Breaking News! Updated July 14, 2008:
September 26, 2008 - FOP Lodge #35 Annual Golf Tournament was a Huge Success!
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The New 2008 Lodge #35 T-Shirts are Now Available for only $10!
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August 27, 2008 - Arlington Elementary receives $1,000 Technology Donation from Lodge #35!
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Tennessee State Biennial Conference Update - June 28, 2008
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Washington Watch: Legislative Update For the Week of June 2, 2008
June 13, 2008 - Lodge #35 Grants Another Wish through Make-A-Wish!
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December 27, 2007 - Lodge #35 Makes a Toy Delivery To LeBonheur!
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December 10, 2007 - Lodge #35 Makes Christmas Special for 32 kids!
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September 21, 2007 - Lodge #35 Helps Grant a wish through Make-A-Wish!
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Breaking News! Updated May 12, 2008:
BREAKING NEWS - March 12, 2008! CALVIN HULLET INDICTED ON BRIBERY, MISAPPROPRIATION OF UNION FUNDS AND OTHER CHARGES! Click Here For Full Story!
Updated March 30, 2008:
An Open Letter From Our TN State Lodge President - Brian Moran
March 30, 2008
TENNESSEE FOP POLICE WEEK MEMORIAL CEREMONY 2008
Date: May 12th
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: War Memorial Plaza, Fallen Officers Memorial Wall, Nashville TN
I want to invite all law enforcement and their families and friends to this years Memorial Ceremony. I am pleased to announce that we will not be adding any names to the wall this year. I am sad to announce that while we here in Tennessee have been very fortunate the same cannot be said nation wide; 2008 has been one of the deadliest years for law enforcement in recent history. This ceremony will not only honor those who have paid the ultimate price here in Tennessee, but also across this nation.
I would request that all active officers/deputies that attend PROUDLY wear their uniforms.
Brian Moran, President
Tennessee State Lodge
Fraternal Order of Police
An Open Memo From Our TN State Lodge President - Brian Moran
March 10, 2008
GENERAL MEMO
TO: All TNFOP Members
FROM: Tennessee State Lodge, FOP
SUBJECT: Important issues in the TNFOP, present and future.
This is a general Memo to all TNFOP members. It is intended to inform you of some very important issues that the FOP will be facing in the very near future, and to give some guidance on how to deal with those issues, as well as let you know what the State Lodge is doing to prepare for these issues.
PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE COOPERATION ACT, S2123
This act is probably better known to most of you as the Collective Bargaining Bill. In my opinion this is one of the most significant pieces of legislation ever put forth by the FOP, and now for the first time it has a very real chance of passing in the U.S. Congress. In short this bill would finally give public safety (police/fire) a level playing field by requiring that State, City, and County governments negotiate/bargain with recognized organizations on a range of issues to include issues of pay and benefits as well as working conditions. In short it provides for the creation of contracts between employees and their employers. This law is so badly needed to insure that law enforcement officers finally get the opportunity to be represented at the table to negotiate for better pay and to provide for job protections. History has shown that this right to work idea has been a dismal failure in so much as most government leaders say they support law enforcement but continually fall short of showing it. The hard truth is that public safety employees in this state are for the most part embarrassingly under paid and subject to retaliation and scare tactics by administrations for their political views or personality conflicts. All these issues are exactly what would be addressed in a contract negotiation and it would be legally binding. There is more detailed information on the bill at www.fop.net under the heading of Legislative.
It is important that every FOP Lodge start now to prepare for the passage of this law. I would submit that every local lodge leader needs to start thinking about the process of getting your lodge recognized as the primary bargaining unit for your officers so that when this bill passes you are prepared to move forward. It is the primary duty of every lodge leader to step up and represent their members. The good news is you will not be alone; the Grand Lodge of the FOP has several training seminars available to ALL members. These seminars range from leadership seminars to basic and advanced collective bargaining seminars. The Grand Lodge also has training scholarships available to help offset the cost of attending these seminars. Again if you go to www.fop.net and check under education you will find the information needed to apply for these scholarships. I cannot stress enough that you must start to prepare now or you and your lodge will be behind the power curve when this bill becomes law. The fact is that all FOP Lodges will have to start to get involved in important issues related to labor. This is what the members will demand and what lodge leadership had better be prepared to do. I would also say that all lodge members need to hold their elected FOP leaders accountable. The members have the final say on all issues related to the FOP and the members dictate in which direction the FOP Lodge is going to go.
The Tennessee State Lodge has started to research the idea of a State Labor Council, the idea being that local lodges would have the option of contracting with the TNFOP Labor Council to provide personnel to go into a local lodge and negotiate a contract on their behalf. This is already being done in several states such as; Ohio, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. I have started to reach out to these State Lodges to research how their Labor Councils are set up in an effort to lay the ground work for Tennessee to start a Labor Council. In addition to this the Grand Lodge does provide the option for a local lodge to contract with the NFOP Labor Services Division to provide services for contract negotiation. The most important thing is that we all (Local Lodge, State Lodge, Grand Lodge) start now for the eventual passage of this bill into law. By being proactive on this we will be able to better prepare ourselves and our lodges so that we can provide the best representation for our members, they deserve it and they should demand it!
In my opinion this is the future of the FOP. All local FOP lodges will have to start to get involved in representing their members on these issues or they stand a good chance of ceasing to exist. The fact is this bill stands a good chance at becoming law and you as FOP members need to start to prepare your lodge now. The State Lodge and Grand Lodge is here to help and provide any guidance we can., do not hesitate to ask.
STATE LODGE ENDORSED INSURANCE OPTIONS
This to inform the members that the TNFOP State Lodge has given our endorsement to two insurance agencies that you will be hearing from in the future, these agencies will be contacting you by mail and they are legitimate. This is to simply provide our members with a choice. If one of these agencies can provide a good plan at a lower rate then so much the better, if not then simply discard the information. The first agency is American Public Life. They will be sending out information on a life insurance plan and options available to law enforcement only. The second is Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. They will be sending out information on home and auto insurance rates and discounts available to TNFOP members. Again this is to provide you with an option. If either of these companies can provide you with a good plan for a lower cost then great, if not then disregard the information.
This has been sent to keep you informed, and I would ask that you pass this on to every member that you know. Communication is the key to success in every organization.
God bless,
Brian Moran, President
Tennessee State Lodge
Fraternal Order of Police
www.tnstatefop.com
Breaking News! Updated January 17, 2008:
THREE INDICTED FOR FOP CAMP BREAK-IN
Wilson County, TN- Tonight
the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested three suspects involved in last
summers Fraternal Order of Police Youth Camp break-in after a Wilson County
Grand Jury returned a myriad of indictments against a former police officer and
two co-defendants.
Calvin Hullet, 44, of Lascassas, TN is facing
nine charges: Aggravated Burglary, Vandalism over $1000, two counts of Theft of
Services, Criminal Conspiracy, three counts of Criminal Responsibility for
Conduct of Another, and Resisting Arrest. The Grand Jury reinstated the
Aggravated Burglary charge after a judge previously reduced the initial charge
to Criminal Trespass in November. An additional charge of Criminal Trespassing against Hullet was bound over from General Sessions Court.
David Dickerson, 39, of Grand Saline, TX has
been charged with Aggravated Burglary, Vandalism over $1000, two counts of Theft
of Services, Criminal Conspiracy, three counts of Criminal Responsibility for
Conduct of Another, and Criminal Trespassing.
Amber Renee Kitchen, 28, Nashville was
indicted for Criminal Conspiracy, three counts of Criminal Responsibility for
Conduct of Another and Criminal Trespassing. All three have been booked into the
Wilson County Jail. Their bonds are set at $5000 each.
A fourth individual involved in the break-in, Joe Everson, a
former Shelby County Sheriffs Detective, entered a guilty plea to False and
Fictitious Statements to Law Enforcement Agents in Federal Court in September of
2007.
The four are accused of breaking into the Fraternal Order of
Police Youth Camp in July of 2007 and installing video cameras.
An Open Letter From Our TN State Lodge President - Brian Moran
September 10, 2007
Fellow FOP Members,
As most of you are aware the FOP has been in a long battle to drive the teamsters for representing law enforcement officers in this state and across this country. I want to inform all of you that yesterday, Sept 7th, the FOP was successful in organizing and winning an election that De-certifies the teamsters as the representative of Nashville Metro Officers. This process started about a year ago with a full court press starting about 5 months ago. The fact that we were successful in Nashville is do to the willingness of the Local, State, and National FOP to commit to the cause and work together as never before in Tennessee.
I want to personally commend the leadership of Lodge 5, the National FOP Labor Services (staff included), National FOP leadership, and all the FOP members from across the state and country who showed up to assist on the day of the vote. This was a collective effort and because of that the FOP won the day.
I would submit to all our members that the work in Nashville is not over, but just beginning. All branches of the FOP must continue to work together for our members benefit so as not to have corrupt organizations (such as the teamsters) with a history of criminal activity involved in anyway in law enforcement, except maybe on the receiving end of an arrest warrant or inditement.
Fraternally
Brian Moran, President
Tennessee State Lodge
Fraternal order of Police.
FOP moves to take Metro Nashville Police back from Teamsters
From The Associated Press, July 31, 2007
NASHVILLE, TN - The national president of the Fraternal Order of Police was
in town Tuesday to deliver a petition from 700 officers requesting the
Teamsters be "decertified" as representatives of the local police.
The fight between the two unions has become very public since a Teamsters
organizer was arrested earlier this month and charged with trying to spy on
the FOP.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation charged Calvin Hullett with aggravated
burglary after agents said he placed hidden cameras at a youth camp run by
the FOP. Agents believe the former Nashville police lieutenant was hoping to
catch officers who volunteer as camp counselors either drinking alcohol or
otherwise acting inappropriately around the children, his lawyer has said.
FOP leaders made much of the incident at a press conference Tuesday. "We're police officers," said local lodge president Danny Hale. "We
investigate. Maybe next time they do something like that they don't want to
do it to police officers because they might get caught."
Hale acknowledged that the arrest helped the FOP collect signatures. They
collected 713 signatures in six weeks, well above the 590 they needed to
hold a de-certification vote.
But he insisted there were other reasons some officers hoped to drop the
Teamsters as their union, only a year after the group won the job from the
FOP. "They promised a pension. That is not here. They promised collective
bargaining. That is not here," Hale said.
He acknowledged that the FOP, which began representing Nashville officers in
1977, may have "rested on our laurels" at times and national FOP president
Chuck Canterbury said the takeover of representation by the Teamsters last
year was a wake up call.
Canterbury said the FOP is a unique union because its representatives are
all officers. It also serves as a sort of mutual aid society, supporting
members with legal defense, life insurance, death benefits and memorials. A
number of Nashville officers maintain both FOP and Teamster membership, he
said.
A similar battle between the two unions is taking place outside of Memphis,
where the Shelby County Deputy Sheriff's Association recently affiliated
with the Teamsters. In both Shelby County and Nashville, officers have been
relieved of duty recently after the TBI interviewed them about the youth
camp incident.
Teamsters officials did not answer the telephone at their local
headquarters.
WKRN Nashville News story on Teamsters in Nashville
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007
"Convicted Felon Works For Teamsters' Local Chapter"
Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas said he had no idea a convicted felon is one
of the union representatives for many of his officers. He said, "I don't know his name. I've never met him."
Joe Bennett is the man at the center of the latest controversy involving the Teamsters. Bennett was booked into jail over a decade ago and now works to represent Metro's men and women in blue. News 2 obtained documents showing details of Bennett's arrest in Hickman County. In 1989, he was convicted of conspiracy to take human life and so licitation to commit murder for hiring a hit man. He served time in prison. Chief Serpas said, "The Teamsters were elected by the officers over a year ago to be their reps in relationships with the government." When the Teamsters were elected, many police officers didn't know the Teamsters local chapter employs a convicted felon. "Not only is it morally wrong to be involved in an organization who employ convicted felons, it's also against our policy to associate with convicted felons," said one Metro officer who is a member of the Teamsters. Chief Serpas said he's never heard of Bennett, but stands by his policy that his officers should not associate with convicted felons.
News 2: "If there are convicted felons that deal with Metro Police, are you
concerned because it is policy to not do business with convicted felons?
Serpas: "Yeah, that's the first I'm hearing that. I'm never met with him...
so h e 's not presented himself to me as a representative of the police
officers."
Bennett is the teamsters local 327 secretary-treasurer.
"To know a man who conspired to commit murder have access to my financial
information bothers me. He might use that money for personal gain," said
the Metro officer.
News 2: "Police doesn't do business with convicted felons?"
Serpas: "I believe that to be true."
Bennett and the Teamsters were not available for comment.
Statement of FOP National President Chuck Canterbury on the Arrest of Teamster Operative in Tennessee:
"I am greatly disturbed and angered by the news that an organizing operative for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, former police Lieutenant Calvin Hullett, successfully infiltrated and placed high tech surveillance equipment at the Youth Camp operated by Andrew Jackson Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 in Tennessee . He recorded more than eighty (80) hours of material from spying gear installed in and around one of the childrens cabins.
Fortunately, Hullett was apprehended and charged with burglary while trying to move some of this equipment, which is assumed to have been placed there in an effort to gather information to be used against the FOP in its efforts to be reinstated as the bargaining unit for the officers of the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department. It is my understanding that more charges may be pending and that investigators are reviewing the footage he recorded. It is my hope and the intention of the FOP to ensure that his actions and the eighty (80) hours he recorded with his spy gear is not used in any way to harm or otherwise endanger the children that attended the camp.
The purpose of the camp was to build relationships between youth and law enforcement officers and to instill in these kids a sense of trust and confidence in the men and women of law enforcement. Hullett has sullied that effort. Today, these kids find out what lengths a spiteful cop, who was once charged with enforcing the law, will go to in order to get something on the FOP in order to use it for political purposes. This reprehensible behavior for any person. But for a former officer, it is completely repugnant to me, to the members of the Fraternal Order of Police and, I hope, to his former colleagues on the force, even though Hullett is a Teamsters employee and these officers are currently represented by the Teamsters. Union solidarity cannot, must not extend to excusing or concealing criminal activity.
If any member of the FOP were ever found to be engaging in such despicable activity, I would move to revoke their membership and would urge any FOP members with knowledge of such activity to come forward and share it with police. I do not want anyone who would consider taking such actions to be a part of our organization, much less be engaged in recruitment or organizing efforts on our behalf.
Whatever Hulletts motivation, one thing is clear. His actions recklessly endangered the fifty (50) year tradition of the FOP Youth Camp. It is my hope that the victims of these crimes will see justice prevail in this case."
Shelby County Metro FOP Lodge #35 Members visit Washington DC for the "National Day On The Hill." Full Story and Photos Coming Soon!
Lodge #35 Representatives also make a huge impact during the "TN State Capitol Day On The Hill." Full Story and Photos Coming Soon!
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