POAM Summer Update 2025
The POAM Summer Update offers a meaningful message from President Jim Tignanelli as he addresses recent challenges and achievements within POAM, including immigration-related impacts on law enforcement and upcoming legislative discussions. It also highlights plans for the 2026 annual convention, which will honor 9/11, celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, and recognize heroic performances by members.
A Message of Resilience and Gratitude
As summer moves towards its end, I’m hopeful that you and yours are healthy and happy. Sometimes we must look hard to find the good, but I always try to encourage it. The job continues to be difficult, but our members continue to persevere and do so with significant outcomes. We, at POAM, are very proud of those we serve.
Media Attention and Border Security
Often, I rely on the number of contacts I get from local or national media to decide how we are doing. There have been lots of those contacts lately. Many of them evolve from actions being performed by or the result of efforts being made by the White House to deport those who have entered the country illegally, who have either committed crimes in the country they fled or have, all too often, committed crimes while here.
I was one who advocated border security over the last four years. The number of those who either “got away” or were encountered by Border Patrol, issued a “court date” and transportation to anywhere they chose in the continental 48 varies from 12 to 20 million persons. Add to that the countries of origin for those were upwards of 150 different places. Fortunately, the southern border crossings of illegals have dropped from 10,000 per day to mere dozens or less. Better late than never.
Challenges Impacting Local Law Enforcement
These efforts always seem to find our local police departments and sheriff’s offices. Of course, that media then impacts our recruiting and retention efforts throughout the state. Most recently, an effort by one Republican state representative was presented that would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing a mask while on duty. Oddly enough, only four years ago, many of those same advocates were standing quietly while our members were disciplined or even terminated for NOT wearing a mask. Fortunately, we have a great advocate in Speaker of the House Matt Hall now. He finds it useful to ask us when ideas like this surface! He continues to do a great job under difficult circumstances.
Reflecting on 9/11 and the Importance of History
In other news! 2026 will not only be the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country, but it will also be the 250th birthday of our incomparable United States. While I am sure that many of our members were yet to be born or, perhaps, were much too young to realize the impact of the 9/11 attacks, I still recall being on my way to work when the first plane hit. I was southbound on Telegraph near Maple when it came across the radio and, like many others, I thought it was a small private plane that had an accident. When the second plane hit, everyone knew these were not accidents.
By the time I reached the POAM office, we were already making plans for a defense. I doubt the schools spend much time on the incidents of 9/11. I hope I’m wrong. When we saw the buildings crashing to the ground, it seemed impossible. The scenes of people jumping from 100 or more floors up will never escape my memory. Too little time is spent on this and other examples of the fragility of our free country. They still have us remove our belts and shoes and 5-ounce containers of shampoo at the airport. It wasn’t always this way.
Remembering the Founding Patriots
No, I wasn’t around in the summer of 1776, but I feel like I’ve studied it enough to understand it. Please spend some time on the American Patriots. We owe a great deal to them all. John and Samuel Adams (cousins), John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Joseph Warren, and, of course, George Washington. Read about them, study their actions, and review our Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Every continent on Earth shows our flag somewhere, and every country is better off because there is a United States.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Annual Convention
Our Annual Convention, on May 20-21, 2026, is going to be an unforgettable one. Please arrange your schedule right now! That Wednesday, the 20th, will be dedicated to the events of 9/11/2001. My true blood-brother, FDNY veteran Tim Brown, will be there to relate his experiences from surviving that day and his efforts advocating for others in the nearly 25 years since. Also scheduled to attend is the Seal Team member, Rob O’Neil who brought some peace to our country while putting an end to Osama Bin Laden nearly ten years later. This is going to be very special, and I am so proud that the Police Officers Association of Michigan is able to bring this to you.
Honoring Heroes and Moving Forward
Thursday, the 21st of May, will be reserved, as always, as one to recognize heroic performances by our members during 2025. This is why we meet each year! So proud of all of you who perform often unrecognized actions during your daily tours of duty. We are already nearly nine months into 2025. Start bringing those who should be recognized to our attention right away! We don’t put it all together until January, but having the reports on hand will make what appears to be a very exciting 2026 even better. I am proud of all of you and very proud to be a part of this organization.
Always seeking to do more! Download the POAM app! Right now! Thanks to each of you.
– JT