Retired Officers
Since this is my first message to the entire membership, I wanted to start by thanking all of you for your support of our new panel of officers. We are learning by OJT and I hope we can all do as well as our predecessors.
One of the concerns expressed at last night’s meeting was a lack of information about things happening at HCPD. I will be working to improve communications and coordination of activities with the police department. To answer another question from the meeting, our most recent retirees are Randy Courson and Pete Wright. Retiring within the next couple of weeks will be Marty Johnson and Yvonne Stinchcomb. I hope to see all of the new retirees at future meetings.
In addition to our own golf tournament and bull roast (details still being planned), the following is a list of law enforcement related events for 2009:
May 1: Fallen Heroes Day, Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.
May 8: Annual HCPD Memorial Ceremony.
May 11: Special Olympics Golf Tournament.
May 13: NLEOM Candlelight Vigil, Washington, DC.
May 15: National Police Memorial Services & FOP Wreath laying Ceremony, DC.
June 4: Special Olympics Golf Tournament.
June 14: Annual C.O.P.S. Motorcycle Ride (rain date June 28).
September 13: HCPD Police Pace.
Additional details of the above events can be found on links from the HCPD and HCPOA web sites. HCPD will be sending representatives to some of the memorial events and space may be available on the departmental bus for those retirees interested in attending. I will send out additional details as I hear about them.
2009 is also the 50th anniversary of HCPD’s K-9 unit. An anniversary event is in the planning stages and will include an open house at the new K-9 training facility, part of the James N. Robey Public Safety Training Center. The tentative date is August 1. Commemorative badges and tee shirts are also being designed. Again, details will be announced as we receive them.
Stay safe,
Thanks again for organizing the get-together last night! It was great seeing everyone and fun hearing a bit of history about the 'ol stomping grounds!
I said something to Bill and Skip last night about maybe getting together and showing off our classic cars. I remembered on the way home a small benefit show that provides scholarships for the kids of fallen officers. I think the 2009 date is May 23rd (rain date 24th), which I think is Memorial Day weekend. Not sure if that is a good or bad time for folks. if there were a bunch of us that would enter I think it might be great fun.
Treasurer Report
The purpose of the Association is to promote and foster law enforcement in Howard County, to increase the effectiveness of the police profession, and to enhance the confidence of the public in the Department of Police for Howard County.
A primary objective of the Association is to maintain and promote the history and tradition of the Howard County Department of Police and the men and women that have served the Department.
The Association presently has a membership of one-hundred and thirty nine retired and veteran Howard County Department of Police officers and employees. Although the primary focus of the organization is retired police officers, the rules of the organization do include categories of membership for veteran officers that separated prior to retirement and civilians.
The Association meets quarterly, and sponsors a number of social and fund raising events throughout the year, the proceeds of which support projects that benefit retired and active Howard County Police officers and community groups and services.
In addition, the Association supports a number of worthy causes such as the Special Olympics, Howard County Seniors and Law Enforcement Together Council, and the Howard County Police Officers Memorial.
Officers 2009 - 2010:
President .......................................... Al Hafner
Vice-President ................................. Bill McKeldin
Secretary .......................................... Barbara Freisland
Treasurer ......................................... Linda Freeman
Sergeant-at-Arms ........................... Pete Edge
Chaplain ........................................... Joe Collins
Contact Information
Howard County Police Retired Officers Association, Inc.
P.O. Box #8503
Elkridge, Maryland 21075-8503
President Al Hafner opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance at 1900 at the VFW Hall. Invocation by Joe Collins. In attendance were 14 members: Hafner, Freeman, McKeldin, Friesland, Souder, Rutledge, Swing, Livesay, Testerman, Ratliff, Collins, Corum, Edge, Freund and HCPOA President Besseck.
Minutes from January 24th 2009 meeting approved as written.
OLD BUSINESS:
No date has been set yet for the LEOSA training. It will probably be sometime in Sept/Aug. A full day with hourly shooting for groups will be set. The Police Dept has purchased goggles to simulate nighttime shooting. The Association plans on having a BBQ set up that day for everyone. More info to come.
Bull Roast…We had the date set as 21 November, however St Michael’s Church is not booking that far in advance for groups outside the church. We will keep you posted in case the place or date change. We looked at the new West Friendship Fire station but there will not be a banquet hall there, so that is out. We also will check again with the FOP lodge at the top of the hill in EC. However no Saturdays are available in November. Sunday is an option but not one we would prefer. Still working on tax exempt. We received letters from the atty who is trying to help and said the filing is there but not the response. After the tax year is over, he will recheck to see the status.
NEW BUSINESS
Golf Tournament:
Thanks for stepping up Rudy and Jack, you have some big shoes to fill.
Bob…we really appreciate all you did in the past. It is a lot of work, thanks!
We received a letter from the Police Unity tour acknowledging our donation and support through Chief Bill McMahon.
Joe Collins made a motion to send a donation to Feed the Children. Joe talked about the town of Elkhart, In and how the majority of the town is out of work. Kemp Freund 2nd it and made the request that the donation be $1000. It was voted on and was approved. Elkhart has the highest unemployment rate in the country. The donation will not only go to Elkhart, but can be used anywhere. For more info on Elkhart, paste the following link into your web browser: http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-02-08-elkhart_N.htm
Dan Besseck…. The county is still revamping retiree insurance. Should not affect us, but would change for new retirees. They are also tweaking disability-reporting requirements; currently you still need to submit until age 62. If changed a retiree on disability would only have to submit for the first 10 years then it would be permanent and no need to submit after that unless the county sees a need to have a retiree reexamined. Trying to make reporting requirements easier. Currently HCPD has more money going into the retirement plan than going out. Funds are ok, but not sure what COLA will be for this year.
Al Hafner: There was discussion about the association having a full time charity to provide for. Some charities mentions where: COPS…Scott Wheeler Fund, etc….Please think about suggestions you have and forward to any of the board members. Since we are a Police organization, we discussed looking for a police related charity. Dan Besseck is helping to organize a motorcycle ride in June for COPS.
Kemp Freund: Would like for the association to be more involved with HCPD Police Pace. Kemp wants to organize volunteers for the event, which is usually held in September. Anyone who would like to volunteer contact Kemp and he will coordinate.
Ghost Tour: Was held on Friday the 13th of March. We had a nice turnout, 25 people. Everyone had a great time. We will have more of these events. Anyone with any ideas contact a board member. Hold a cookout at the VFW on a Friday night.
Car Show: I received an email from Rose Ann Schuler about a car show. Below is an excerpt. If there is any interest contact me and we can get something started.
http://www.roadrunnersacm.com/media/SHANE_EVANS.pdf
As the secretary I requested a petty cash fund to pay for minor expenses….cards, flowers, stamps, printer ink, etc. Sandy Testerman made the motion and Kip Ratliff 2nd it. So a check for $300 was given to me to pay for incidentals. A motion was made to adjourn and the meeting was closed at 8:20 pm and we headed upstairs for more socializing.
Per Treasurer Linda Freeman, we have $22, 534.90 in the bank with no outstanding debts.
2009 dues notices were sent. Please try to have them paid by March 31, 2009. We have 73 paid out of 143 members.
Our 2008 taxes have been completed and nothing is owed.
New Membership:
Mark Parterni sponsored by Bill McKeldin. Quorum was present so the membership was voted on and accepted. Welcome Mark!!!!! Hope to see you at some meetings.And thanks Bill for sponsoring a new member. We now have 143 members!
PLEASE keep your address, phone and e-mail address current with the secretary.
For the Good of the Order
I wanted to thank the association for the flowers that were sent to my family and me in memory of my mother, Marianne Riley, who passed away after a brief but serious illness on 18 March 2009.
Thanks - Bobbie Friesland
Update on Frank Grant: Below is a copy of the email I received from Shirley Grant on 18 March 2009:
Hi sorry it's been a long time since I sent an update. Frank was moved to the step down unit last Thursday. It was a very hard adjustment for him and for me. Each day he gets better but each step is very hard. Hopefully this week he will be sent to rehab. He is very weak and this is driving him crazy. He wants to get up and go but can't. I read all the emails and cards that were sent and he was very pleased to hear from so many. Again I thank each and every one of you. Hopefully we can get up to Maryland this year. Will write again with updates when I come home. Shirley
I received an email from Capt Jack Burke. Unfortunately he spends most of his time in a wheel chair and is unable to attend the meetings because of the location not being accessible. Below is a portion of the email he sent to me. Drop a line if you get the chance, he would love to hear from his old co-workers.
As for my health, I am feeling great, it’s just that I am confined to a wheelchair for almost two years. My problem is stenosis of the spine which is a serious condition for me. I am a high risk for surgery so no cutting on me. I am able to attend church and go out to eat. I am able to attend meetings and just about anywhere I want to go. My partner in the radio car in Baltimore takes me to the Last Patrol meetings in Baltimore. I am very fortunate to have a kind caring wife who normally takes out and wrestles with the wheelchair wear ever we may go. But as I said in the beginning I am feeling great
If any member has anything they would like posted in the “For the Good of the Order” please forward it to Bobbie Friesland.
General Information
If you want association apparel
Coffee Mugs
T-Shirts:
Contact any of the officers.
HCPROA UPCOMING MEETINGS:
TENTATIVE DATE
Tuesday May 19 2009 at 1900 hours at the VFW.
Message from the HCPD K-9 Unit
posted by Daniel Besseck on 3/31/09
The price is $48.00 per badge To order contact PFC Robert McKnight via email (rmcknight@howardcountymd.gov) or forward your request by departmental mail, attention PFC McKnight-Southern District, SOB. Include your name, a telephone number where you can be contacted, and number of badges requested.
All orders must include payment in full.
Payment must be made by check and should be made out to Collinson Enterprises.
All orders must be received no later than June 1, 2009
If you have any questions contact PFC McKnight via e-mail.
Retiree’s Beat-Aril 2009
By Lt. Tim Branning (Ret)
Hello fellow retiree’s! Many of you have asked that I return to writing the “Retiree’s Beat”. While I don’t think it will reappear in the newsletter, I will from time to time write the column and have the Association send it out to our memberships email grouping. At some point, maybe we can put it on the Retired Associations page on the HCPOA web site. Here are some retiree updates.
Pete Wright retired last month after 25 years of service. Pete retired at the rank of corporal, having served in Patrol and CIB. Pete will continue to dabble in the sports memorabilia business as he has been for some time.
Marty Johnson retired in March after 25 years. Marty served in Patrol, CIB , and Office of the Chief as the Liquor Inspector. Marty will be performing several second career roles, including teaching for the Department of Homeland Security and opening a consulting business.
Jack Mitchell is a prosecutor with the Baltimore City States Attorney’s Office, where he is assigned to the District Court Division.
George Belleville is practicing real estate in the Howard County area, where he also resides.
Steve Drummond is living in Ocean Pines near Ocean City, MD. Steve volunteers for Wheels on Meals several days a week. Steve recently had surgery, but has recovered well. Steve and Connie are looking forward to his son’s upcoming graduation from the Howard County Police Academy.
Ed Buckman is still with the Howard County Sheriff’s Office, where he says life is good under Sheriff and fellow retiree Jim Fitzgerald. Ed’s two boys have both done time in the Army. William, his youngest, is still in the military and doing very well, having been decorated several times during several tours in Iraq.
Greg Hammond lives in the Naples, Florida area. Greg has several of his kids living in East New Market, Md., which is a very small community on the Choptank River on the Eastern Shore. Coincidently, this is very near Secretary, which is the area in which Howard Cogle resides.
Remember Rufus Barfield? Rufus came on in 1986 and graduated with Academy #10. Rufus attended Pete Wright’s recent retirement gathering. Rufus resides in the Orlando, Florida area where he teaches at the University of South Florida.
Pete D’Antuono is a captain in the Westminster City PD, serving under Chief and fellow retiree Jeff Spaulding. Also serving under Jeff in Westminster as captains are HCPD retirees Nancy Yeager and Jerry Frischkorn.
Frank Grant has been ill recently. Please keep Frank in your thoughts. Bobbie has Frank and Shirley’s email if you need it.
About six months ago HCPD Detective Jeff Price suffered a disabling stroke. Jeff was nearing his twenty year mark when taken ill. After months of hospitalization, Jeff is now living with his sister in PA. While Jeff still needs constant care, some improvement has been noticed. Most all of us worked with, supervised, or at least knew Jeff. He needs our prayers, and he needs our friendship through cards and emails, which his sister reads to him. The address for cards is; c/o Jill Hartman, 176 Main Street, Landisville, PA, 17525. Or you can email Jeff via his sister, who will read the email to him, at hartman930@comcast.net.
That will do it for this issue. Please, send me a short email and let me know what you are doing, what is happening with you, your families, etc., so I can include it in future issues. I need this info to make this work. Let’s keep the information and camaraderie flowing and alive! My email is timothybranning@aol.com.
