1991: Dale Hill - President ... Mark Verderaime - Vice President ... Daniel Besseck - Secretary ... Dennis Ulher - Treasurer

          ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 1989 is $22,451 a year.

1990 ..... Howard County Police Department officers are issued 9mm service weapons.

          ..... The County and HCPOA implement a new Howard County Police & Fire Retirement Plan, withdrawing from the Maryland State Retirement Plan. The new plan becomes operational July 1, 1991. The new plan allows officers to retire at 25 years of service at 50% of their base pay. The State plan had allowed officers to retire at 30 years of service at 42% of their base pay.

         ..... On September 1, 1990 the first negotiated "Sunstance Abuse Policy", also known as ADM-34 is implememted.

         ..... Starting salary of an officer on January 1, 1990 is $22,900 a year.
         ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 1990 is $23,932 a year

1991 ..... During the FY 1992 budget hearings, the County threatens to layoff 41 police officers in order to deal with a budget shortfall. The HCPOA organizes a demonstration by having 41 Take Home Police Cars parade up Rt 29 from Columbia to Ellicott City to protest the proposed layoffs. No officers are laid-off. Instead of layoffs, the County moves to furlough police officers and and other county employees.

         ..... Howard County Council introduces Council Bill 1991-136 (November 4, 1991) which provides authorization to fulough county employees pursuant to a furlough plan approved by the Council; and declaring this to be an emergency measure. The Howard County Police Department implements the "40-hour furlough plan" mandating that all non-esstential personnel (sworn adminstrative positions, certain speciality units & civilian staff) be furloughed December 26, 27, 30, 31, 1991 and January 1, 1992. Essential personnel (patrol, CIB, etc...) are to be furloughed by senority so as not to interfer with essential operations. All furlough days must be taken prior to June 14, 1992. Furloughed days equal a 1.923% reduction in pay.

         ..... Board of Directors 1991-1993: Dale Hill - President ... John Mynaugh - Vice President ... Edward Bergin - Secretary ... Thomas O'Conner - Treasurer

          ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 1991 is $23,932 a year.

1992 .....
          ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 1992 is $24,052 a year.

1993 .....

          ..... Board of Directors 1993 - 1995: James Fitzgerald - President ... John Paparazzo - Vice President ... Daniel Besseck - Secretary ... Morris Carroll - Treasurer

          ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 1991 is $24,052 a year.

1994 .....
          ..... Starting salary of an officer on June 30, 2004 is $25,133 a year.

1995 .....
          ..... Board of Directors 1995 - 1997: John Paparazzo - President ... Robert Castor - Vice President ... William Block - Secretary ... Dennis Vittetoe - Treasurer

          ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 1995 is $26,532 a year.

1996 .....

          ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 1996 is $26,532 a year.

1997 ..... The HCPOA, along with other county employee unions, the Board of Education unions and several private sector unions form the Coalition of Public Employees (COPE). COPE's purpose is to coordinate the unions’ political activities in Howard County. The HCPOA is selected to chair the coalition.

          ..... Board of Directors 1997 - 1999: John Paparazzo - President ... Dennis Vittetoe - 1st Vice President ... Daniel Besseck - 2nd Vice President ... Ellsworth Jones - Secretary ... William Block - Treasurer

1998 ..... The HCPOA forms their first PAC fund for the 1998 elections. The HCPOA and COPE issue endorsements for the County Executive and County Council races. Four of the six endorsed candidates are elected, including the County Executive. The new County Executive is the recently retired Howard County Police Chief James Robey.

          ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 1998 is $27,082 a year.

1999 ..... Negotiations with the newly elected County Executive results in the first major pay raise in 8-years for police officers.

          ..... Board of Directors 1999 - 2001: James Fitzgerald - President ... Daniel Besseck -1st Vice President ... Luther Johnson - 2nd Vice President ... James Marshall - Secretary ... Richard Rutledge - Treasurer.

2000 ..... The HCPOA enters the internet age with its' first website.

2001 .....

          ..... Board of Directors 2001 - 2003: James Fitzgerald - President ... Robert Dell'Erba - Vice President ... Matthew Tanis - Secretary ... Marc Delbusso - Treasurer.


2002 ..... The HCPOA issues endorsement for various elected offices. The HCPOA's General Counsel Timothy McCrone is elected Howard County State's Attorney. County Executive James Robey is re-elected and all five of the HCPOA endorsed County Council candidates are elected.

          ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 2003 is $34,861 a year.

2003 .....

          ..... Board of Directors 2003-2005: James Fitzgerald - President ... Matthew Tanis - Vice President ... Ronald "Jason" Baker - Secretary ... Marc Delbusso - Treasurer

          ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 2003 is $35,568 a year.

2004 ..... The County and Union negotiate a Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP). The program allows officers to retire, but stay employed with the police department for 4 additional years. The officer's retirement payments are placed in an account and given to the officer upon completing their DROP commitment.

          ..... Starting salary of an officer on June 30, 2004 is $36,254 a year.
          ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 2004 is $37,003 a year.

2005 ..... The HCPOA re-affiliates with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). The HCPOA is granted their original lodge number, Lodge #21 which was first issued to Howard County in May 1970. The HCPOA carries two national affiliations with the FOP being the fraternal component and IUPA being the bargaining component.

          ..... The Police Officers & Fire Fighter unions form a joint committee to pursue a Howard County Charter amendment for “Binding Arbitration for Collective Bargaining.”

          ..... Board of Directors 2005 - 2007: James Fitzgerald - President ... Ronald "Jason" Baker - Vice President ... Daniel Besseck - Secretary ... Marc Delbusso - Treasurer

          ..... Starting salary of an officer on June 30, 2005 is $37,378 a year.
          ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 2005 is $38,873 a year.

2006 ..... The police & fire unions being a petition drive to place a Charter amendment on the 2006 ballot. On August 21, 2006, the Board of Elections certifies the required 10,000 Howard County registered voter signatures needed to place the Charter amendment on the ballot. The amendment is known as "Question C." On November 7, 2006 Howard County voters pass Question "C" by an 80% vote.

         ..... Starting salary of an officer on January 1, 2006 is $39,262 a year.
         ..... Starting salary of an officer on July 1, 2006 is $40,832 a year.

2007 ..... On July 30, 2007 the Howard County Council unanimously passes Council Bill 52-2007 establishing collective bargaining binding arbitration rights for police and fire unions.

          ..... Board of Directors 2007-2009: Daniel Besseck - President ... Gregory Der - Vice President ... Jason Luckenbaugh - Secretary ... Marc Lay - Treasurer

          ..... Starting pay of a police officer on July 1, 2007 is $43,742 a year.

2008 ..... The Association amends its constitution and by-laws re-establishing the position of trustee (2) on the Board of Directors. The Trustees will be elected during the even years and will serve a 2-year term. The 2008-2010 Trustees: Brenda Bower, Robert McKnight.

          ..... October 22 & 24, 2008, the membership of the HCPOA voted to decertify the International Union of Police Associations, Local 86 as their bargaining unit. The challenging bargaining unit was the Howard County Police Officer's Association, Lodge 21 (FOP). The vote results were: 105 votes for HCPOA Lodge 21 ..... 5 votes for IUPA local 86 ..... Zero votes for No Representation. The vote was conducted in accordance with the Howard County Employees' Relations Act Title 1.600 of the County Code.

The vote ends the Association's affiliation with the I.U.P.A. which dated back to September 20, 1979 and replaces it with the Howard County Police Officers' Association, Lodge 21 (FOP) as the bargaining unit for police officers up to and including the rank of Corporal.

           ..... Starting pay of a police officer on July 1, 2008 is $45,926 a year.

2009 .....  The Howard County Police Officers' Association celebrates their 30th Anniversary.

The national, state and local ecomony continues in a recession. the County freezes hiring and makes significant cuts to its budget. The County begins to furlough non-unionized workers after July 1, 2009 for 4-days.

The Association and County come to a new 2-year collective bargaining agreement (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2011) that provides for "No Furloughs" of police officers during the term of the contract. This is the first union contract negotiated under the F.O.P. banner as the Howard County Police Officers' Association Lodge 21.

October 1, 2009, the union's first fully exempt union president position takes effect. This cumulates 22 years of bargaining for a full time release union president.

          ..... Board of Directors 2009-2011:  Gregory Der - President ... Robert Dell'Erba - Vice President ... Jeff Giroux - Secretary ... Thomas Marello - Treasurer ... Trustee - Allison Ehart (2008-2010) ... Trustee - Brenda Bower (2008-2010) ... Past President - Daniel Besseck

       ..... Starting pay of a police officer on July 1, 2009 is $45,926

2010....  Allison Ehart is re-elected to her position as Trustee and Clay Davis is newly elected.
FOP members vote to hire an outside negotiator to negotaite with the County for its upcoming contract.
Thye Negotiating team consists of the following:
Gary McLhinney (Lead Negotiator)
Gregory Der
Jeff Giroux
Robert Dellerba
Thomas Marello
Cliff Mason