President’s Message

LODGE5

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

John McNesby, President

217 Members lost in 6 months. There has been a continuous loss each month in the Department.

Everyone that can is leaving. Either to other Departments or pushing up retirement dates.

It’ s tough trying to replace these officers, and I believe people are not attracted to this profession because of the leadership we currently have in the Office of District Attorney.

Many Departments around the Country are experiencing a high rate of vacancies, but here they seem to be out pacing these other municipalities.

This is dangerous situation. Roll Calls are thin, days off are rare, if not cancelled. And when you call for backup, you want someone responding.

What do we do? What can be done?

Aside from an early Christmas present of an impeachment of the DA, we need to make this job more attractive.

I am currently meeting with City officials to hopefully free some funds to offer incentives to applicants to apply for this job.

Our Recruitment Unit is doing everything they can to bring the numbers up, but they are swimming upstream.

Also, for those who are already on the property, I am asking for retention bonuses to be paid over a couple of years, to encourage officers not to leave.

We also have been meeting to see if we may be able to come up with a better schedule, to attract officers, and to give current officers some better family time, with hopefully part of some weekends.

I have also put two teams out in divisions on 2:00pm-10:00pm to help with backing officers up, this is done 3-4 days per week depending on schedules here at the FOP every little bit helps.

Not sure what/if any these proposals will come through, but we cannot do nothing.

For now, do the best you can, and most importantly be safe.

Everyone goes home at night.

John J. McNesby, President