"Policing Facts vs.
Smoke & Mirrors"


PRESIDENT'S CORNER
  

Dear Members and friends,           June 10, 2009
 
    I am very pleased to report that the Ohio Supreme Court has upheld the state law making it legal for us live where we choose.  The decision was 5 for and 2 against upholding the State Law.  Justice Paul Pfeifer wrote the opinion which was supported by Justices Maureen O'Conner, Eve Stratton, Terrence O'Donnell, and Robert Cupp.  Justice Judith Lanzinger and Chief Justice Thomas Moyer.
 
    The following e-mail address will allow you access to the opinion;  http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/PIO/summaries/2009/0610/080128_080418.asp
 
    I am having Pat D'Angelo analyze this decision, but the bottom line is that we strongly believe that this is finally over.
 
    We will be sending out more details as we learn them, and will be planning a celebration of some sort in the very near future.  Congratulations!!!
 
    Please remember the pioneers of this battle in your thoughts and gratitude.  Bob Beck, and fireman Sammy DeVito are just two of the many individuals that must be acknowledged. 
 
Be Safe and enjoy the day! 

Stephen S. Loomis, President
Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association

CPPA Memo 09-07             04/07/09

 
Re; Pittsburgh Police Officer’s Funeral
 
Dear Members,
 
     As you are all aware by now the Pittsburgh Police Department has had three of their Hero’s taken from them violently and senselessly.   All three Officers worked in the same District, and all three were taken from us without warning or provocation.  Please keep these Hero’s, their families, and our Brothers and Sisters of the Pittsburgh Police Department in your thoughts and prayers.
 
     The Members of the Pittsburgh Police Department unconditionally assisted us the night Detective AJ Schroeder was taken from us.  They provided immediate aide, comfort, and assistance to John and Amy’s family residing in Pittsburgh and assisted us in safely escorting them to Cleveland. 
 
     Pittsburgh’s support was unconditional and unwavering during our loss of AJ Schroeder, as our support will be for them while they cope with the loss of their Brothers.  Please make every effort to travel to Pittsburgh for the Memorial Services for our comrades to demonstrate to PPD and their families that they do not grieve alone. 
 
    The following is the itinerary of the services as we know them.
 
Viewing
- All three PPD Officers will be lying in state in the rotunda of the City County Administration Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219,  1600 hrs Wednesday 4/8 to 0945 hrs. Thursday, 4/9.
 
Funeral
- All Non Pittsburgh Police Officers report to the Peterson Event Center on the campus of  Pitt University,  3719 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261,  NO LATER THAN 1100 hrs Thursday 4/9, for assembly and instruction.

Group Rate Hotels  -  Both hotels offer special group rates due to this tragedy
 
- Sheraton, Station Square Downtown (412) 894-0300, (412) 261-2000
- Westin, Convention Center Downtown, (412) 281-3700

Be Safe, and please call with any questions,
 
Stephen S. Loomis, President
Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association

William Denihan, Director             March 5th, 2009
 Cuyahoga County Community Mental Health Board

1400 West 25th Street, 3rd Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44113-3199
 
    I cannot thank you enough for your decision to keep Cop Killer Anthony Rodden institutionalized, despite the efforts of Common Pleas Judge Dave Matia to covertly release him on an unsuspecting society.  The men and women of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association, our families, as well as all Police officers within my reach WILL ALWAYS be grateful for your effort.
 
    Sir, you have my word that if there is an attempt to harm your reputation in any way on the part of any person wishing to release this animal in Cuyahoga or any other county in the State of Ohio, that attempt will be met immediately and aggressively by the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association, as well as every National, State, and Local Union I have access to.  The integrity and strength of character you have displayed throughout this ordeal, has been absolutely inspiring.  Thank you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Stephen S. Loomis, President
Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association

 
CPPA Memo 09-03      02/17/09
 
Dear Members,
 
     The CPPA requested a meeting with the honorable Judge Ronald Adrine to discuss issues pertaining to City of Cleveland Municipal Court Bailiff’s performing Police functions in our city. Judge Adrine graciously granted our request and set a meeting with us for today at 1530hrs. We sincerely appreciate Judge Adrine's time and consideration regarding this matter.
 
     Also in attendance was Police Officer and fellow CPPA Member Harry Gant. Officer Gant was an uninvited guest at this meeting and was in attendance to represent only his interests and the interests of the Bailiffs that work part time for him as Police Officers. Officer Gant represented the Bailiffs decidedly anti Union position well when faced with the reality that virtually no Cleveland Codified Ordnance, Cleveland City Charter, OPOTA curriculum, or Ohio Revised Code remotely supported their position.
 
     Officer Gant repeatedly stated that he hires bailiffs to work for him (not because they are willing to work for a below scale wages) but because there are NO Cleveland Police Officers or Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Deputies willing to work the police jobs he has available through his for profit security company.   We believe that this situation, on the part of Officer Gant, is a failure of his ability to effectively communicate his needs, and we (the CPPA) are willing to help.
 
     We have contacted the Cuyahoga County Sheriff Deputy that is the liaison to their 18 laid off Deputies and forwarded Officer Gants contact information to him. We are also sending this memo out to the Membership of the CPPA so that they may contact Officer Gant in order to arrange for their immediate hiring, and scheduling of secondary employment with him.  When Officer Gant and his associates hire you to work secondary employment for them, (at what I am sure will be at or above scale wages for Cleveland Police Officers), please be sure to adhere to all rules, regulations, and GPO's with regard to secondary employment.
 
    Officer Gant is currently the “Office Manager” for the 5th District Commanders Office and can be reached at 623-5505.
 

Be Safe and Continue to Take Care of Each Other,
 
Steve S. Loomis, President

December 18th, 2008

 
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,
 
     Your editorial of December 18, 2008, “Absolutely Inexcusable”, is a totally unfair portrayal of the events.  Indeed, it is also a rush to judgment without any balanced evaluation of the facts.  You seek to recklessly accuse, convict and punish without knowing what you are talking about.
 
     The patrol officer you unfairly malign went to the scene to assist a recent graduate of the police academy who had been given the assignment in question.  He did so because he thought the new officer would need help.  He was not given the assignment.
 
     The patrol officer you unfairly malign arrived at the scene of the multi car accident on a state highway (SR 176) well after numerous fire and EMS (approximately 10) personnel were on scene.  Those personnel, including their supervisors, whose duties are to attend to all injured parties and check all vehicles, also all failed to detect Mr. Azzam.  Were these safety personnel also, as you describe, too hungry, too cold, too bored or too busy talking on a cell phone to detect Mr. Azzam?  Were they also, in your words, lazy, inept, blind or stupid?
 
     Could it be that all these safety personnel, including the patrol officer you unfairly malign, did not detect Mr. Azzam, because the force of the impact caused his 5 foot 98 pound body to move under the dash board and steering wheel covered by the air bags that deployed?  Did you take into account that the body of Mr. Azzam could have moved when the tow truck driver lifted the front end and towed the vehicle away?
 
     The patrol officer that you unfairly malign checked the door to Mr. Azzam’s vehicle but it was locked.  He did look inside the vehicle but did not detect Mr. Azzam’s body.  The officer called for an emergency tow of three (3) vehicles from the state highway.  Inventory logs are not conducted under such circumstances and road conditions.
 
     Your reckless judgments in this case, without knowing all the facts, is a disservice to your readers and the public, including the patrol officer you seek to destroy.  Your conduct is a disgrace to due process of law and the First Amendment.
 
** You have my permission to use this letter as you see fit.  I can be reached for verification at the numbers below **
 

Stephen S. Loomis, President

Dear Members,                                     November 22, 2008

 
    In February of 2008, this Association was able to successfully shoot down and have declared unconstitutional in Common Pleas Court, an "emergency ordnance" that Council President Sweeny and Councilman Kevin Kelly attempted to quietly push through council early in 2007.  This law, if upheld, would have enabled the city to hire a private security company to "Police" CHIA.
 
    In June of 2008, at the bequest of Airport Director Ricky Smith, Council President Sweeny and Councilman Kevin Kelly were back at it again.  They again attempted to, and did quietly pass yet another "emergency ordnance" aimed at replacing our Airport Unit.  This ordnance was a modified version of the 2007 ordnance, and actually allows the city to attempt to create a makeshift "Airport Police Department" this time actually owned and operated by the City of Cleveland. 
 
    We have been monitoring this issue very closely throughout the summer, fall, and now winter of 2008, from many different vantage points.  The Civil Service Commission, City Council, and the Law Department to name just a few.  With a recent increase in rumor, hearsay and speculation obtained by our Members at the Airport over the past several months, we have also ramped up our efforts to obtain as much information as possible through these relationships with City Hall as well as through a flurry of Public Records Requests.  Through these efforts and relationships, we were able to obtain and confirm some information, while we were able to disregard other information regarding the replacement of  the Cleveland Police Department at CHIA.  Through our professional and diplomatic working relationship with the Law Department, we were able to provide them a brief glimpse of our concerns so they may make a more informed decision regarding this matter.
 
    Pat D'Angelo and I were informed late Monday night (11/17/08) by Assistant Law Director Stew Hastings that the City of Cleveland has abandoned its effort to remove our Officers from CHIA at least throughout the 2009 fiscal year.  Our Airport Unit will remain intact for at least another
14 - 18 months while the city reevaluates their options and efforts.  During that time, this Association will continue our fight to maintain our jobs at the Airport.  We will continue to collect, exchange, and disseminate,  FACTUAL information to our Members, and the city, and will react to all information and rumors diplomatically.  We WILL take any legal action necessary to block any initiative by the city to replace Cleveland Police Officers at the Airport.  We are also initiating State and Federal legislative action to protect our jobs at CHIA, and we will continue to seek and expect the support of not only our Union Members in Official Policy, but also the State and local Safety Force and Labor Unions as well.  WE HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT DROP OUR GUARD OR GIVE UP OUR AIRPORT JOBS WITHOUT A FIGHT!
 
    Through the efforts of this Association, numerous attempts by Airport Director Ricky Smith to privatize our jobs at CHIA have been successfully struck down over the last 3 years.  We will continue and only intensify our efforts to maintain our jobs at the Airport, and therefore the safety and security of the 1.2 million citizens that pass through CHIA each and every month.
 
Be Safe, and Please Continue to Take Care of Each Other,
 
Steve

 

Click here to read the President Archive letters

 


President's Corner ~ History & Mission ~ Executive Board ~ Events ~ Media ~ Political Action ~ The Ultimate Sacrifice Dispatch ~ Our Links ~ Discussion Board ~ Zone Car Lounge ~ Site Map ~ Contact Us ~ Mailing List
Meeting Schedule ~ Smoke & Mirrors ~ HELP ~ Retirement ~ Contract

Site Designed by GerbecDesigns Powered by DotEasy