POAM Lobbyist Denny McGran

The first thing McGran said is that not only is he honored to be a part of the events taking place during National Police Week, but also be part of what POAM stands for. He said, “It’s an honor to work for Michigan law enforcement.” McGran doesn’t just work with POAM lobbying for Michigan law enforcement’s best interests, however, but also as a point of contact for many Michigan legislators. He also said that he’s often asked by legislators about how specific legislation would affect Michigan law enforcement and by extension, the citizens of Michigan.

But above all, McGran said, is that everyone from law enforcement agents to citizens need to be represented fairly and adequately.

One example of how McGran helps the POAM cause is the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI).  UASI was a post-9/11 security initiative set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to allocate federal funds to local communities to protect against terrorism. It was designed specifically to recognize that Homeland Security begins at home and on the local streets. Some of that money was being given to Michigan communities seeing that the state has one of the busiest international borders in the US, but congresspeople from California, New York and other states wanted that money reallocated to their home states instead. If it wasn’t for McGran’s and POAM’s work in Congress, some of the money going to Michigan law enforcement agencies would have been lost to the larger states. This is just one of the reasons our work in Washington DC is so important.

Aside from keeping UASI funds in Michigan, McGran has also helped Michigan police departments and other law enforcement agencies secure federal funding for telecommunications and other projects. He said without POAM’s efforts in Washington, the interests of Michigan law enforcement agents would suffer. It’s important to make an investment in Michigan, McGran said.

While in Washington DC, Zahringer and POAM President Jim Tignanelli also visited the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to donate items to wounded soldiers, something POAM does every year.

Please take the time to listen to our podcast below to learn more about what POAM is doing in Washington DC to help our brothers and sisters in blue.

National Police Week originally began as a week to remember those we’ve lost in the line of duty, but over the years has turned into national event attended by nearly 40,000 people every year. Of the 14 events taking place over the course of the week, the marquee event is the Wreath Laying Ceremony. Every May 15, a wreath is laid on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, located on the 400 block of E. Street in DC.

Washington DC Fallen Law Enforcement vigil 2011

Preceding the ceremony is the 31^st Annual National Police Officers’ Memorial Service, sponsored by the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police. The service starts at 11 a.m. on May 15 and located at the West Front of the US Capitol, is a two-hour service honoring all the law enforcement agents we’ve lost in the line of duty.

But there will be other important events throughout the week, too. One of these is the National Police Survivors Conference and COPS Kids/Teens sponsored by Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS). This is a chance for family and co-worker survivors to receive support and learn how to better understand grief, prepare for a trial, build connections with others and how to cope with grief. It is being held on May 14 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel.

POAM will also be at the Tune Inn bar from 3 p.m. to midnight on  Saturday May 12. The Tune Inn will be offering any officer in uniform a drink and burger on the house. This, along with our donation to soldiers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, is an event we take a lot of pride in. We understand how hard it is when you lose a loved one, friend or co-worker, which is why we believe it’s important to help out in any way we can.

The Police Officers Association of Michigan will also be present for many of the events during National Police Week and would love for you to join us! For more information about these and other events during National Police Week, please read the National Police Week schedule.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals took on the task in 2011 of clarifying decision-making in the use of Tasers. Unfortunately, they determined there was no “good case law” to help, but did conclude that stunning a non-violent individual may be considered as using excessive force. Because of this, the Supreme Court justices will review the issue this month. If four of the justices agree, then it will be added to their docket.

One of the more prominent names being mentioned regarding a claim of using excessive force is that of Malaika Brooks. The pregnant Seattle resident was stopped in 2005 for speeding and refused to sign the ticket. The officer was instructed to arrest her after multiple attempts to get her to comply failed. A jury was unable to determine if Brooks resisted arrest, but she was Tased after she wouldn’t let go of the steering wheel. The officer even demonstrated what the Taser looked and sounded like prior to using it.

“As police officers, they could have hurt me seriously,” Brooks stated. “They could have hurt my unborn fetus.”

Then again, if Brooks (who was found guilty for not signing the ticket) had simply cooperated and not turned a simple traffic stop into a confrontation, the likelihood of it escalating would have been minimal.

Some appellate judges and even the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Association are requesting the high court take up the case. They warn that if Taser use becomes restricted, worse injuries could occur to both citizens and law enforcement agents.

POAM Legislative Director Kenneth E. Grabowski was pleased that the legislature modified its position on employee benefits. “We are happy that many legislators agreed with our position on P.A. 63 and corrected that bad legislation,” said Grabowski. “We have still got a long way to go.”

There probably aren’t many people who don’t know the names Trayvon Martin or George Zimmerman now. Their names have been splashed all over the news since the tragic shooting in Florida happened in February. And while it’s difficult enough to let law enforcement continue on with their investigation, it absolutely doesn’t help when the media gets involved and distorts the truth.

Three employees who work for NBC or an NBC-affiliated television station recently found out the hard way not to distort the particulars of a story. The issue came about when audio from the recording of the conversation between Zimmerman and a police dispatcher was edited in such a way that it makes the accused sound like he was singling the young man out because of his race. Had the conversation been played as it was actually recorded, listeners would have heard the dispatcher ask about the suspicious male’s ethnicity (black, white or Hispanic).

WTVJ conducted an investigation, apologized and fired the individuals involved. Unfortunately, that’s where the trail ends. Despite questions, NBC has yet to directly address the issue to viewers on any of the shows that ran the edited story. Media Research Center has questioned whether or not the network has any intention of doing so since it’s been a month since the story ran and still no word.

National Police Week in Washington DC is fast approaching with only a handful of weeks left before the May 8-16 event is upon us. While planning is always paramount for attending an event like this, not everybody knows if they’ll be able to get the time off of work. And when it happens at the last minute, it’s that much more difficult. For those of you who haven’t booked your hotel yet, we thought we might lend a helping hand and provide you know with a list of the suggested hotels and perhaps even a few alternates.

First, if you’ve only just found out you’ll be attending, National Police Week has provided a way for you to book your hotel by location and price, all in one place. To view and use the booking page, click here. There’s also a PDF that lists the following hotels by location, room type, dates available, and room rate:

Washington DC

Courtyard Marriott Washington Capitol Hill Navy Yard

Capitol Skyline Hotel

DoubleTree Suites

Liaison Capitol Hill

The Madison

Arlington, VA

Holiday Inn Rosslyn Key Bridge

Maryland

Country Inn & Suites

Again, all of the hotels listed above can be booked directly from the NPW website.

Just in case those are booked up, we looked around for some alternate hotels in the area not on the original PDF. There’s no guarantee they’ll have rooms left either, so be sure to call soon.

Best Western

10 Street Southwest

Washington, DC

(202) 488-7500

Channel Inn Hotel

650 Water Street Southwest

Washington, DC 0.8 mi NW

(202) 554-2400

L’Enfant Plaza Hotel

480 L’Enfant Plaza Southwest

Washington, DC

(800) 635-5065

Mandarin Oriental Washington DC

1330 Maryland Avenue Southwest

Washington, DC

(202) 554-8588

Residence Inn Washington, DC/Capitol

333 E Street Southwest

Washington, DC

(202) 484-8280

From all of us at the Police Officers Association of Michigan, we hope to see you there!

Washington DC Fallen Law Enforcement vigil 2011

National Police Week started in 1962 after President John F. Kennedy made the date May 15 Peace Officers Memorial Day, with the corresponding week being Police Week. Since then, the nation’s men and women in blue, their families and friends have joined us in Washington DC to honor our loved ones, friends and fellow officers. This year’s Police Week will be from May 13 through May 19.

The biggest event of National Police Week is the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service, sponsored by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police. The memorial service begins at 11 a.m., May 15 at the West Front of the United States Capitol. It’s a time that we at the Police Officers of Michigan value highly because it’s one of the few times so many people join together in one place to honor those we’ve lost.

While we are in Washington DC for Police Week, we will also be honoring those who fight for our freedom abroad. We will be taking donated items to wounded members of the US military at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday, May 11. It’s something we do every year and plan on continuing to do in the future.

National Police Week is a time for all of us – friends, family, fellow officers – to honor our fallen comrades. If you have any questions about POAM’s involvement in Police Week, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Proctor, 25, was convicted of shooting Officer Matthews five times on the morning of May 6, 2011. Matthews was at a gas station filling his car and said Proctor came up to him, gun in hand, and demanded all of his cash. Proctor held a gun to his head and threatened to shoot him if he tried to do anything. After Matthews tried to wrestle the gun away from him, Proctor shot the officer five times in the legs and side. Officer Matthews is still feeling the effects of those wounds.

According to an article in the The Detroit News, Michigan law states: ”Any person who shall assault another with intent to commit the crime of murder, shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for life or any number of years.”

But Proctor did not receive life in prison and Matthews thinks that it’s “insulting.” He told The News, “There’s a sea of emotions I’ve had since this happened,” said Matthews, who has been on disability since the shooting. “The (sentence) has been whittled down to 14 years. I find that very insulting. That’s kid gloves, not attempted murder.”

He also spoke directly to Wayne Circuit Judge Ulysses Boykin after the sentencing, asking him, “This is the message you send to police officers when we try to do our jobs? I don’t expect any remorse from the defendant, but I did expect justice from this court.”

And while Judge Boykin opted for a lesser sentence, he won’t explain why other than he came to his decision after receiving “numerous letters from Mr. Proctor’s family.” He also said, ”While this is a heinous offense, and Officer Matthews has suffered an injury that will probably never heal … we’ve got guidelines that are very lenient.”

Matthews doesn’t agree. In his words, “The guidelines aren’t lenient, the judge was lenient.”

We want to know what you think of this sentencing. Is a 14 to 25-year prison sentence severe enough for someone who shot a police officer? Sound off in the comments.

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