President’s Message: Coba: The PasT, The PresenT & The FuTure...

Coba: The PasT, The PresenT & The FuTureNew State-Wide Elections, New Raises, & a New Holiday Season

M A G A Z I N ECOBA

CITY OF NEW YORK

CORRECTION

December 2010 Issue

C O M M U n I t Y | H E A L t H | F I n A n C E | P O L I t I C S | S P O R t S

Dear Brother/Sister Officer:

I’m pleased to take this opportunity to discuss many significant issues thatdirectly affect you, your families, yourfellow officers, and all of our communities.And in discussing these topics, I hope each of you gains a broader, and a more comprehensive, perspective on the Correction Officers’ BenevolentAssociation’s past, the present, and our future.

Many of you already know where we, theCOBA, used to be prior to 1996, where weare now, and where we are headedtowards the future. For those of you whodon’t know or who may have forgotten,prior to 1996, our salaries and benefitswere grossly deficient in comparison to new York City Police Officers andFirefighters. that has changed. Prior to1996, the COBA had passed very littlelegislation. that has changed. Before 1996,most new Yorkers had no idea what aCorrection Officer does or that our jobs area vital part of keeping new York safe andsecure twenty-four hours a day, sevendays a week. that too has changed.

Under my leadership, the ExecutiveBoard and I have achieved over 50% inwage increases, passed over thirty piecesof legislation, and obtained vital benefitsthat you and your families depend on. Infact, as of november 1, 2010, every singleCorrection Officer received a new 4%increase in their salary.

Yet despite all that we have accomplishedover the past fifteen years, there is muchmore to be done. And there are morechallenges that lay ahead.

I want to confront one of the mostpervasive challenges we are currentlyfacing and one that is of paramountconcern to every single member in thisorganization: safety--your safety. It doesn’ttake a rocket scientist to figure out thatviolence in the jails is a major crisis and therise of inmate assaults on CorrectionOfficers is staggering. Seemingly, everyweek, a new report reveals that yet another Correction Officer has beeninjured due to yet another assault by aninmate. What has the Department ofCorrection’s response been to this crisis?

seabrookPRESIDEnt

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norMan

President’s Message:

“I want to confront one of the mostpervasive challenges we are currentlyfacing and one that is of paramountconcern to every single member in thisorganization: safety--your safety”.

20275 COBA_magazine_December_FINAL.qxd:Layout 1 12/13/10 8:33 AM

in this issue | december 2010

COBA MAgAzInE EDItORSMichael SkellyCommunications Director

Elias Husamudeen1st Vice President

COBA gEnERAL InFORMAtIOn75 Broad Street | Suite 810 | new York, nY 10004-2415t. 212.274.8000 | F. 212.274.8255 | E. [email protected]

COBA MaGazine

norMan seabrookPresident

Coba eXeCuTiVe board

elias husaMudeen1st Vice [email protected]

JosePh braCCo2nd Vice [email protected]

elizabeTh CasTro3rd Vice [email protected]

MiChael [email protected]

sTeVe robinsonFinancial [email protected]

ThoMas FarrellLegislative [email protected]

WilliaM ValenTinCorresponding [email protected]

karen belFieldRecording [email protected]

bennY [email protected]

Why Your Job Can’t be Privatized!.......................................................................... P.5

salary increase update............................................................................................. P.6

The Coba scholarship Fund................................................................................... P.9

Coba Fights for Co Michael Mckie.................................................... P.10

health Management division (hMd) know Your rights................................. P.11

legislative report ...................................................................................................... P.12

Treasurer’s report...................................................................................................... P.13

Coba’s 13th annual dinner dance............................................................. P.15

Coba in the News ................................................................................ P.18

emergency service unit eMT’s................................................................................ P.19

Coba leads labor rally in Washington d.C. ...................................................... P.20

Class action Grievances............................................................................................ P.21

Coba legal Corner.................................................................................................... P.23

PAt R O L L I n g t H E t O U g H E S t P R E C I n C t S I n n E W Y O R kC O B A t H E C I t Y O F n E W Y O R kP | 2

C O B A M A g A z I n E D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 I S S U E

advertisewith COBA tODAY!on-line or print...

suPPorT The Coba WidoWs’ & Children’s Fund TodaY!

Call 212.274.8000


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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 I S S U E C O B A M A g A z I n E

More post cuts and more shift reductions.this is totally unacceptable to me and tothe COBA Executive Board.

the Department of Correction is greatlymistaken if this administration believes itcan continue to force us to do more withless or to think we will sit idly by and watchour brave brother and sister officers bebrutally attacked by an inmate. The menand women who once wore our uniforms

and who have become supervisors andhave taken on additional responsibilitiesshould know first-hand how it feels to beignored when one is attacked in a facilityand the only response that individualreceives is “we have to cut overtime andeliminate posts.” In detailed letters sent to both Bronx District Attorney BobJohnson and Department of CorrectionCommissioner, Dora Schriro, I voiced myoutrage at the fact that while assaults on Correction Officers rise, the DA doesvirtually nothing to prosecute thoseinmates who have attacked an officer. to read my letter in full, please turn topage 10 or visit the COBA website atwww.cobanyc.org.

As I write this message to you, there areover 1000 inmates at AMKC alone whoare backlogged and waiting to be placedin punitive segregation. These inmateshave committed various infractions fromthe destruction of city property to themost serious assaults on staff. In fact, as recently as December 2nd, a CorrectionOfficer was assaulted and had his thumbsevered by an inmate. neither theCommissioner nor the Chief of theDepartment was there to respond to thishorrific assault. However, the ExecutiveBoard and I were there immediately, as wealways are.

this is totally unacceptable! Yet theDepartment of Correction is compelled toworry about overtime, shift reductions,and post cuts and won’t find adequatemeans of expediting the incarceration ofthe most serious offenders and removingCorrection Officers from harm’s way. there is a blatant disregard for the menand women who, as recently as november17th, were honored by the Department fortheir bravery while on november 23rd, the

Executive Board and I responded to thelatest melee that occurred at Riker’s Island.I hate to think what kind of service will takeplace when a Correction Officer ismurdered by one of these inmates whohave been slated to be placed in punitivesegregation, cause by post cuts. The DOCadministration knows first-hand thatthey can operate a punitive segregationsystem in each and every facility of theDepartment. Yet some of them are simplycontent to pass the buck and act as if itcannot be done. Well, it’s about time thatsomething is done about it.

Violence, and particularly gun violence, isalso a major issue facing our communities,our members and our families. As manyof you know, the Correction Officers’Benevolent Association initiated a publicsafety awareness campaign to promotethe nYPD’s Operation gun Stop program,which offers $1,000 rewards forinformation leading to the arrest andconviction of anyone caught with anillegal handgun.

the campaign started on September 16, 2010 with ads in the Amsterdam news,Harlem news, the Village Voice, El Diario/La Prensa, Beacon news, the African-American Observer, the guardianChronicle and other newspapers.

COBA also broadcasted a provocativeadvertisement across ten radio stationsincluding 1010 WInS. And the uniondistributed posters along store fronts in thevery locations where innocent lives wereclaimed because of gun violence. Somemay ask, why did we get involved? theanswer is simple. We live in communitieswhere kids are pulling out guns andshooting each other and we also have aresponsibility to make sure our membersand their families are safe. Many COBAmembers have had personal experiencewith gun violence. Pace University studentMax Moreno, 21, who was murderedduring an apparent robbery attempt at hisapartment near Pace Manhattan campus,was the son of a Correction Officer. AnotherCorrection Officer was shot in the chest andwounded as she watched her son playbasketball in Brooklyn. And yet anotherCorrection Officer’s son was murdered byshots fired from an illegal gun. thesetragedies could have been prevented andare the reasons why I am compelled tospeak out. Some of you may criticize myactions, but until you know what it’s like tobury your child, or be transported to anemergency room just for watching abasketball game, don’t pass judgment onsomeone else. I will continue to protestgun violence in our communities,especially when it has a direct impact onmy members. It’s time that we as a union,as a community, as a city and state, and asa nation raised our voices and collectivelysay, enough is enough!

As we face the many challenges facingour communities, we also look to ourelected leaders who will meet thesechallenges head on. President John F.kennedy once remarked that, “Anydangerous spot is tenable, if brave menwill make it so.” the City and State of newYork is currently in one of the mostdangerous economic climates we haveseen in the last forty years and some ofyou have never seen in your life. But withthe election that occurred on november2, 2010, a new dawn has come. the COBAis proud to report that we were one of thevery first unions to endorse Attorneygeneral Andrew Cuomo’s candidacy forgovernor of the State of new York. Andthanks to our support, he won by anoverwhelming margin. We are also proudto report that the COBA played animportant role in helping to elect the State’snext Chief Financial Officer, tom Dinapolifor Comptroller.

“the Department of Correction isgreatly mistaken if this administrationbelieves it can continue to force us todo more with less or to think we will sitidly by and watch our brave brotherand sister officers be brutally attackedby an inmate.”


In the months and years ahead, COBA will continue to advance our members’interests in City Hall, in Albany and inWashington, D.C.

A month ago, I, along with members of theCOBA Executive Board and members of theDelegate body attended a rally in front ofthe Lincoln Memorial to stand in solidaritywith our brothers and sisters in the laborcommunity who had traveled thousands ofmiles to lend their voices and remindpoliticians in Washington not to cater to thespecial interests on Wall Street, but toremember those of us on Main Street. I’vesaid it before and I’ll say it again, the middleclass and the municipal unions are not astimulus package!

As we move forward to a new year, it’simportant that you know that we havefaced our fair share of problems. Yet we’verectified those problems and responsiblyaddressed those individuals who failed tomeet the expectations of you and yourfellow members.

For those of you who may or may not know,we are pleased to inform you that allfrivolous lawsuits against this union, whichwere pursued by a few selfish individuals,have been completely dismissed. We arehappy to turn the page on this chapter andlook forward to continuing to diligentlyrepresent all of our members' interests. We

will never allow anyone to jeopardize thebenefits that we have vigorously fought toattain for you and your family.

I will and have always taken responsibilityfor the leadership of this organization. Butall of us have a shared responsibility aswell. You cannot continue as a CorrectionOfficer, working in a very dangerousenvironment, to turn a blind eye to injustice(for further background information on thissubject, please read my president’smessage in the January 2007 edition of theCOBA newsletter).

You cannot, as a Correction Officer, allowyourself to be used as a pawn in the gameof life. You must vigorously defend theconstitution that you have sworn touphold. You must not be afraid to do whatis right. You must do what you expectothers to do.

You must not allow supervisors to use youin the daily operations of the facility byhaving you do the job of three CorrectionOfficers and then as soon as somethinggoes wrong, no one takes responsibility,yet everyone is pointing the finger at you.

the Department of Correction is down30% from its peak within its uniformedforce. this is a significant decline whenplaced in the context of public safety inthis city. Everyone is trying to do more

with less but you don’t remove the frontdoor of your home because you cannotafford a lock. What I’m saying is publicsafety is not an option. It’s a necessity!Some of you have had the good fortuneto win tickets to Broadway shows,sponsored by the COBA, as well as, otherevents. We do these things because webelieve it’s just as important to spend timewith your loved ones as it is your fellowofficers and we will continue to providesimilar opportunities in the future.

As we head into the holiday season, it isimperative that we remain mindful ofthose of us who don’t have as much as wedo and remember those of us who are no longer here with us by our side. Inthis season of giving thanks, let us alsocontinue to support one another and ourunion. Let us continue to move thisorganization forward and with your helpand god’s, conquer a new horizon.

May god continue to bless you and yourfamilies.

norman SeabrookPresident

every Friday11:00am-12 noon

www.cobanyc.orgwww.wwrl1600.com

RADIOR E A L T A L K : : R E A L T I M E

hosted by

Executive Producer Elias Husamudeen

Norman

Seabrook

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On September 19, 2002, governor george Pataki signed into law, Senate Bill6772/Assembly Bill 6038. this law amended section 9-117 of the new York CityAdministrative Code, to require that the duty of maintaining the custody andsupervision of persons detained or confined in any facility of the new York CityDepartment of Correction, must be performed by a new York City CorrectionOfficer. In other words, privatization of new York City jails became illegal.

the COBA Executive Board, for more than seven years prior to the passage ofthis bill, fought vigorously against privatization of any new York City jailfacility. Private correction companies have long been interested in gettingtheir hands on any, or all, of the facilities in the new York City jail system. Weknew that once they got their feet in the door, these companies wouldcontinue to make progress because they will pay their employees less, andexpect much less from them. With the signing of this bill, the elected officialsof the City and State of new York at that time, demonstrated that they werein complete agreement that the Department of Correction can not bereplaced by any private sector organization. We won a significant victory onbehalf of all new York City Correction Officers.

Privatization of jails and prisons has proven to be a disaster inmany states. Correction Officers have lost their jobs, and moreimportantly, public safety has been jeopardized on numerousoccasions. The current commissioner, Dora Schriro, proposedprivatizing the Transportation Division and other areas of the NewYork City Department of Correction, but because of COBA’s anti-privatization bill, she has been unable to do so.

Out of the more than 35 pieces of legislation that has been passedby the COBA Executive Board, the anti-privatization bill is themost important piece of legislation ever passed.

Other law enforcement unions throughout the country, have been fightingto obtain this bill for their members and on behalf of public safety. Publicsafety has suffered in other places such as Washington DC, Florida, andnumerous other states. that will nOt happen in the new York CityDepartment of Correction because of the anti-privatization bill obtained bythis union. As a result of this bill, the jobs of new York City Corrections Officerswill never be in jeopardy, and neither will the safety of new Yorkers. Anythinghaving to do with supervising or maintaing the care, custody and control ofinmates, must be performed by a new York City Correction Officer.

Best wishes and a safe and happy holidays to you and your family.

eliashusaMudeen1St VICE [email protected]

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WhY Your Job Can’T be PriVaTized!




the COBA Executive Board has successfully negotiatedfive contracts which have significantly increased yoursalaries and benefits, as well as, the benefits for yourfamily. As you know, contract negotiations with theCity of new York are never easy. they are made evenmore difficult during downturns in the economy andthe worsening fiscal conditions of both the City andState of new York.

Our union is strong because of the excellent contractswe have achieved. In addition to the increasedcontributions to longevity pay, the annuity fund, theactive and retiree funds and the uniform allowances,the COBA Executive Board has dramatically improvedwages for all Correction Officers. Specifically, since1995, the COBA has obtained over 50% compoundedraises for every Correction Officer.

salarY inCrease uPdaTe

Effective September 1, 2008, the salary schedule for correction officers hired between January 1, 2006 and September 1, 2008 shall be modified as follows:

CuRRENT EFFECTIvE SEP.1, 2008Basic Max 68,475 70,717Second grade 50,677 52,338third grade 47,689 49,251Fourth grade 43,688 45,099Fifth grade 39,071 40,351Six grade 37,577 38,809

Effective September 1, 2008, the salary schedule for correction officers hired between September 1, 2008 and January 1, 2009 shall be modified as follows:

CuRRENT EFFECTIvE SEP. 1, 2008Basic Max 68,475 70,717Second grade 50,000 51,612third grade 46,250 47,747Fourth grade 41,900 43,256Fifth grade 38,850 40,106Six grade 35,000 36,339

salarY sChedule For neW hires on or aFTer JanuarY 1, 2009

For Correction Officers hired on or after January 1, 2009, the following salary schedule shall apply:

Effective Effective Effective Effective1/1/09 11/1/09 11/1/10 12/1/10

4% 4%After 5.5 Years 70,717 73,546 76,488 76,488After 4.5 Years 51,612 53,676 55,823 55,823After 3.5 Years 47,747 49,657 51,643 51,643After 2.5 Years 43,256 44,986 46,785 46,785After 1.5 Years 40,106 41,710 43,378 43,378After 6 Months 36,134 37,579 39,082 39,755First 6 Months 36,134 37,579 39,082 39,755




4th Grade (Completion of 2 years) 4% 4%8/1/2008 11/1/2009 11/1/2010 12/1/2010

Base salary $45,290 $47,102 $48,986Holiday Pay 1,911 1,988 2,067night Diff. 2,050 2,132 2,218Uniform allowance 1,100 1,100 1,100Total $50,351 $52,322 $54,371

3rd Grade (Completion of 3 years) 4% 4%Base salary $52,914 $55,031 $57,232Holiday Pay 2,233 2,322 2,415night Differential 2,395 2,491 2,591Uniform allowance 1,100 1,100 1,100Total $58,642 $60,944 $63,338

2nd Grade (Completion of 4 years) 4% 4%Base salary $54,893 $57,089 $59,373Holiday Pay 2,316 2,409 2,506night Differential 2,485 2,584 2,688Uniform allowance 1,100 1,100 1,100Total $60,794 $63,182 $65,667

1st Grade (Completion of 5 years) 4% 4%Base salary $70,717 $73,546 $76,488 $76,488Holiday Pay 3,147 3,266 3,390 3,412night Differential 5,820 6,053 6,295 6,295Uniform allowance 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100Longevity 3,859 3,859 3,859 4,365Total $84,643 $87,824 $91,132 $91,660

Completion of 10 years of Service 4% 4%Base salary $70,717 $73,546 $76,488 $76,488Holiday Pay 3,189 3,309 3,433 3,454night Differential 5,820 6,053 6,295 6,295Uniform allowance 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100Longevity 4,859 4,859 4,859 5,365Total $85,685 $88,867 $92,175 $92,702



neW salarY CharT For CorreCTion oFFiCersCorreCTion oFFiCers hired Prior To JanuarY 1, 2006




4th Grade (Completion of 2 years) 4% 4%9/1/2008 11/1/2009 11/1/2010 12/1/2010

Base salary $38,809 $40,361 $41,975

5th Grade (Completion of 1 year) 4% 4%Base salary $40,351 $41,965 $43,644Holiday Pay 1,703 1,771 1,842night Differential 1,827 1,900 1,976Uniform allowance 1,100 1,100 1,100Total $44,981 $46,736 $48,562

4th Grade (Completion of 2 years) 4% 4%Base salary $45,099 $46,903 $48,779Holiday Pay 1,903 1,979 2,058night Differential 2,042 2,123 2,208Uniform allowance 1,100 1,100 1,100Total $50,144 $52,105 $54,145

3rd Grade (Completion of 3 years) 4% 4%Base salary $49,251 $51,221 $53,270Holiday Pay 2,078 2,162 2,248night Differential 2,229 2,319 2,411Uniform allowance 1,100 1,100 1,100Total $54,658 $56,802 $59,029

2nd Grade (Completion of 4 years) 4% 4%Base salary $52,338 $54,432 $56,609Holiday Pay 2,209 2,297 2,389night Differential 2,369 2,464 2,563Uniform allowance 1,100 1,100 1,100Totals $58,016 $60,293 $62,661

1st Grade (Completion of 5 years) 4% 4%Base salary $70,717 $73,546 $76,488 $76,488Holiday Pay 3,147 3,266 3,390 3,412night Differential 5,820 6,053 6,295 6,295Uniform allowance 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100Longevity 3,859 3,859 3,859 4,365Total $84,643 $87,824 $91,132 $91,660

neW salarY CharT For CorreCTion oFFiCersCorreCTion oFFiCers hired beTWeen JanuarY 1, 2006 and sePTeMber 1, 2008

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A large part of keeping our union strong is our continued commitment tosupporting the higher educational goals of our children. As you may or maynot know, for many years the COBA did not provide the much neededassistance that all of our children need to be successful in school andtherefore in life. that is why the Executive Board established a ScholarshipFund in 1996, which provides $1,000 scholarship checks to the children ofactive Correction Officers. Because of our success and through the support ofmany generous donors, the fund has been able to expand its scope over theyears to include scholarship awards for Correction Officers who arecontinuing their education, as well as, for retirees. the strength of ourscholarship fund is reflected by the unprecedented $350,000 in scholarshipswhich have been awarded over the past fourteen years.

Moving forward, the Executive Board will maintain this vital commitment tosupporting our children and to further strengthening our union.

2010 Carl Rachlin Scholarship RecipientsCorrection Officer Scholarship Winner Level of Education CommandDenbrook Holmes Danielle Holmes 11th Grade W & CLouis Gellys Louis A. Gellys III College Student RetiredWalter Cooper Isaiah Cooper College Student Retired Alfredo Andrade Misaki Andrade Elementary Student RetiredJonathan Middleton Nara Middleton High School Student RetiredGregory Gaspard Kayla C. Gaspard 1st Grade GMDCRyan Howell Ryan Xavier Howell Elementary Student West FacilitySabrina Boyd Tahirah Boyd College Student SSDGreta Smith Self College Student AcademyMalig Aziz Jason Aziz College Student SOD/I.U.Sonia Rodriguez Amanda Rodriguez College Student EMTCPedro Hernandez Peter J. Hernandez 12th Grade EMTCVincent Bartletto Andre Knight High School Student GRVCKilsy Velez Johanna Disla High School Student RNDCSonia Jones Kayla Campbell 3rd Grade RMSCDenise Alexander-Ferguson Zaiah Ferguson 7th Grade Trans.Kenyatta Johnson Aliyah Westbrook High School Student DCJC/CJBMilo Canady Kelsey Canady College Student VCBCJorge E. Rivera Jorge D. Rivera Elementary Student OBCCJune Fouch Christopher Fouch College Student HQPaul Chadwick Sacha Chadwick College Student BHPWRickey Dunning Courtney Dunning College Prep Student EHPWShawana Haskins Stephen Peppers Jr. Elementary Student BKDCRafael Ferrer Kevin J. Ferrer Elementary Student BXDCHuw Morrish Chaz Morrish College Student QDCSybrina Miller Juwan Miller Middle School Student MDCMario Medina Mario N. Medina 8th Grade MDCKim Fredricks Kwanasia Fredricks College Student AMKCWilliam Schultz Thomas W. Schultz College Student AMKCJames Houston Shakeya Houston College Student NIC

The Coba sCholarshiP FundCOBA Gives $30,000 to Correction Officers

and their Children JosePhbraCCo2nD VICE [email protected]

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After 20 months of battle in Bronx State Supreme Court, COBA Attorney JoeyJackson successfully convinced Judge Steven Barrett to cut Correction OfficerMichael Mckie’s bail in half---from $400,000 to $200,000 in cash or bonds.

Upon reviewing multiple bail applications and every legal avenue pursued byMckie’s attorney, Joey Jackson, the Judge finally reduced Mckie’s bail.

the judge, in making his decision, also noted that do to the extraordinarylength of time that this case has already taken and because a trial would notbegin until the beginning of 2011 at the earliest, it was appropriate to reduceCorrection Officer Mckie’s bail at this time.

robinsonFInAnCIAL [email protected]

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Coba FiGhTs For CorreCTion oFFiCer

MiChael MCkiesTeVe

September 17, 2010

Hon. Robert Johnson

District Attorney, Bronx County

the Office of the Bronx County District Attorney

198 East 161st Street

Bronx, nY 10451

Dear District Attorney Johnson,

I’m writing to you to express my continued concerns regarding the alarming increase in

assaults on Correction Officers. As you know, the Correction Officers patrol the toughest

precincts in new York, the city jails. And as you also know on any given day a Correction

Officer, armed with only personal body alarm, can be bitten by an HIV-infected inmate,

have feces thrown in their face, or be brutally attacked and possibly even killed.

Our members are not only the boldest—they are everyday heroes who keep the public

safe and secure twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. And they need to be

protected too.

Last year the assaults by inmates on Correction Officers rose to an alarming rate of 63,

while the arrests of inmates dropped from 751 to 567. I can’t even recall reading or

hearing about a single indictment against an inmate in recent memory for the assault of

a new York City Correction Officer. this is totally unacceptable to me and the members

of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association’s Executive Board.

I am asking that as the chief prosecutor in Bronx County, that you immediately

investigate the assaults on Correction Officers and prosecute these repeat offenders to

the fullest extent of the law. the safety of over 8,000 men and women who comprise

the second largest law-enforcement force in this city is at stake.

I am available to meet with you at your earliest convenience to further discuss this urgent

matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

norman Seabrook

President

cc: Commissioner Dora Schriro

norMan seabrook

President

elias husaMudeen

1st Vice President

[email protected]

JosePh braCCo

2nd Vice President

[email protected]

elizabeTh CasTro

3rd Vice President

[email protected]

MiChael Maiello

treasurer

[email protected]

sTeVe robinson

Financial Secretary

[email protected]

ThoMas Farrell

Legislative Chairman

[email protected]

WilliaM ValenTin

Corresponding Secretary

[email protected]

karen belField

Recording Secretary

[email protected]

bennY bosCio

Sergeant-At-Arms

[email protected]

Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, Inc.

“ Patrol l ing the Toughest Prec inc t s in New York”

november 15, 2010Hon. Dora SchriroCommissionerDepartment of Correctionnew York City Department of Correction

75-20 Astoria Blvd.East Elmhurst, nY 11370Dear Commissioner Schriro,I'm writing to you to express my continued concerns regarding the alarming increase in assaults

on Correction Officers. As you know, the Correction Officers patrol the toughest precincts in

new York, the city jails. And as you also know on any given day a Correction Officer, armed with

only personal body alarm, can be bitten by an HIV infected inmate, have feces thrown in their

face, or be brutally attacked and possibly even killed.

Our members are not only the boldest-they are everyday heroes who keep the public safe and

secure twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. And they need to be protected too.

Last year the assaults by inmates on Correction Officers rose to an alarming rate of 63, while the

arrests of inmates dropped from 751 to 567. Seemingly every week, we receive

reports indicating that yet another Correction Officer has been assaulted by yet another

inmate. this is not limited to one or two facilities, but it is becoming a major crisis that is

spreading throughout the city's jail system. this is totally unacceptable to me and the members

of the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association's Executive Board.

-I am asking that as the head of this agency, that you immediately investigate the assaults on

Correction Officers and urge the Bronx District Attorney to prosecute these repeat offenders to

the fullest extent of the law. the safety of over 7,000 men and women who comprise the second

largest law-enforcement force in this city is at stake.

I am available to meet with you at your earliest convenience to further discuss this urgent

matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

norman SeabrookPresident

cc: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

norMan seabrookPresident

elias husaMudeen1st Vice [email protected] braCCo2nd Vice [email protected] CasTro

3rd Vice [email protected] [email protected] robinsonFinancial [email protected] FarrellLegislative [email protected] ValenTinCorresponding Secretary

[email protected] belFieldRecording [email protected] [email protected]

Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, Inc.

“ Patrol l ing the Toughest Prec inc t s in New York”




A Correction Officer armed with the information that comes out of theDepartment’s own Rules and Regulations, Directives and Operational Ordersrelated to “sick leave” is a Correction Officer who is educated about his or herrights. In order to protect yourself, you should know the Department’s Rules,Regulations, and Directives concerning your ‘sick leave’ rights andresponsibilities. the Health Management Division is governed by Directive 2262.

our sick leave is very important to us with the type of work thatwe do and we should be completely aware of the department’srules concerning it.

First, you should understand that since we receive full pay evenwhen unavailable for duty due to ‘being sick’, the departmenthas a right and an obligation to assess the injury/illness,classifying it as “Full”, “restricted”, or “no Work” status.

the right of the Department does not, however, diminish your right toproduce independent evidence to influence the assessment of HMD. thismeans bringing in a doctor’s note which specifically states:

1) Your statement of ailment, pain, etc.

2) Physician’s observation.

3) Physician’s diagnosis.

4) Physician’s prescribed treatment.

5) Physician’s prognosis for recovery and time frame for your return to work.

What does that mean? It means that even though the Department has avested interest in down-playing your ailment and getting you back to work(preferably “Full Duty”), you need not fall victim to that prior to being able togo back to work. You will, however, be unsuccessful if you appear for yourHMD appointment without a doctor’s note, or with a doctor’s note that reads“patient stressed out- says he/she needs a month off”, or something alongthose lines. Your doctor’s note should be explicit.

healTh ManaGeMenT diVision(hMd) knoW Your riGhTs

CasTro3RD VICE [email protected]

Personalize QR-CODE forelizabeTh CasTro


elizabeTh




As I’m sure all of you know, november 2, 2010 was Election Day in the UnitedStates. Although this year is considered to be a “mid-term election” there weremany races both on the local and state-wide level that have a potential impacton COBA members and their families. As usual the COBA was at the fore front ofthese races.

the following is a list of candidates and the offices they were elected to which theCOBA endorsed:

Andrew Cuomo Governor

Thomas Di Napoli NYS Comptroller

Diane Savino State Senator 23 District

John Sampson State Senator 19 District

Dean Skelos State Senator 09 District

Shirley Huntley State Senator 10 District

Carl Kruger State Senator 27 District

Peter Abbate NYS Assembly 49 District

Carl Heastie NYS Assembly 83 District

Jeff Aubry NYS Assembly 35 District

Audrey Pheffer NYS Assembly 23 District

Michael Miller NYS Assembly 38 District

These are just a few of the many candidates that COBA has endorsed andhelped get into office. In turn, these officials have helped the COBA passlegislation that enhances the lives of Correction Officers and their families.These officials will continue to fight for the rights of our members and helpforge new legislation that will further enhance the benefits of the men andwomen that work so hard to help keep this city safe. This Executive Board willcontinue to support all of those men and women in public office that supportour membership. We will fight diligently to not only pass new legislation, butto also keep what we have worked so hard to get. As the Governor-Elect takesover in January 2011 and changes take place, we will focus on issues that willaffect our members and their families. We will continue to be a force not onlyin NYC politics but in Albany as well.

On August 30, 2010 governor Paterson signed into Law “the Surviving Spouse”Bill. this Law was sponsored by all three nYCD Unions (COBA, CCA and ADW/DW)along with unions from the Sanitation Department. this law provides thesurviving spouse or domestic partner of a member of service if they choose to,health insurance for the rest of their lives. this health insurance will be providedthrough the City of new York’s group plan, at a rate of 102% of the cost that theCity of new York pays. this law applies to ALL members of service, both activeand retired. the loss of a spouse is traumatic enough. this Law will take awaythe worries and undue burdens of trying to pay the astronomical costs of privatehealth care coverage. the Executive Board of COBA will continue to fight for therights and benefits of our members and their families moving forward.

FarrellLEgISLAtIVE [email protected]

Personalize QR-CODE forThoMas Farrell


leGislaTiVe rePorT

ThoMas




the COBA fund has been audited by anindependent accounting firm in accordancewith its annual reporting obligation. theindependent auditor has audited theaccompanying statements of the financialposition of the Correction Officers’ BenevolentAssociation, Inc. as of June 30, 2009 and therelated statements of activities and cash flowsfor the years then ended.

the audits were conducted with auditingstandards generally accepted in the UnitedStates of America.

these audits were conducted for thepurpose of forming an opinion on the basicfinancial statements taken as a whole. Suchinformation has been subjected to theauditing procedures applied in the audit ofthe basic financial statements.

[email protected]

Personalize QR-CODE forMiChael Maiello


MiChaelI’m very pleased to provide you with this detailed quarterly report outliningCOBA’s Finances. As the new treasurer, I have and will continue to workdiligently to ensure COBA’s funds remain fiscally solvent and our expendituresare spent prudently. this report has been carefully reviewed by me alongwith a team of experienced accountants. It is an honor to be a part of thisExecutive Board and I look forward to serving my fellow brother and sisterCorrection Officers for many years to come!

Treasurer’s rePorT

Revenue:Dues 7,267,447Interest Income 2,326Other 65,368Expense Allocation Reimbursement-Active 226,248Expense Allocation Reimbursement-Retirees 226,248Expense Allocation Reimbursement-Annuity 130,998Total Revenue 7,918,635

Office Expense:Office Expense 234,735Office Salaries 402,207Payroll taxes & Employee Benefits 185,062telephone & Related Services 154,646Rent 400,631Subtotal 1,377,281

General & Administrative Expenses:Officers’ Expenses 955,017Automobile Expenses 62,733Delegates Allowances 376,445Conferences, Conventions and Seminars 297,952Member Services 61,784Member Annual Outing 389,827Legislation, Fundraisers, Charitable DonationsDinners, Dances & Subscriptions 164,300Public Relations, Advertising, Printing & Mailings 239,638Collective Bargaining, grievances & Arbitration 640,422Professional Fees 15,000Consulting 85,500Election 57,414

Subtotal 3,346,032total All Expenses 4,723,313Increase (Decrease) in net assets available 3,195,322net Assets-Beginning 1,571,439net Assets-Ending 4,766,761

Coba Financial statement (FY 09) July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010


Additions to fund net assets attributed to:

Employer’s Contributions 4,993,263

Investment Income:Interest and dividends 1,534,523

Realized & Unrealized gains/losses4,251,181

Total Investment Income 10,778,967

Less: Investment Expenses 259,956

Total additions 10,519,011

Deductions from net assets attributed to:

Benefits paid to participants 4,137,538

Administrative Expenses:Professional fees 119,568

Administrative Expenses 20,000

Office salaries and relatedPayroll costs 63,572

Office Expenses 55,279

Rent 21,648

total Deductions 4,417,605

Decrease/Increase in net assets 619,406

net Assets-Beginning 51,617,283

net Assets-Ending 57,718,649

Coba annuity Fund January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009

security benefits Fund – active January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009

security benefits Fund – retireesJanuary 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009

Employer’s Contributions 15,969,036Interest Income 105,457Participants 5,375Civil Legal Representation Fund 207,351Other Income 32,340

Total Income 16,319,559

Benefits for MembersLife Insurance 1,079,415Legal Benefits 4,860,000Civil Legal Representation Fund 270,000nY – Fica Fund 320,125

Drugs and Health BenefitsDental - Insured 3,049,697Dental – Self Insured 46,057Prescription Drugs 5,108,157Optical 139,330Death Benefit 10,483

Operating ExpensesOffice salaries & relatedPayroll expenses 189,636Professional fees 124,970Administrative fees 148,269

Rent 36,612Office Expenses 380


Increase in net assets 936,428



Employer’s Contributions 10,919,503Interest Income 39,150Cobra Participants 8,851

Total Income 10,967,504

Benefits for MembersLife Insurance 456,056Legal Benefits 250,740nY – Fica Fund 41,818

Drugs and Health BenefitsDental - Insured 2,006,158Dental – Self Insured 167,179Prescription Drugs 7,145,150Optical 98,790

Operating ExpensesOffice salaries & relatedPayroll expenses 83,221Professional fees 34,500Administrative fees 94,905

Rent 36,612Office Expenses 107,137


Increase in net assets 445,238





Dues are deducted from every paycheck. this is called a dues check off. Union dues pay for the expense of running theunion. A major portion of your dues helps the union to perform its chief function – negotiating a contract with youremployer. the union organizes a negotiating team consisting of the Executive Board, delegates, members, lawyers andother labor experts to represent your interests at the bargaining table. the City of new York then signs a contract toprovide you with better wages, job security, a fair grievance process, and better working conditions, including vacations,holidays, sick leave, premium pay and overtime. In addition, the union is responsible for ensuring that the Departmentfollows the terms of the contract. Delegates, union attorneys, and other union officials represent members if they havework place grievances or some other problem with the Department. Your contract means absolutely nothing, if thereisn’t a union to force the Department to stay in compliance. Another benefit of contract negotiations is that youremployer also agrees to provide health coverage, legal representation, and retirement benefits.

Your union dues provide for a number of benefits, legal services, campaign financing (PAC), financing of legislativeinitiatives that promote and provide protection for correction officers and their families, and contributions to the Widowsand Children’s Fund to assist survivors of deceased members. It also provides for public relations, arbitrations, printingand mailings, professionals and consultants.

YOuR uNION DuES




belFieldRECORDIng [email protected]

Personalize QR-CODE forkaren belField


karen

the Widows' & Children’s Fund

13thDinner Dance

Annual

I’m pleased to report with great pride and pleasure that COBA’s 13th AnnualDinner Dance was our most successful fundraising event yet. Hundreds ofmembers of the Department of Correction from all ranks joined specialguests including Police Commissioner Raymond kelly, Staten Island DistrictAttorney Dan Donovan, Council Member Peter Vallone Jr., and many morefriends of COBA for an evening that celebrated the 2010 COBA awardrecipients for their efforts to help this organization each and every day. thisyear’s top award, the President’s Award was bestowed to CommissionerRaymond W. kelly. the evening also marked a significant new chapter inCOBA’s history as we raised over $100,000 to benefit the COBA Widows’ &Children’s Fund.

Over a decade ago, COBA established the Widows’ and Children’s Fund toassist the children and spouses of Correction Officers who died while onactive duty. Since its inception, COBA has distributed over $500,000 to thefamilies of our deceased brother and sister Correction Officers. Each year themoney raised at the annual COBA Awards Dinner is used to provide a checkin the amount of $250 to each family of a deceased active Correction Officerto help them purchase their thanksgiving dinner. And during the holidayseason, a check in the amount of $250 is provided as a holiday gift to eachwidow/widower.

Additionally, a check in the amount of $500 is provided to each eligible childof a deceased Correction Officer, ensuring that each bereaved family is notforgotten. Although the loss of a loved one can never be replaced, COBAextends our deepest sympathies with a token of generosity, hoping to makea meaningful difference.

Our mission is to continue to take care of our own. We thank all of you foryour unconditional generosity and support. the officers and friends whohave purchased watches, cups. COBA cards, pins, and baseball caps from theCOBA Store on the COBA website (www.cobanyc.org) have helped keep theWidows’ and Children’s Fund vibrant for many years to come!

Coba’s 13th annual dinner danCe is The MosT

suCCessFul eVer!over 600 Guests from The Correction

department Family Turned out for Gala That raised over $100,000 To help Coba

“Take Care of Our Own”


BELOW ARE THE DECEASED CORRECTION OFFICERS WHOSE FAMILIES ARE ASSISTED BY THE FuND:

CORRECTION OFFICER FACILITY CORRECTION OFFICER FACILITYRene Melendez BkDC Christopher Mayes gMDCtheodore Marcinkiewicz QnCtS John glykokolalos BHPWguy Hudson AMkC Darian Davis HDQtSVanessa Lockhar-gales OBCC James Elskoe, III BXCtSLeonard Smith tRAnS thorrie Murray gRVCMichael Russell WF Hector Brown AMkCMegan Carty EMtC kelvin Howell gMDCLois Dowdy gMDC Paul Frazier MDCAndrew Morgan RMSC Erick Figueroa SODPenelope Y. knight gMDC Josephine Caridad EMtCAngeline Milligan RnDC timothy Akins EMtCEdwardo Rodriguez AMkC Fermin Rivera VCBCVanessa Fuller ` RnDC Robin Joy Dennison gMDCJacqueline gore AMkC Donald tucker AMkCPaul Sophas AMkC Robert Ross kCHPWJoseph Henry VCBC Leslie Hills OBCCRobin Wilson EMtC norberto Irizarry tRAnSMiguel Cruz RnDC Diana Irizarry AMkCMark Jackson AMkC Frantz Richiez MDCSabrina Jordan AMkC troy Smith MDCBernadette Dewitt VCBC Denbrook Holmes BXCtSRenee Morris tRAnS kenny Duncan MDCAlfonso Petters RMSC William Johnson QnCtSJohn Harden OBCC Joanne torrres OBCCglenn Myrie RnDC Jacqueline Adams EMtCneal Serrette MDC tanya traylor-Davoren OBCCDonovan Patterson RnDC Pedro Moran ESU

NOTE: 58 FAMILIES30 CAREGIVERS95 CHILDREN


In 1996, the COBA ExecutiveBoard established the COBAWidows’ and Children’s Fundto assist the children andspouses of CorrectionOfficers, who died while onactive duty. Since itsinception COBA hasdistributed more than$500,000 plus to the familiesof our deceased CorrectionOfficers. Each year, themoney raised at the annualCOBA Awards Dinner is usedto provide a check in theamount of $250 to eachfamily of a deceased activeCorrection Officer to helpthem purchase theirThanksgiving dinner. Andduring the holiday season, acheck in the amount $250 isprovided as a holiday gift toeach widow/widower.Additionally, a check in theamount of $500 is providedto each eligible child of adeceased Correction Officer,ensuring that each bereavedfamily is not forgotten.

Daryl E. Allen 2/07/2010 OBCCLorraine Mickens 4/27/2010 OBCCLee A. Townsel 9/02/2010 EMTCPedro Moran 9/13/2010 SODDonavan T. Patterson 9/16/2010 RNDC

in Memoriam

“Take Care of Our Own”“Take Care of Our Own”20275 COBA_magazine_December_FINAL.qxd:Layout 1 12/13/10 8:34 AM

P | 17


Coba’s 13th annual dinner danCe

Coba CirCle oF sisTers 2010

PAt R O L L I n g t H E t O U g H E S t P R E C I n C t S I n n E W Y O R k C O B A t H E C I t Y O F n E W Y O R k

PHOtOS BY: RALPH E. SMItH


By: Christina Boyle

DAILY nEWS StAFF WRItER

December 4th 2010

A Rikers Island inmate bit off part of a

correction officer's thumb after a tussle

in the jail thursday night, officials said.

Joseph Vilsaint, 30, chomped down on

the guard's right thumb and severed it

at the base of the nail during the

incident in the Anna M. kross facility,

the Correction Department said

yesterday. the guard, who lives in

Queens but has not been named, was

trying to wake Vilsaint, who had been

involved in a fight with another inmate

earlier in the day and was due to be

transported to the jail clinic for

examination, officials said. When the

correction officer entered his cell about

10:45 p.m., Vilsaint appeared to be

sleeping but then grabbed the officer

by the arm and bit into his hand. He

was subdued with pepper spray.

Vilsaint has a long rap sheet and has

been in custody since Oct. 31 on two

felony assault charges. He will now face

additional assault charges, Correction

Department spokesman Stephen

Morello said. the guard, a five-year

veteran, was taken to Bellevue Hospital,

but the tip of his thumb could not be

reattached. Another correction officer

was treated for palpitations, and a third

suffered lacerations to his hand in

connection with the incident,

according to the new York City

Correction Officers' Benevolent

Association.

CorreCTions oFFiCer loses TiP oF ThuMb

aFTer Tussle WiTh rikers island inMaTe


Correction unions are pointing to a

disturbance at Rikers Island nov. 23 as an

example of the problems that arise

because of what labor leaders call

inadequate staffing, a perennial point of

contention between them and the

Mayor’s Office.Inmates in a first-floor housing unit at the

Otis Bantum Correctional Center began

fighting with each other in the evening,

and as correction personnel tried to lock

down the rest of the unit other inmates

resisted and turned on the officers, said

Patrick Ferraiuolo, president of the

Correction Captains Association. It took

three waves of response teams before the

area was calm, he said. More inmates

became involved as more officers

arrived, said norman Seabrook, president

of the Correction Officers Benevolent

Association.

the unions said after a similar disturbance

Oct. 19 that the unit involved was short-

staffed because of budget cuts. After a

previous incident in April, in which the

Correction Department said staffing was

normal, the unions warned that budget

reductions were endangering officers.A second fight that occurred in another

unit about the same time was more easily

contained, Mr. Ferraiuolo said.

the unions said officers are being

endangered by the city’s moves to

reduce staffing. “Correction Officers are

being violently attacked at the hands of

inmates because they know that staffing

levels are low and the Department of

Correction continues to cut posts,

jeopardizing the safety and security of

Correction Officers and inmates alike,” Mr.

Seabrook said. “It’s just a matter of time

before an officer is killed at the hands of

one of these violent individuals.”Mr. Ferraiuolo said there was no indication

that staffing in the unit was lower

than usual. But, he said, “the violence

is escalating...Our job is extremely

dangerous. the inmates are extremely

violent. the city needs to realize we don’t

need to cut staff, we need to increase staff.”At Least 16 Officers Injuredthe Correction Department said there

were two fights, one involving two

inmates and one involving four, on

different floors within an hour of each

other. In both cases, the department said,

inmates turned on the officers and

additional officers arrived to help deal

with the problem. three Captains and 13

Correction Officers were taken to

hospitals with injuries, a spokesman said.

the department also said in a statement:

“In response to COBA President norman

Seabrook’s assertion re staffing levels:

the two housing areas where these

incidents occurred were fully staffed.

More than 20 officers eventually

responded to the scene and there was

ample manpower available at all times.”Mr. Ferraiuolo said that actually four

Captains—Edith Margarito, Arthur

Spencer, Winston Declet and Delroy

Morrison—were injured and all were

released later on the night of the

incident. He said injuries to other officers

included wounds that needed suturing

and a broken eye socket. Mr. Seabrook

said one of his officers was in a neck

brace with possible spinal problems.“It’s becoming like it was in the ‘80s and

early ’90s,” Mr. Ferraiuolo said of the

violence.

‘Coddling’ InmatesMr. Seabrook said he needed proper

equipment and proper staffing levels and

decried “mismanagement by an agency

that thinks it’s okay to coddle these

inmates...Some of them have no problem

trying to kill a CO.”“I need three CO’s in each housing area,”

he said. that number has recently been

reduced to two, he said, and the

department is looking at assigning only

one officer in some areas.

By MARk tOOR

unions: inMaTes eMboldenednew Violence at rikers blamed on budget Cuts


nEW YORk (CBS) — A Rikers Island

correction officer had his thumb

bitten off by a inmate and two other

officers suffered injuries after a

violent brawl apparently broke out

thursday night in the prison, officials

said Friday.According to the new York City

Correction Officers’ Benevolent

Association, the incident happened

about 10:45 p.m. thursday inside the

Anna M. kross Center. It’s not clear

what led to the altercation, but COBA

officials said one officer suffered

lacerations to his hand and another

was treated for palpitations. the third

officer’s thumb was bitten off and

severed at the knuckle. All three were

rushed to Bellevue Hospital where

they were treated and released. their

identities were not revealed.

COBA President norman Seabrook

lashed out at prison brass, saying the

only high-ranking official from the

Correction Department to respond

was a “low-level deputy warden” and

that the chief of the department and

correction commissioner also weren’t

present.

“Budget cuts and savage inmates are

literally eating away at our

membership. It is inexcusable for the

Correction Commissioner to be MIA

while our members are being so

viciously attacked,” Seabrook said in

a statement.Officials said the incident is the latest

of four major violent melees that

have taken place at Rikers Island

within the last six months.

Cbs radio 880aM

CorreCTion oFFiCer’s ThuMb biTTen

oFF bY inMaTe aT rikers island

December 3, 2010

By Matthew Chayes

An inmate bit the tip off a jail guard's

thumb at Rikers Island, the city

Correction Department said Friday.

Hospital surgeons couldn't reattach the

tip, said the correction department

spokesman, Stephen Morello. Morello

said jail officials were in contact with

prosecutors about criminally charging

the inmate, 45-year-old Joseph Vilsaint,

in connection with the attack. the

attack happened thursday at the island

jail's Anna M. kross Center while Vilsaint

was in a holding cell after being

involved in a fight. When the correction

officer went to bring Vilsaint for a

medical checkup, Vilsaint appeared to

be sleeping, but then "sprang up,

grabbed his hand and bit the thumb

off," Morello said. Fellow officers had to

use a chemical spray and restraining

holds to bring Vilsaint under control.

Vilsaint had been jailed on a felony

assault charge from Brooklyn, Morello

said. the thumb was retrieved, put on

ice, and sent with the officer to Bellevue

Hospital Center in Manhattan. the

name of the officer, who's been on the

job five years, wasn't made public. In a

statement, the new York City

Correction Officers' Benevolent

Association union president, norman

Seabrook, blamed the attack on

budget cuts. "Budget cuts and savage

inmates are literally eating away at our

membership," he said. A department

spokesman countered: "Budget and

staffing issues did not contribute in any

way to this incident." Rikers, located in

the East River between Queens and the

Bronx, is among the world's largest

penal colonies.

inMaTe alleGedlY seVered

Guard's ThuMb

Coba in the news




the Emergency Service Unit is responsible for responding toany, and all Departmental Emergencies. Some of theseEmergencies include, but are not limited to the following:

• High Security Inmate Transport

• vehicle Crashes/Extrication

• Riot Control/Forced Entry

• Inmate Disturbances

• Fire Response

• Search and Rescue/Confined Space

• Protection Detail’s (Staff Member/Dignitary)

• Emergency Medical Response

the ESU Emergency Medical technician responds to staff members medicalemergencies 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Chances are that if you are sick,or injured on or off Rikers, an ESU EMt will be responding.

ESU has 9 full time EMt’s servicing the Department’s many Facilities, andDivisions. these EMt’s are: Samuel R. Valle, Robert Mitchell, Anselmo Farrell,Brenda Person, David Wilson, Lawrence Bradford, John Smalls, Philip traversand Brian O'Hara. Once utilized only for ESU Operations to treat only ESUStaff, the EMt’s are now assigned to respond to any Departmental MedicalEmergency, and are usually found at Funerals, Sporting Events, andCeremonies. the EMt’s are State Certified, and can administer Basic LifeSupport. the COBA would like to honor these selfless individuals for theirdedication and support to every Correction Officer that comes to work in oneof the most dangerous places in nYC.

ValenTinCORRESPOnDIng [email protected]

Personalize QR-CODE forWilliaM ValenTin


eMerGenCY serViCe uniT eMT’s

WilliaM

Samuel Valle (left), and Robert Mitchell (right). they are ESU’s 7-3 EMt’s. If you have a medical emergencyon the 7-3 tour Mon-Fri there is a good chance these two will be responding to your aide.



Exactly one month before voters headto the polls for this year's mid-termelections, members of the COBAExecutive Board and the Delegate bodyled a broad coalition of union membersfrom across the nation and headed toWashington, D.C. on Saturday to thesteps of the Lincoln Memorial toparticipate in the One nation Workingtogether march on Washington.

those gathered on the mall included theemployed and unemployed, unionworkers, and environmentalists, familiar

civil rights leaders and unfamiliar faithleaders, veterans of war, and veterans ofthe 1963 March on Washington,immigrants, student leaders, seniorcitizens, as well as, those from big citiesand small towns---all who believe in theAmerican Dream. the march extendedbeyond the Lincoln Memorial to citiesand towns throughout the nation.

thousands of people traveled by buses,planes, trains, and automobiles to sharetheir deep concerns about jobs, justice,and education.

"As the second-largest law enforcementunion in new York City, it is imperativethat we, as Correction Officers,demonstrate our solidarity with ourbrothers and sisters from across thisgreat nation and send a powerfulmessage to politicians in bothWashington and in Albany that labormust never be taken for granted," saidCOBA President norman Seabrook. "Weare not your stimulus package!"

Coba leads labor rallY in WashinGTon, d.C.

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COBA TAKES CARE OF ITS OWN!Shop on-line at the COBA store today!

www.cobanyc.orgPAt R O L L I n g t H E t O U g H E S t P R E C I n C t S I n n E W Y O R kC O B A t H E C I t Y O F n E W Y O R kP | 20




i would like to inform you that we at Coba are working hard to addressmany of the maintenance issues in the facilities throughout the doC. ihave toured different commands and have discovered many horribleworking conditions that we should not be subjected to. enouGh isenouGh!

the Department will immediately fix a down cell for an inmate yet theyneglect our areas ie: officer’s locker rooms, rest rooms, lounges, A Stationsetc... We have submitted several Class Action grievances on behalf of themembership and have been able to force the Department to abate manydeficiencies, However much more work needs to be done. With your help wewill be able to correct these issues. In Article XVI section 2 of our COBAcontract it states, "All commands and other places of assignment shall haveadequate heating, hot water and sanitary facilities."

if you notice any maintenance issues ie: roof leaks, pipe leaks,inadequate heating, no hot water, etc..., please take the time to submita work order and follow up on it. if the problem does not get rectified ina timely manner report it to your delegates. if you find any health &safety issues, report them to your delegates or the executive boardMember of your facility immediately. We will then take the necessarysteps to investigate them and if warranted we can file a complaint withPublic employee safety & health bureau (Pesh) to have inspectors makean inspection.

You can't put a price tag on our safety and security! Everyone wants to gohome the same way they came to work-safe!

[email protected]

Personalize QR-CODE forbennY bosCio


Class aCTion GrieVanCes

bennY

Got Questions?

Need Answers?

Contact Your Union!Ask your Union! Join

The COBA Email Hotline!

go to www.cobanyc.org

and Sign Up!

Get The Latest

Information on the

Contract, Legislation,

COBA Benefits and

What’s going on in the Union.

75 Broad Street, Suite 810

New York, NY 10004

Tel: 212.274.8000

Fax: 212.274.8255

SCAN THE COBA qR CODE FOR

MORE INFORMATION


Have you or a member of your family been injured at work, or in anautomobile, subway, or bus accident? Have you been injured due to medicalmalpractice or negligence on the part of a hospital?

If you or a family member are injured in an accident and require immediatelegal representation, call the law firm of Koehler & Isaacs LLP at 917-551-1300and you will be put immediately in contact with attorneys working with thefirm who will be ready to assist you, twenty-four hours a day, seven days aweek. There is no charge to you unless you win your case or the case is settledby the firm.

The attorneys who will handle your case have a proven track record ofsecuring substantial monetary settlements and/or verdicts on behalf ofclients and their families. Below are just a few of some of their more recentjudgments and settlements:

• $14.5 million for the family of a Correction Officer killed in an auto accident.• $10.5 million for a client who was left paralyzed from an accident. • $8 million on behalf of the family of a client killed in an auto accident.• $7 million in a medical malpractice case where the wife of a Correction Officer died after giving

birth to twins.• $5.5 million for the family of a client who died in a motor vehicle accident.• $4 million for an individual injured as a result of medical malpractice.• $3.75 million on behalf of a client who was seriously injured.• $3 million settlement with a structure worth in excess of $10,000,000 on

behalf of the family of a Correction Officer, who died as a result of a motor vehicle accident.

What to Do if You

or a Family Member

Have Been Injured

in an Accident

61 Broadway

25th Floor

New york, Ny 10006

(917) 551-1300

www.koehler-isaacs.com




By Steven Isaacs, Esq.COBA Attorney

the State of new York has a new law that went into effect on August 15thregarding their policy with first-time DWIoffenders. the new provision is beingcalled “Leandra’s Law” and it requiresanyone convicted of a misdemeanor orfelony drinking and driving charge tohave an ignition interlock breathalyzerdevice installed on their car for aminimum of six months and up to threeyears if the person is sentenced toprobation. this law also states that it isnow a felony to drive while intoxicatedwith a child that is under 16 in the car.this offense is considered a Class E felonyby the state and carries a sentence of upto 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison, up to a

$5,000 fine, and the installation of abreathalyzer device on the offender’svehicle.

the new law was named after LeandraRosado, an 11-year-old girl who died inOctober 2009 after she was thrown froma vehicle being driven by a drunk driver.new York is the 10th state to requirepeople to install this type of device forfirst time offenders and will cost theperson any where between $70 to $100a month to have the device installed intheir vehicle. these devices work bypreventing the car from being started ifthe driver has a blood alcohol content of0.025 or higher. to prevent a sober friendfrom taking the breathalyzer test thedevice conducts a “rolling retest” within 5to 15 minutes. Some of the units will alsohave a camera that can take pictures of

the driver while they are using thevehicle.

It’s very important that every CorrectionOfficer remains mindful of the fact thatpublic employers are coming underincreased pressure to use criminalconvictions against employees in thedisciplinary process. the bottom line isthat while we as your attorneys arealways here for you if you are in anunfortunate situation that requires legalrepresentation, it’s imperative to keepyourself out of harm’s way especiallyduring this holiday season. If you arearrested for a DWI, please remain silent, donot answer any questions, and call usimmediately at 917-551-1300. We areavailable twenty-four hours a day, sevendays a week.

Coba leGal Corner

dWi oFFenders in neW York required To insTall iGniTion inTerloCk on VehiCles

Recently, attorneys working with COBA’slaw firm, koehler & Isaacs LLP, securedtwo multi-million dollar settlements/juryverdicts for Correction Officers who wereinvolved in tragic accidents.

In one case, a former Correction Officerwas driving her car when another vehiclestruck her car, causing a major accident.the CO ended up in a coma and laterdied. the CO’s family turned to COBA’slaw firm for help. thanks to the attorney’s

diligent efforts, the family recovered a $4million verdict rendered by a jury inQueens State Supreme Court.

In another case, a Correction Officer whosustained a stroke as a result of medicalmalpractice, recovered $3.5 million in asettlement won in Bronx State SupremeCourt.

“It’s imperative that Correction Officersknow who to turn to when god forbid,

they are involved in a serious accident,”said COBA President norman Seabrook.

“COBA’s law firm works with the finestpersonal injury and medical malpracticeattorneys in new York City. they areavailable for a free consultation. If you,your family or your friends are seriouslyinjured, call them anytime at 917-551-1300. they are available twenty-fourhours a day, seven days a week.”

reCenT biG Wins For Cos!!!Coba’s aTTorneYs Win

Millions For The FaMilies oF CorreCTion oFFiCers Who Were seriouslY inJured


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