FOP Questions Inspector General's One Sided Reports

“The FOP questions the credibility of the Inspector General’s report and reason for omissions”.  “The FOP would like the senate to investigate why the Inspector General’s Office left important material out of the investigation and failed to account for the missing information in his investigative report.  We feel that it is important that the Inspector General be thorough when he is investigating alleged wrongdoing.  The consequences of mistakes improperly cloud reputations and cost innocent people a great deal of time and money to straighten out the falsehoods and clear their reputations.  If police agencies withhold evidence from the prosecutor or defendant, the accused will get his conviction overturned and the officers involved will be subject to civil rights lawsuits and disciplinary action.  This is the standard that law enforcement is held to and should be the same standard for the Inspector General when he is making such serious allegations.”

Click Here to View the FOP of Ohio's letter to the Senate.

Click Here to View the Inspector General's report.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact:
Bob Tenenbaum
(614) 429-5903
btenenbaum@themilenthalgroup.com

OHIO FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE

ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR STATE ISSUE 2

--Cites benefits to cities and counties by speeding casino development --

COLUMBUS, April 21, 2010 –The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio – the state’s largest labor organization for law enforcement officers – announced today its support for State Issue 2 on the May 4 statewide ballot. Issue 2 would authorize a change in the location of the proposed Columbus casino.

 “These are tough economic times for Ohio’s cities and counties,” said Mark Drum, FOP-Ohio treasurer and a retired member of the Delaware Police Department. “The sooner all four Ohio casinos are underway, the sooner Ohio counties, cities and school districts will begin to see the benefits of hundreds of millions of dollars each year in casino tax revenue.”

In 2009, the FOP of Ohio was a strong supporter of the Constitutional amendment that authorized casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo, primarily because communities all over the state were struggling with declining revenues that forced them to face cuts in their public safety forces.

“Passing State Issue 2 helps to meet that problem by ensuring the fastest possible distribution of the estimated $643 million a year in casino tax revenues, with the vast majority going directly to all 88 counties, our eight largest cities, and every school district in Ohio,” Drum said. “A significant portion of that money can be used by local officials in the future to fund vital services such as fire and police protection.”

 “Our members – and millions of other Ohioans – are also tired of seeing more than $1 billion a year leaving the state as our citizens travel to casinos in neighboring states. It’s time we started keeping that money – and the tax revenues it produces – here in Ohio," Drum said.

He also noted that 2 percent of the casino tax revenue – an estimated $13 million a year – is earmarked for state law enforcement training programs at a time when many local law enforcement agencies are being forced to cut spending on training.

State Issue 2 is an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that would allow a change in the location of the Columbus casino authorized by voters last November – moving it to the site of an abandoned General Motors/Delphi Automotive plant on Columbus’ West Side. Issue 2 would have no other impact on casino gaming and would not affect the casinos authorized in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.

Penn National Gaming, Inc. – which will own and operate the Columbus casino – agreed to a location change after listening to Columbus residents, political leaders and organizations urging an alternate location. The Ohio General Assembly – with strong bipartisan support – placed the proposal on the May ballot.

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Paid for by Vote Yes on Issue 2, Don Leach, treasurer, 1965 Lake Shore Dr., Columbus OH 43204

For Immediate Release
September 9, 2009
Contact: Jay Smith
(614) 224-5700

Dear Members,

The intent of this letter is to bring the FOP membership up to speed with regards to Ohio’s public pension systems.  At the request of the Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC), each of the five public pension systems in Ohio were to draw up a plan to ensure the pension systems get to or retain it’s funding within the 30-year statutory requirement.  These plans, presented by each system, were presented today at the monthly ORSC meeting illustrating their current funding status and possible recommendations for legislative action within the requirements of Ohio law. 

Keep in mind that the ORSC requested these plans from the pension systems and the FOP has not taken a position on any of these current recommendations.  In fact the FOP has already met with some members of the ORSC and has meetings scheduled with every member of ORSC to highlight some of the positions we have taken in the past and encourage open communication should any of these recommendations be drafted into legislation.

Below are links to each of the five systems recommended plans for long-term sustainability and to ensure their system is compliant with the 30-year statutory requirement. 

I assure you that the FOP is taking and has taken steps to maintain the interests of our members, both active and retired, in supporting and maintaining our pensions and healthcare.  We have already held one focus group meeting with FOP leaders from around the state and plan to continue with this focus group the first week of October (exact time and date will be determined shortly).  As these issues progress we will keep you informed and up to date on any changes or legislative proposals that may be drafted.  Ultimately, these changes will need to be voted on by your locally elected representatives in the Ohio House and Senate.

Fraternally,

Mark Drum, Legislative Chairman

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For Immediate Release
June 10, 2009
Contact: Jay Smith
(614) 224-5700

FOP APPLAUDS SUPREME COURT ON RESIDENCY RULING

Columbus, Ohio- The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, Inc. applauds today’s decision by the Ohio Supreme Court to uphold state law barring cities from requiring employees to live within city limits.

In a 5-2 decision announced today the Ohio Supreme Court affirmed R.C. 9.481 that “no political subdivision shall require any of its employees, as a condition of employment, to reside in any specific area of the state”, pursuant to the authority granted by Section 34 of Ohio’s constitution.

“The residency requirements imposed upon employees by cities around the state were totally antiquated” commented Nick DiMarco, State President of the Fraternal Order of Police.  “Not only did they decrease the pool of quality employees within a city for hiring but they also created numerous hardships on families trying to make an honest living in Ohio” said DiMarco.  This decision is a culmination of a long term effort to provide our members with the basic right to live where they choose.

As Ohio’s largest association of law enforcement professionals with over 26,000 members, The Fraternal Order of Police are committed to improving the working conditions of those who dedicate their lives to protecting our communities and to improving the safety of those we protect.

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For Immediate Release
October 26, 2009
Contact: Jay Smith
(614) 224-5700

HOUSE BILL 46 - 127th AFFIDAVITS
House Bill 1 - 128th Affidavit

 With the passage of House Bill 1, the Auditor Affidavit has been updated.  It is available here.

HB1 - 128th General Assembly Auditor Affidavit. 

In response to the House Bill 46 becoming law, two Affidavits are now available.

Address Redact Request  and Auditor Affidavit

The Address Redact Request form is also available on the Ohio Attorney General’s website under the citizens action section of the forms page. 

http://www.ag.state.oh.us/legal/pubs/Request_to_Redact_Address.pdf

The Attorney General’s Affidavit is designed for removal of your personal residence information from public records that are made available to the public on the internet. 

The Auditor’s Affidavit can be used to change the described property on the general tax list of real and public utility property and the general duplicate of real and public utility property. 

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Ohio Update

Week in Review

Click here for August 27, 2010

Click here for July 16, 2010

Click here for June 25, 2010

Click here for June 18, 2010

Click here for May 7, 2010

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National Update

Visit www.fop.net for information on the National FOP Legislative Program.

Jay A. Smith
Director of Governmental Affairs
Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, Inc.
222 East Town Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Office: (614)224-5700
Fax: (614)224-5775

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