Several Ypsilanti police command staff, officers serve retirement papers as benefit changes loom
A new benefits package is on the way for the Ypsilanti Police Department and that has prompted multiple members of the command staff and several officers to serve their retirement papers.
The group originally included Chief Amy Walker, Lt. Craig Annas, Lt. Paul DeRidder, Sgt. Troy Fulton and Sgt. Kevin Dorsey. But Walker and Annas have rescinded their retirement papers.
The Ypsilanti Police Department.
Steve Pepple | AnnArbor.com
“It’s important we were able to work out a deal with Chief Walker,” Council Member Brian Robb said. “She’s critical to our operations and we need to have leadership at the top.”
Officer Brent Armstrong and Detective Jill Kulhanek are the two non-command staff officers who will retire. Twenty-nine sworn officers and five civilians work for the police department, according to Kowal.
Walker said the police department has experienced a 39 percent reduction in staff in recent years, and losing so much experience now presents new challenges.
“So now when you lose anybody…it’s a vital position for us,” Walker said. “I know city council is reviewing the budget, but as a chief of police I can’t say that we can sustain any more cuts when we’re at these low of (staffing) numbers. And anytime you lose senior leadership and experience there’s certainly concern.
“Whenever that happens things are going to change and it’s a difficult situation, but we’re going to be there for the citizens and answer one call at a time.”
Amy Walker
The command officers' union and the city are in negotiations over the contract. All city employees will begin contributing 20 percent to their health care starting in fiscal year 2013, which begins on July 1. Retirees are not subject to the changes and all the officers have put in the 20 years required to retire.
Walker said the positions haven’t been filled, “but the intention is to fill them, unless city council tells us otherwise; that could be a quarter of my road patrol.” The command staff positions will be filled by promoting from within the department, Walker said.
Mayor Paul Schreiber said the possibility of not filling the vacancies was discussed at city council's May 29 budget meeting. He said council is split on whether that should be done and said cuts to the police department - and the seven firefighter positions the city is proposing eliminating - wouldn't be necessary if the two tax proposals hadn't been voted down earlier in the month.
"I have concerns about how the city is going to function," Schreiber said when asked if he was concerned about the impact of retirements and unfilled vacancies on the police department. "Voters turned down a tax increase. It wasn't small, but it was required to provide the same services as we provide today. If we can't get the revenue, then we can't deliver the same services, and that includes the police department."
Walker said she expected the department to continue delivering strong service despite losing experienced officers and command staff.
“With losing the experience it’s a transition, but there are numerous people through the years who retired, and we have capable officers who have been waiting for promotion,” Walker said, pointing out that the city of Ann Arbor Police Department experienced a similar situation recently. “There’s certainly no worry, and we're fully confident of the people who are going to be promoted.”
Robb echoed that sentiment.
“We have some young road patrol officers who will step into those positions and do admirably,” he said.
Walker earns a base salary of $89,675 annually, the lieutenants earn $81,126, sergeants earn $71,163 and officers earn between $41,735 and $62,4222.
Comments
snapshot
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 : 6:24 a.m.
So much for the dedication and public service that these folks harp on when requesting more money. Public unions are contrary to public service. They do more harm than good and should be eliminated by executive order as they were created "to cast votes". What a travesty of of the "democratic" process. Public unions contribute "nothing" but "bully politics".
YpsiVeteran
Mon, Jun 4, 2012 : 6:08 p.m.
These people are not leaving to keep from paying 20 percent of their medical premiums. A few of them were already paying 20 percent anyway. They might be leaving to keep from losing their benefits, but not to keep from paying more for them. They have agreed to pay more several times, and are working with the city, not against it.
lefty48197
Sun, Jun 3, 2012 : 10:16 p.m.
Ypsi should be looking for a way to extend BETTER wages and benefits to it's police officers. They should not be looking for ways to push the best officers away from the city.
Martin Church
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 5:14 p.m.
Sorry walker, but as a leader of this community you need to set the example take the changes, or retire. we no longer can support the status quo. the city should never have issued an MOU when we face such budget crisis. ALL YPSILANTI OFFICALS NEED TO TAKE CUTS>
pseudo
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 3:34 p.m.
Yup yup yup - we spoke. Cut the costs. This is what we asked for as voters. This is our responsibility. You don't get to elect these guys and sit back and claim they aren't doing the job unless a) you could do better, and b) you are willing to run for office. We as voters made it pretty clear. Buck up folks - this is sad but we voted for it.
notta
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 3:12 p.m.
nice to see Walker is protecting herself with extending her current contract. What about all the officers out there risking their lives responding to all the shooting lately. Typical washtenaw county admin., adiminstrators getting richer and the front line workers getting screwed......I see a bid from the sheriff coming soon to police the city.
ypsilanti
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.
I would much rather see Mayor Schreiber looking toward the future and toward solving these problems as opposed to spending so much verbal energy dwelling on the positions his constituents overwhelmingly rejected. If I recall, he was a champion of taking this issue to the voters. He's now heard from them. I sometimes wonder if these local leaders have any idea who it is they represent. If our local leadership cannot constructively move forward with the mandate they have been given, then it may be time to for of these people to step aside and let someone else do the job.
Cory
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 12:29 p.m.
Three shootings this week, but it's just impossible to find any money in the budget for the Police department. Arm yourselves people. When something happens, obviously the Police won't be there to protect nor serve. They'll be too busy being overrun.
Mark Hergott
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.
One shooting happened on Harriet street, and the other two happened in the township. Do not conflate the crime in the township with what happens in the city.
lumberg48108
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 1:03 p.m.
help me - what three shootings took place under the protection of YPD?
In doubt
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 12:25 p.m.
This is such a shame, Ypsi PD is losing some great people here. As much as crime has risen, so should our officers pay and benefits. There are cuts to be made, but not at the cost of the Police department. If YPD loses Kevin Dorsey and Brent Armstrong, they are losing their finest and best! It seems to be that our people in power are as bright as asphalt, and are cut happy when it comes to everyone but their selves. Is this a world wide epidemic?
u812
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 1:18 p.m.
Snyders 80/20 will cause more problems then help. other then possibly detroit.
mlb
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 12:22 p.m.
Throughout the many discussions prior to the vote on the tax increases, one thing that was stated over and over by those in favor of the tax proposals was that the Water Street and other financial mistakes are in the past and the city needs to find a way to move forward given the circumstances. Based on the quotes by Mr. Schreiber, it seems that the city government is more focused on the past failure of the propsals than looking to the future at new ways of generating revenue other than additional taxes from the property owners of Ypsilanti.
mlb
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.
Useless, I thought that the new city manager had some great suggestions for the city, including development ideas that would generate new revenue. He talked about his ideas in an aa.com article: http://annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/new-city-manager-sees-potential-in-ypsilanti-says-financial-picture-may-not-be-so-bleak/?cmpid=mlive-%40mlive-news-a2&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter Also, in a comment to an article posted yesterday, Mr. Bodary said that Ypsi may get the same SAFER grant that AA received for the fire department, and that this could eliminate the need for some or all seven of the proposed layoffs of firefighters. Maybe Ypsilanti is eligible for more grants like this or has already applied for others.
Useless
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
What ways to do you propose that the city generate new revenue?
Cash
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 11:59 a.m.
This is pretty much immaterial. The State will step in and void all contracts, privatize all services and sell all assets. Mayor and Council fiddle while Ypsi burns.
Michael
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 11:32 a.m.
Cue the incoming wave of people screaming about greedy public sector workers - nevermind that the screamers would do the exact same thing. For example: "Scum! These greedy public sector workers are living large off of my taxes (But I don't actually live in Ypsi and thus it's not my taxes)! Never mind that I retired when I did to avoid upcoming loss of benefits I had planned on receiving for my entire working career - I was private sector!"
u812
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 1:23 p.m.
public sector paying 20% hurts the economy more then it helps,the unions help set the tone for the rest,now private will pay even more...