The Broward Centurion - Broward County Police Benevolent ... · The Broward Centurion is dedicated...

THe Official Publication of the Broward CountyPolice Benevolent Association

The BrowardCenturion

April 2004Volume 6 Issue 4

In This IssuePresident's Message .............................. 22004 Police & Fire Games ..................... 4Overtime Changes ................................. 6Health & Fitness .................................... 8Inside BSO .............................................. 9Fly The Blue ............................................ 11Political & Legislative Affairs .............. 12Preparing for a Financial Crisis ........... 13PBA Supports BSO Racecar ................. 14What's Up ................................................ 16Law Enforcement News ....................... 17Making a Will ......................................... 18Pre-Approvals Best Bet For Mortgages . 20

PBA-Endorsed CandidatesDominate Elections

The March 9 election proved tobe a big success for candidates

endorsed by the Broward PBA. Themajority of the candidates webacked won their races.Congratulations to the winners –we look forward to workingtogether with them for the benefitof both law enforcement and thecommunity at large.

City of HollywoodMayor- Mara Giulianti

Thousands of law enforcementofficers, survivors and

supporters will gather inWashington, DC May9-15 to remember thoseofficers who have madethe ultimate sacrifice.

Events will includea candlelight vigil at theNational LawEnforcement OfficersMemorial on May 13.After the vigil, therewill be a reading ofnames newly engraved on theMemorial. This event is sponsored

National Police Week 2004A Time of Rememberance

by the National Law EnforcementOfficers Memorial Fund(NLEOMF).

The week willculminate onNational PeaceOfficers’ MemorialDay, May 15, withspecial memorialservices.

For moreinformation on PoliceWeek events, checkthe NLEOMF Web

site at www.nleomf.orgor the Concerns of

Police Survivors (COPS) site atwww.nationalcops.org.Sources: NLEOMF, COPS

Commissioner - District 1 -Cathleen AndersonCommissioner - District 3 - SalOliveriCommissioner - District 4 - FranRussoCommissioner - District 6 - PeterBober

City of Pembroke PinesMayor- Susan KatzCommissioner – District 2 - WilliamArmstrong

Commissioner – District 3 - FrankOrtisCommissioner – District 4 - AngeloCastillo

City of Pompano BeachMayor-At-Large - John Rayson

City of Wilton ManorsMayor - Scott NewtonCouncil Member - Craig SherrittCouncil Member - Joe Angelo

The Official Publication of theBroward County PBA

(A Charter of the Florida PBA)2650 West State Road 84

Fort Lauderdale, Floirda 33312Telephone: 954/584-7600

Fax: 954/583-0405

Megan Gordon, Editor

E-mail: [email protected]

The Broward Centurion is published bythe Broward County PoliceBenevolent Association for the solebenefit of its members. The BrowardCenturion is dedicated to theadvancement of the law enforcementprofession through better andstronger community relations. Theopinions expressed in the publicationof The Broward Centurion are notnecssarily those of the BrowardCounty PBA, its Executive Board orthe Board of Directors.

Members or readers submitting lettersto the editor or articles for publicationare requested to adhere to thefollowing:

• Submissions should be sentto:

Broward County PBAAttn: Centurion2650 West State Road 84Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312

• Letters or articles must beaccompanied by thewriter's true name andaddress.

• All articles submittedforpublication must beaccompanied by astatement givingpermission to publish.

• All submissions must belegible.

• The Broward County PBAreserves the right of theExecutive Board orEditor to amend or to add aneditor's comment to anyarticle or letter submitted.

• Advertisment in thispublication does not implyendorsement by theBroward County PBAunless otherwise specified.

TTTTThhhhheeeee BBBBBrrrrrooooowwwwwaaaaarrrrrd d d d d CeCeCeCeCennnnntttttuuuuurrrrriiiiiooooonnnnn

President'sMessage

The Broward Centurion April 200422222

Order YourPBA License Tag

Available at the main county tag office.Ask for the "Support Law Enforcement " tag.

The city elections are completed and once again thePBA-endorsed candidates were quite successful.As we have said in the past, this is where it all starts.

Hometown involvement leads all the way to Tallahassee.The PBA has preached over and over again that whenyou see a city that has good pay and good benefits, takea look at how involved the members of that city were inthe election process. How many members held signs,gave out literature, were involved in the PBA screening?In most cases the cities with the best contracts are thecities where the members were the most involved.

My congratulations to those elected officials whowon. The PBA and I look forward to working with youin the future.

Dick Brickman

PresidentDick Brickman

Senior Vice PresidentPatrick Hanrahan

Vice PresidentNeil Vaughan

SecretaryDebbie Reggio

TreasurerJeff Marano

Legislative DirectorMike Casey

General CounselBarbara Duffy

April 2004

Executive Board

Board of Directors

Broward CountyPBA

BSO (Support)Paul Weiss

BSO (LE)Dan CiacciarelliJorge CorpionJohn DiazPete GearyJames HanlonDean MirraJeff PooleLarry Whitford

BSO (Lts)Barry Derose

Coconut CreekRodney SkirvinRalph Capone

Coconut Creek (Sgts)Tim Bradshaw

Hallandale BeachBrian HubbertRafael Matias

Hallandale Beach (Sgts)Linda Furnell

HollywoodBilly FergusonTony FernandezSusan HayesKeith Wadsworth

Lighthouse PointMike Search

Gary SiegelMargate (Spvrs)Arnold Finkelstein

MiramarJon AnterioTim NevinsSteven Toyota

Pembroke PinesJim FisherGlen ParkerJim Ryan

Sea Ranch LakesJames O'BrienMike Tarr - Alt.

SunriseJohn Jaslowski

Sunrise (Lts)Athena Skellion

Wilton ManorsBrian BehanEd CostelloDavid Jones

Alternates - BSOMichael CatalanoJames DeMatoRich EngelsAndrew McConnellThomas PurdueRichard PulidoRalph RombForest Santalucia

WelcomeNew

Members

The Broward Centurion 33333

New MembersWayne J. Alloy Jr. - BSO

Gloria Anton - BSORobert E. Beckmann - BSO

Gary R. Brown - BSOJerry R. Brown - BSO

Corey L. Carbocci - BSORobert A. Cates - BSO

Teresa Castillo-Lopez - BSOFrederick J. Ferrara - BSOKristy L. Frederick - BSOGarvis G. Gainey - BSO

Daniel Kirk Gillings - Lighthouse PointMichael L. Graham - BSO

Kevin D. Hancock - Lighthouse PointThomas Hewlett - BSO

Richard K. Hodgson - BSOCassandra B. Jones - Hollywood

Philip E. Khaleel - BSODean M. Korenic - BSOBruce Langford - BSO

Chris W. Lewellen - BSORafael Lopez - BSO

Louis A. Marchese - BSOOmar A. Mendez - BSODonald G. Miller - BSOCara S. Moseley - BSO

Regina L. Mullen - Margate SupportRick S. Neaves - BSO

Christoper J. Neves - BSOFrank D. Palestro - Hollywood

Robert M. Petoskey - BSOJeffrey M. Propst - BSO

Rachelle S. Richardson - BSOHugh H. Riesdorph - BSO

Luis Rivera - BSOChristoper J. Rossi - BSO

Adam S. Rubin - BSODarren S. Rush - BSO

Carl J. Scott - BSOAndrew J. Smith - BSOJeffery J. Smith - BSO

Kermit S. Taylor - BSOEric D. Weiner - BSO

Retired MembersJohn A. Moschella - NYPD

Reinstated MembersJoseph W. Brown - BSO

Daniel P. Casey - HollywoodGregory W. Harrop - BSO

Clyde D. Hill - BSOFrancis A. Japes - BSO

Gary R. Michalosky - BSOAlan W. Niloff - School Board

Mark A. Sanders - BSOWanda Torres Ramnanine - BSO

Gennaro J. Volpe - BSO


2004 Florida Police& Fire Games

Lace up your athletic shoes and eat your Wheaties - it’s time

for the Florida Police and FireGames! The event was created topromote stronger bonds amongFlorida law enforcement officersand fire personnel whileenhancing positive attitudestoward physical fitness.

The games are sponsored bythe Florida PBA and the TreasureCoast Sports Commission and willbe held in Port St. Lucie from June20– 26. Competition includes bothteam and individual events:Team Events

BasketballFlag FootballIron-man Roller HockeyPaintballSoccerVolleyballSoftballTug-of-WarBaseball3 Point Contest

Individual EventsArm WrestlingBench PressBilliardsBowlingBull’s-eye PistolCombat PistolChessTrapBoxingGolfHalf MarathonHorseshoesKarate & KataPush/Pull MeetKayakMounted PolicePolice Bicycling

WrestlingDominoesSkeetSporting ClaysSwimming

Table Tennis10-K Road RaceTennisThree-Gun MatchDartsTrackArcheryCyclingToughest Cop AliveFieldShotgun

RacquetballPractical ShootingCross Country RunTriathlonPolice Motorcycling

Participation is open to allfull-time and retired sworn lawenforcement; full-time andretired certified correctionalofficers; Reservist I frommunicipal, county, federal orstate agencies; and paid, full-time professional firefighters.

Gold, silver and bronzemedals will be awarded for 1st,2nd and 3rd places. Departmentswill be given trophies for 1st, 2nd

and 3rd places, and plaques willbe awarded for 4th through 10th

place.Official applications are

available at the Broward PBAoffices at 2650 West State Road84, Ft. Lauderdale. Foradditional information, pleasevisit www.lawgames.org. Thedeadline for entries is May 10th.

This is your chance to provethat Broward County has thetoughest cops in the state – getyour application today!

Show 'Em Your Stuff This Summer

april 2004The Broward Centurion

VISIT US!!!The Cops and Firefighters in Business network is available 24 hours/day onlineat www.cfbnetwork.com or one of the addresses shown below. To find a cop or

firefighter who is a REAL ESTATE AGENT, or to register yourself,give us a call or look us up on the Internet, FREE OF CHARGE!!!

Cops and Firefighters in Business(954) 838-0084 * 1-888-663-COPS (2677)

Visit our FREE website at

www.cfbnetwork.com

Locate a cop or firefighter who is an active and licensed REAL ESTATE AGENT!!!

Are you buyingbuyingbuyingbuyingbuying or sellingsellingsellingsellingselling a home?

Use CFBUse CFBUse CFBUse CFBUse CFB’s ’s ’s ’s ’s REREREREREALALALALALTTTTTOROROROROR R R R R Referreferreferreferreferral Network*al Network*al Network*al Network*al Network*to find a cop or firefighterto find a cop or firefighterto find a cop or firefighterto find a cop or firefighterto find a cop or firefighter

to be your to be your to be your to be your to be your REREREREREAL EAL EAL EAL EAL ESSSSSTTTTTAAAAATTTTTE AE AE AE AE AGENGENGENGENGENT!T!T!T!T!

*The CFB Realtor Referral Network is a business referral system for members of the law enforcement and firefighting professions in South Florida who are licensed realestate agents and active in the real estate business in the market.

NOW is still the time to take out a mortgage...rates are low and there are programs for every situation.If you are in the market for a mortgage, why not do business with a fellow police officer? Joe is an activePembroke Pines (FL) POLICE Captain while Robin spent many years as a nurse in South Florida. Dobusiness with someone you can trust...call Joe and Robin Yetto today.

One call and you’ll get a:free credit reportprofessional analysis of options customized for your situationfast, easy closing

Call Joe and Robin Yetto, Bankers Mortgage Trust,

at (877) 996-2265 ext. 62 13790 NW 4th Street, Suite 106, Sunrise, Florida 33325 * [email protected]

Need a mortgage? Do businessNeed a mortgage? Do businessNeed a mortgage? Do businessNeed a mortgage? Do businessNeed a mortgage? Do businesswith a fellow police officer...with a fellow police officer...with a fellow police officer...with a fellow police officer...with a fellow police officer...

The FREE website that connects those with businesses in the law enforcementand firefighting communities with the consumer has a new service...the CFBRealtor Referral Network! Now, for the first time, home buyers and sellerscan choose a real estate agent who is a cop or firefighter simply by loggingonto the CFB website and accessing our Realtor database!

www.copsinbusiness.com OR

www.firefightersinbusiness.com

55555

April 2004The Broward Centurion

POLICE OFFICERSFIREFIGHTERS

&TEACHERS ONLY

1% DOWNon all

New PurchaseHome Loans

66666

Office ................. 954-583-4007Cell ..................... 754-224-9553Fax..................... 954-581-0001

The Bush administration isgoing forward with plans to revise the nation’s

overtime laws, ignoring the opposition’s request for areview to determine how many workers would lose theirrights to overtime pay.

Labor Secretary Elaine Chao says the new rules willbring clarity to outdated regulations that are difficult tointerpret, avoiding expensive and time-consuminglitigation. Opponents charge that the revisions broadenthe definition of exempted workers, denying about 8million people overtime pay.

The Labor Department contends that police officers,firefighters and nurses won’t lose their rights to overtime,but critics say the rules don’t give any such assurances.

Source: Sun-Sentinel

AdministrationMovingAheadWith NewOvertimeLaws

"Every society gets thekind of criminal itdeserves. What is

equally true is thatevery community gets

the kind of lawenforcement it insists

on."

- Robert F. Kennedy

April 2004The Broward Centurion 77777

MetLife Financial ServicesLUNCH WORKSHOP

Retirement Planning Strategies

Are you in the right plan for your stage of life?

Do you know that there are different investment strategies forWealth Accumulation vs. Retirement Distribution?

Let us help you chart a course for a successfuljourney to retirement

PRESENTED BY:William W. Gendron, CFS, Financial Services RepresentativeRichard Rogers, LUTCF, Financial Services Representative

Tuesday, April 27, 200412:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Broward County PBA Office2650 W. State Rd. 84

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Lunch will be served.

Please share this invitation with other professionalswho would benefit from this information.

Seating is limited…reservations are required.

To RSVP Call Elena:Telephone: (954) 625-1702

E-Mail: [email protected]

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010L030348E1(exp0305)(FL)MLIC-LD


COLLEEN FRAZIERLoan Consultant

Fort LauderdaleHome Loan Center

954-229-6953

7.5 x 4.875

C U S T O M I Z E D H O M E L O A N S

Programs subject to change. Certain restrictions apply. Interest rate/APR may be higher than when these costs are paid byborrower. Some programs may not be combined with others. We have loan offices and accept applications in: Washington Mutual

Bank, FA – many states; Washington Mutual Bank – ID, OR, UT, WA; and Washington Mutual Bank fsb – ID, MT, UT.

A20 Loan Product or ServiceGeneric Broad Product/ Service - Customized Home Loans

HOMES COME INALL SHAPES AND SIZES.

SO DO OUR LOANS.

No point loans

Reduced closing costs

4 different payment options

Flexible approval criteria

For a home loan as individual as the home itself, call me.

New Test for PredictingHeart Disease

A new test can detect cardiacproblems before a heart attack

occurs. The test, called electronbeam tomography (EBT), takes 3Dpictures that show calciumdeposits in coronary arteries. Thesedeposits are a known predictor ofheart disease. The test is generallyoffered to those over 40 with afamily history of heart disease, butis not available everywhere. Ifyou’re at risk, ask your doctorwhere you can have the testperformed.

Source: health-fitness-tips.com

Smaller, More FrequentMeals Better

Eating 5-6 small, nutritious meals a day will help

accelerate your metabolism,causing your body to burn morecalories. The food is moreefficiently absorbed and processedthan with the typical Americandiet. By eating frequently, you’llhave more energy, less hunger andfewer cravings.

Source: health-fitness-tips.com

Weight Gain Predictorof Breast Cancer Risk

The amount of weight awoman gains after age 18 is a

strong predictor of her breastcancer risk later in life, accordingto the American Cancer Society.

A recent study found thatolder women who gained 20 to

30 pounds after 18 were 40

percent more likely to get breastcancer than those who maintainedtheir weight.

Fat tissue makes estrogen,which can help breast cancergrow. The American CancerSociety says weight gain is thesecond leading cause of allcancers.

Source: The Associated Press

Health & Fitness


Inside BSOFor Our Members With The Broward Sheriff's Office

IKON Ad

Three years ago when the PBAsent out the contract surveys,

only a little over two hundredwere returned. This year eighthundred and three were returnedand counted.

The BSO PBA Representativeswant to thank you for theoverwhelming response. Not onlywas the top priority sectiontabulated, but every additionalp r o p o s a l ,suggestion, andcomment wasread andappraised.

The actualproposals arenow beingwritten to besubmitted to theSheriff son e g o t i a t i o n scan start assoon aspossible. Wewill keep youinformed.

The resultsof the prioritysections were asfollows:#1 - pay raise;#2 – no increasein employeescontribution form e d i c a l

We Welcome Parkland to The BSO Family

BSO Contract Survey Results

Detective Mark Copley, CriminalInvestigations (January)Detective Brian O'Donoghue,Criminal InvestigationsDeputy Mark Trudel, PembrokePark/South BrowardDeputy James Gibson, DaniaBeachDetective Andrew Cardarelli,Central BrowardDetective Clarence Blaszyk ,Central BrowardDeputy Jimmy Moulin, TamaracDeputy Angel Queipo, TamaracSgt. Thomas Steele ,Unicorporated North BrowardDeputy Bradley Rocks, DeerfieldBeachDeputy Keith Dougherty,Pompano BeachDeputy Julie Foster,PompanoBeachDeputy Daniel Olarte,PompanoBeachDeputy Ira Rubinstein, OaklandParkDeputy Jose Reina, Lauderdale-By-The-SeaSgt. Wilfred Medina, ProfessionalCompliance(December 2003)Sgt. Michael Szish, ProfessionalCompliance (January)

FebruaryEmployees ofthe Month insurance;

#3 – different work/shiftschedules (four/tens);#4 – detail pay included inretirement;#5 – sell back of sick leave;#6 – fair promotional system.

April 2004

ALAN M. GOULD & CO.1601 Forum Place, Suite 1000 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 (561)616-2500

Is Pleased To Remind Law Enforcement ProfessionalsOf Its Broward Location At:

FLORIDA BUSINESS CENTER2400 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD

SUITE 131FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA 33309

(954) 979-1881By Appointment Only

CLINT ETHERIDGE, MANAGING PARTNER(32 YEAR VETERAN OF PALM BEACH COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT)

FREE REVIEW OF YOUR 2002 TAX RETURNS

THE FIRM WILL CONTINUE TO LIMIT ITS PRACTICE TO

TAXATION

WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS IN THE AREAS OF

FEDERAL AND STATE TAX PREPARATION(INCLUDING REPRESENTATION)

ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATEEXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS

TAX-RELATED TRANSACTIONAL MATTERS

Tax-Time (April 15th) will be here before you know it...

The Broward Centurion 1010101010


Be aware of a new carjackingscheme: Carjackers will stick

an advertisement or piece ofpaper to the rear window. Thedriver may not notice it untilthey begin to back up. Whenthey stop to remove it, thecarjackers jump into the vehicleand take off. The best remedy isto drive away and remove thepaper later.

Courtesy of the Maryland Coordinationand Analysis Center Watch Section

SafetyAlert!National Police week is May 9-

15. Show your support byflying a blue ribbonfrom your car antenna.

Concerns of PoliceSurvivors (COPS) isurging all members oflaw enforcement, theirfamilies and friends to“fly the blue” on boththeir personal and work vehicles.

Blue ribbons will be mailed todepartments listed on the COPSdatabase in late April. If your

Fly “The Blue” ForLaw Enforcement

department is not on the list, theycan request the ribbons by

contacting COPS viafax at 573-346-1414 ore-mail [email protected].

E n c o u r a g eeveryone you know toshow their support forlaw enforcement

during this time of remembrance.

Source: COPS newsletter, Winter 2004

If you think it’s tough to loseyour hair at middle age, think

of how it feels when you’re just akid. Children can suffer from hairloss, or alopecia, or a variety ofreasons – and it can bedevastating for them. Locks ofLove, a Lake Worth-based non-profit organization, provideshairpieces for financiallydisadvantaged children under 18with long-term medical hair loss.

High-quality prosthetichairpieces range in price from$3,500 to $6,000 each, whichlower-income families cannotafford. By providing thehairpieces, Locks of Love ishelping to restore self-esteem tochildren in need.

The hairpieces are made withdonated human hair. Donorssend in their ponytails, whichmust be at least 10 inches inlength to be used for the

Local Organization Helps KidsWith Hair Loss

prosthetics, and Locks of Lovesorts them and ships them to themanufacturer. Each hair is injected

by hand into a surgical siliconeskullcap – about 150,000 strandsper hairpiece – a process that takesbetween eight and ten weeks.

As the children grow, thehairpieces need to be replaced.Through Locks of Love, childrencan reapply for a new prosthetic

every 18 months between the agesof 6 and 18. Children under sixare provided with high-qualitysynthetic hairpieces because theygrow so rapidly.

Each week, Locks of Lovereceives over 2,000 hair donations,over 80% of them from children.Since the organization’s inception,the number of hairpieces providedhas gone from 21 to over 1,000 peryear.

To find out about hairdonation or other ways you canhelp, go to www.locksoflove.org.

Source: locksoflove.org

The Broward Centurion Arpil 20041212121212

Dear Members,

Once again, the PBA was quite successful in assisting our candidates in prevailing on election day.Our success, as always, was due to the hard work of so many members in each city. In next month’sarticle I will list all of the members who volunteered their time.

Now that the municipal elections are over, our focus will be on the legislative session. As always,we will be spending time in Tallahassee lobbying the legislature.Listed below is a brief synopsis of proposedlegislation that directly affects PBA members in Broward County.

FAIR DEFENSE ACT(SB 226, Senator Bill Posey; HB 451, Representative

Joe Negron)

The Fair Defense Act mandates that governmentsreimburse officers for legal costs if the officer ischarged, either civilly or criminally, resulting fromactions taken within the scope of their employmentand are exonerated.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS ANDTRAINING COMMISSION (CJSTC)

(SB 1792, Senator Rudy Garcia; Bill Number TBA,Representative Gus Barreiro)

This bill is intended to curtail the powers of theCJSTC in order to make the process fairer for officersgoing before the Commission.

MUNICIPAL POLICE RETIREMENT(HB 251, Representative Ray Sansom; SB 654,

Senator Mike Fasano)

This legislation is a joint PBA/ProfessionalFirefighter project. It’s intent is to ensure that theinsurance money collected pursuant to F.S.S. 175and 185 are utilized for enhanced pension benefitsand not for offsetting the pension costs ofmunicipalities. Also, it addresses the problem ofcollection and distribution of the money andcontains a “hold harmless” provision (for municipalpolice systems), which ensures that no city wouldget less money under the new system than it didunder the old system.

INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS/ TIMELIMITATIONS

(SB 1696, Senator Mike Haridopolos; HB 597,Representative Bob Allen)

This legislation will cap the length of time (180days) an agency has to complete most internalaffairs investigations.

“OFFICER MALCOLM THOMPSON ACT”/DISABILITY RETIREMENT

(HB 207, Representative Frank Attkisson;Senator Rod Smith, SB 2256)

This legislation will loosen the requirements for FRSdisability retirement eligibility, raise the minimumdisability retirement for municipal police andfirefighters if the officer suffered a catastrophicinjury as the result of a felonious act of another,and allows those who have retired and leftemployment under Special Risk to leaveemployment for a month and then come backduring the ensuing year and work up to 780 hours(part-time) so that an officer would not have toforfeit his or her retirement if the officer tried towork for an FRS employer during the one yearsubsequent to retirement.

SECRET AGREEMENTS/STATE ATTORNEYS(SB 118, Senator Mike Fasano; HB 283,

Representative Gus Barreiro)

This would prevent State Attorneys from enteringinto secret plea agreements with criminals.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have specific questions regarding our proposed legislation.

In Solidarity,

Neil Vaughan, Vice President

Political & LegislativeAffairs


Money Matters

Even if you have your financial house in order – saving for

retirement, eliminating credit carddebt, spending wisely – situationscan come up that could send youinto crisis mode if you’re notprepared. Large medical bills, jobloss, major home repairs and otherunexpected expenses can throwyour whole financial life intochaos. But there are things you cando now to help you manage theseemergencies. A little planning canhelp you weather almost anyfinancial storm.

Build an emergency fund.Building up a cache of at leastthree months’ worth of expensescould help you avoid dippinginto retirement and collegesavings in an emergency. Useany extra money that comes yourway – from overtime, details ortax refunds – to fund it, and keepit in a low-risk, accessibleaccount such as a money marketor savings account.

Get insured. Insurance canbe the key to protecting yourfinancial future. Basic types ofinsurance you should look intoinclude:

Health: If you’re not covered byan employer’s health insurance, atleast make sure you havecatastrophic coverage on yourown.

Disability: Those under 65 aremore likely to miss three or moremonths of work due to a disabilitythan they are to die. Disabilityinsurance will cover you for non-work related injuries.

Renter’s: If you rent your home,renter’s insurance will cover youfor fire, theft and liability – it’s alsoinexpensive.

Preparing for a Financial CrisisAuto: Florida law requires you

to have auto insurance – don’tdrive without it.

Umbrella: This insuranceprovides additional liabilitycoverage in the event you aresued. It is available through yourhomeowner’s or auto insurance.

Life: If you have a spouse,children or anyone else who isfinancially dependent on you, lifeinsurance will help them tocontinue to plan for the future

should you die.Long-Term Care: This will help

pay for long-term health care inyour home or in a health carefacility and help you avoiddraining your savings.

Borrow. Weigh this optioncarefully. You may consideropening a home equity credit lineyou can access in an emergency.

Sell your investments. Sellyour taxable investments first,but try to avoid your faster-growing retirement accounts.Keep in mind that taking moneyout of retirement accounts couldcause you to incur penalties ortrigger income taxes.Source: U.S. Department of Labor

Protect Your Future With A Little Planning

There are several things toconsider when defining these

financial goals:Narrow it down. Identify

your goals clearly and decidewhich are most important.

Prioritize. Put your focus onthe most important goals first.

Prepare for conflicts. It helpsto think about issues like: Will onegoal benefit more people than theother? Which will cause greaterharm if it’s deferred?

Use time to your advantage.The more time you have, the morelikely it is you will reach yourgoal.

Choose carefully. Focus ongoals that will help you feelfinancially secure, happy orfulfilled.

Include family. Let yourspouse and children have a say.

Start now. The longer youwait, the harder it will be tosucceed.

Sweat the big stuff. If a bigexpense doesn’t move you closerto your goals, defer or reduce it ifpossible.

Don’t sweat the small stuff.As long as your long-term needsare being taken care of, don’tworry too much about day-to-dayexpenses.

Prepare for change.Reexamine your priorities everyfive years or so and update themas necessary.

Source: money.com

SettingFinancialGoals

The Broward Centurion APril 20041414141414

The PBA presented BSODetective Dean Mirra with a

check for $500 to support theagency’s “Beatthe Heat” racecar. “Beat theHeat” is an a t i o n w i d en o n - p r o f i torganizationthat providescommunity outreach via racecarsdesigned to resemble policevehicles. Members are all lawenforcement and public safetyofficers, and firefighters.

“Beat The Heat” strives toeducate the community aboutthedangers of illegal drug andalcohol use, drug-and alcohol-

The Florida chapter of “Beat TheHeat” is seeking local

businesses to sponsorthe 2004 “Beat TheHeat” World Finals tobe held October 9-10 atthe MorosoMotorsports Park inWest Palm Beach.

Donations are taxdeductible, andsponsors’ messages willreach over 20,000 spectatorsduring the event, which is beingheld in conjunction with the FordPower Festival. Both local andnational media will be on hand tocover the event.

PBA Lends Support ToBSO’s Racing Program

“Beat The Heat” SeekingSponsors For 2004 WorldFinals

To find out more aboutsponsorship opportunities,

contact Detective DeanMirra of the BrowardSheriff’s Office at 954-325-8657 or DetectiveRon Bradley of theDavie PoliceDepartment at 786-229-2309.

impaired driving, and streetracing while promoting betterunderstanding between law

enforcementand thecommunitiesthey serve.

In 2003,m e m b e r sparticipated in750 events in

27 states, 3 Canadian provincesand the Northern Territory ofAustralia, bringing theirmessage to over 1.7 millionchildren and young adults.

For more information on“Beat The Heat,” check outtheir Web site atwww.beattheheat.org.

BSO's "Team Sheriff" Racecar

Barbara Duffy, PBA General Council, attended AAB

hearings with five members onFebruary 19, 2004. All membershad their alleged violations notsustained and the recommendeddisciplines overturned.

Remember, if you are called toInternal Affairs, either as thesubject of an investigation or aswitness in a matter that could leadto discipline, contact the PBA at954/584-7600.

YourPBA At

WorkFor You

In honor of Martha’s Stewart’simpending imprisonment in a

federal lockup, Forbes magazinehas made a list of the top fivefederal penitentiaries:

Elgin – Fort Walton Beach, Fla.Nellis – North Las VegasMorgantown – Morgantown,W.Va.Otisville, Otisville, NYAllenwood – Montgomery, Pa.

Source: msnbc.com

It’s A GoodThing – AsFar AsPrisons Go

APril 2004The Broward Centurion 1515151515

AUTOMOTIVECONSULTANTS USA, INC.

CALLING ALL CARS, TRUCKS & VANS

"CALL TODAY"RONALD R. SCHEMBRI, PRESIDENT

Office(954) 584-8220

Pager(954) 619-7900

In response to public outcry over fatal police shootings, more and moreU.S. cities are adopting the use ofTasers to subdue violent suspects. Thisshift has resulted in a decline in thenumber of police shootings and fatalities,but critics charge that the devices maybe used to torture suspects.

Tasers are in use in manydepartments across the country. InMiami, the use of Tasers is creditedwith the lowest levels of fatal policeshootings in 14 years. And Seattlehad no deadly police shootings for2003, the first time in 15 years thecity has gone without a gunshot fatality.

According to the departments thatuse them, Tasers offer officers aneffective tool to debilitate a suspectlong enough - about five seconds -to gain control.

But critics worry that the deviceswill be used to torture suspects andpossibly extract confessions fromthem. They also express concernthat some suspects shot with Tasershave died, although in those casesit has been unclear whether thedeaths resulted directly from theTaser or were due to other factors.

Source: policecenter.com

The DebateOver Tasers

What's UpThe Broward Centurion April 2004

News From OurMembers

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Welcome to Reef PatrickBolliger, born on February 19,2004 toP e m b r o k e

Pines officer Ed Bolliger and his wife,Kelly. Reef weighed in at 6 lbs., 10oz. and was 19 ¼ inches long. Mom,Dad and baby are doing fine.

Angelina Marie Costa was born onFebruary 29 to BSO Deputy KregCosta and his wife Christina.Angelina weighed 7 lbs., 3 oz. andwas 21 inches long.

Congratulations!

Detective Pete Salvo and Detective Robert Wolfkill were selected as

Hollywood’s Officers of the Year for2003.

K-9 officer Mike McBride hasbeen named January Officer of theMonth.

Congratulations!

Births

HollywoodHonors

Officers

Attention Parents!Do you have a son or daughter between the ages of 14 and 21?

Is he or she “motivated” and interested in a career in law enforcement?Then the Miramar Police Explorer Program is for you!

WHAT IS EXPLORING?Police Exploring is a “Learning for Life” organization of the Boy Scouts of America. Its purpose is to build character,provide “good citizenship” training, and emphasize physical fitness to America’s youth. Police Explorers accomplish

this in a “law enforcement” setting. This educates the explorer as to the functions the police have in their communitiesand it brings the explorer in direct contact with police officers.

WHAT DO EXPLORERS DO?Training sessions familiarize the explorer with all aspects of law enforcement. Explorers are trained in police functionssuch as patrol techniques, traffic crash investigations, defensive tactics, execution of criminal law, and many others.

Explorers are not utilized in assignments requiring police authority. However, trained explorers frequently assistthe police department and their community during special events. This is at all times done under the direction and

supervision of police department personnel.HOW TO BECOME A “POST 747” EXPLORER!

Be of good moral character and not have a criminal record.If in school, have a 2.0 or better grade point average.

Attend the scheduled meetings at the Miramar Police Department.FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT!

Officer James Dunkelberger @ 954-602-4117Detective Misa Inks @ 954-602-4121

Community Service Aid Eric Watters @ 954-602-4321MIRAMAR POLICE EXPLORER POST 747

April 2004The Broward Centurion

Law Enforcement NewsItems of Interest From Around The U.S.

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Officer Safety

Electric and hybrid vehicles pose special problems that first

responders should be aware of.These cars use battery power

at low speeds and are completelysilent when running on the battery– including when stopped. Afirefighter in Marylandencountered this situation whenapproaching a car wreck – theengine of the Toyota Prius was stillon and the driver had her foot onthe brake.

Additionally, the batteries inthese vehicles pack more than 500volts, compared with 12 in astandard car battery. High-voltageparts are marked with blazeorange to bring attention to them.Currently, only Toyota and Hondamanufacture hybrid vehicles.Approach these cars with caution.

Tallahassee – On-duty lawenforcement officers in Florida

have the authority to enforcetrespass orders from privatelandowners. In 2000, the FloridaTrespass Statue was amended toinclude any law enforcementofficer whose department hasreceived written authorizationfrom a landowner or lessee as aperson authorized to order anoffender to leave that property.

Previously, the AttorneyGeneral had found that using lawenforcement officers in thiscapacity was a violation of theFlorida Constitution.

Source: Cypen & Cypen

Finland – Finnish traffic lawsprovide for fines that varyaccording to the offender’sincome. In one case, one of thecountry’s richest men was fineda record $217,000 for speeding.Final penalties are subject tochange when the case is heard incourt. A Nokia executive had hisfine reduced by 95% due to a dropin his income – it went from$150,000 to $7,500.

Source: Reuters/Cypen & Cypen

Washington – The SupremeCourt is considering

whether police must take specialcare when questioning juveniles.

The case the Court isconsidering is part of a review ofMiranda warnings. In it, a 17-year-old murder suspect wasquestioned for more than twohours while his parents waitedoutside. He was not read his rightsbecause the police say he was notin custody at the time.

Several justices wereconcerned that the teen, who hadnever been to a police stationbefore, would not have known hewas free to leave.

There are currently four casesbefore the high court that willserve to clarify the 1966 Mirandav. Arizona ruling.


Philadelphia – Advocates forthe mentally ill are calling for

better police training for dealingwith the emotionally disturbed.

On February 19, Philadelphiapolice shot and killed a man witha history of mental problems afterhe used a knife to slash an officerwho was attempting to help socialworkers commit him to a mentalhospital. This was the third suchincident in six months inPhiladelphia.

Other cities have establishedspecial teams to deal with peoplesuffering from schizophrenia,depression or delusions. Some evensend mental-health specialists onsuch calls. Others have alteredtheir policies, calling for non-confrontational approaches tothese encounters.

The hope is that with bettertraining, incidents such as the oneon February 19 will be avoided.


Evansville, IND – Indiana State troopers stopped a car for

speeding and got quite a surprise.The driver was a suspect in a drugprobe, his wife had pot stuffed intoher socks and their 18-month-oldhad five ounces of crack cocaineinside his diaper.

The parents were arrested, andwhile waiting for social services topick up the couple’s two children,a trooper noticed that the littleone’s diaper needed changing. Hetook off the diaper and discoveredthe stash – which has a street valueof about $140,000.

The father’s attorney isattempting to get the evidencethrown out because he contendsthe search was made withoutprobable cause.

The Broward Centurion april 20041818181818

The best, and easiest, way toensure that your assets and

possessions will be distributedaccording to your wishesfollowing your death is to draft awill. A will is a legal documentthat contains directions outlininghow the property of the personmaking the will (called the“Testator”) shall be distributedupon his or her death. Even if youhave a power of attorney, you stillneed a will. The power of attorneydesignates someone to deal withyour assets only while you arealive and comes to an end on yourdeath.

If the Testator has minorchildren, the will can also name aguardian to raise the children andset up a system for distributing thechild’s portion of the estate (calleda “Trust”). The person whomanages the Trust is called theTrustee. While you can choose thesame person to act as bothguardian and trustee, you mayalso choose separate people to fillthese roles. However, naming aguardian should be based on

selecting a person who shares yourparenting views and will raiseyour children as you intended.The trustee should be a person whois financially savvy. It is also wiseto select alternates for both of these

Life Strategies

Making A Willpositions in the event that youroriginal choice is unable toassume the role.

Why You Need A WillAs simple as it is to draft a

will, incredibly nearly half of allAmericans die without a will. Ifyou die without a will, or validwill (known as being“Intestate”), the outcome couldbe a legal and financial

nightmare, not to mention beingan emotional hardship for yourfamily. By not drafting yourwill, you have not leftinstructions on how your assets

should bemanaged, whowill raise yourchildren orwho willmanage yourestate. If youdie intestate,the court willdecide whowill be

appointed as a guardian. Inmaking this decision, the courttypically relies on what the judgefeels is most appropriate for thesurviving child. A relative orother person can ask the court

for an order to be namedguardian, but completing a willand naming a guardian providesthe greatest assurance thatcontrol and custody of yourchildren is given to the person(s)you prefer.

Things To ConsiderYou will also need to decide

on a representative to oversee theexecution of your will. While youmay be familiar with the terms“executor” and “executrix”, thisperson is commonly referred toas your “PersonalRepresentative”. Most marriedpeople name their spouse aspersonal representative, but youmay also choose a friend orrelative, or even use a trustattorney or company. If youchoose the latter, it is likely thatyour estate will be billed for thecosts of the personalrepresentative’s services.

Your will has several basicelements. These include yourname and place of residence, thenames of your spouse, childrenand other beneficiaries, alternatebeneficiaries, specific gifts (called“bequests”), the establishment oftrusts, a brief description of yourassets and the names of theguardian, trustee and personalrepresentative. Your will must beproperly signed and witnessed inaccordance with the laws of thestate where you reside.

As your life changes, soshould your will. Changes suchas your marital status or birth ofanother child should trigger thereview of your current will.

Continued on next page

What You Need To Know

The best, and easiest, way toensure that your assets andpossessions will bedistributed according to yourwishes following your deathis to draft a will.

april 2004The Broward Centurion 1919191919

Making A Will, Continued

You can amend your will (called a“codicil”) or simply draft anewone. The new will shouldcontain language that revokes anyprevious wills drafted and youshould destroy any former wills.

Planning Your WillYour will is likely to not cover

your entire estate. Many assets,such as life insurance policies,pensions, retirement plans like anIRA or 401K and certain annuities,may pass to the intendedbeneficiaries without being namedin your will. Therefore, it isimportant that you create aninventory as part of your overallestate planing. This will ensurethat all of your assets go to thosewhom you intend. If yourproperty is held with anotherindividual and that co-ownersurvives you, that property will not

pass through your will. Thisincludes joint owners with rightof survivorship (usually spouses),tenants by entirety (spousal realestate) and revocable orirrevocable trusts. It’s importantto be aware that in thosejurisdictions that recognizecommunity property, you canonly give away the portion thatyou own.

If you do not have enoughassets to fulfill your wishesr e g a r d i n gs p e c i f i cbequests ofcash, thosebequests will ber e d u c e dproportionately.If you haveonly enoughassets to dealwith yours p e c i f i cbequests, the person(s) to whomyou leave the balance of yourestate will receive nothing.Specific gifts are assigned tobeneficiaries before any of theresidue is distributed.

Your debts are paid from theproceeds of your estate prior tothe distribution of your estate tobeneficiaries. One of the dutiesof your personal representative isto determine the debts, includingtaxes, of the Testator. Thepersonal representative mustdetermine what debts you haveand must satisfy those debts,including taxes, from theproceeds of your estate prior todistributing your estate to yourbeneficiaries.

Estate TaxesAlthough in general most U.S.

estates are not subject to estateand inheritance taxes, if you passaway with a large estate, youmay be required to turn over someof your estate to federal and stategovernment. The tax will come

If you pass away with a largeestate, you may be required toturn over some of your estateto federal and stategovernment.

in two forms, estate taxes andinheritance taxes. Estate taxes arelevied against the value of theentire estate and are paid by theestate before transfer. Inheritancetaxes are levied against the valuereceived by a person as aninheritance from an estate and arepaid by the person receiving theinheritance. The rates willtypically depend on therelationship of the heir to thedeceased. For example, a spouse

may have a reduced rate or totalelimination of the tax. If you havea large estate, you may want toconsult with a certified publicaccountant or an attorney whospecializes in estate planning.

Where To Get Your WillEvery member of the Broward

County PBA can have a willprepared at no cost through theprepaid legal plan. You must bea Broward County PBA memberfor at least thirty (30) days to takeadvantage of this service. Theprepaid legal plan is managed byAttorney Michael Braverman,who can be reached at (954) 791-2010. Once you speak with theattorney, or his paralegal, DianneHamlin, arrangements will bemade to obtain the informationnecessary to draft your will. Onceyour will has been completed andsigned, it should be stored in asafe place that will be accessibleto your personal representativeafter your death.

Terms To Know

Testator - person making awill

Intestate - dying withouthaving a will

Trust - a system fordistribution of an estate

Guardian - persondesignated to care for minorchildren

Personal Representative -person designated tooversee the execution of awill.

Codicil - an amendmentto a will


Letters & Thanks

With mortgage rates at a 45-year low, buying or

refinancing a home is a moreattractive option than ever. One ofthe most important and beneficialservices for both potential newhomebuyers and existinghomeowners is a “pre-approval/commitment” for a mortgage loan.There is a significant differencebetween being “pre-qualified” andbeing “pre-approved.”

When buying or refinancing ahouse, you may get pre-qualifiedover the phone or on the Internetin only a few minutes. A “pre-qualification” is not as beneficialor meaningful as a “pre-approval/commitment” because the lendermust still go through a moreinvolved process to give finalapproval for the loan. Having awritten pre-approval/commitment gives you a muchhigher reliability and planningfactor than just simply being pre-qualified. You shouldn’t becharged a fee for a pre-approval.

Having a pre-approval/commitment letter in hand offersseveral advantages:· You’ll know in advance howmuch you can borrow, so youdon’t waste time looking forproperties you cannot afford.· You’ll have a strongernegotiating position because theseller knows that your loan isalready approved.· You’ll close more quicklybecause you don’t have to wait fora loan approval.· If you’re refinancing, you canbetter plan debt consolidation,home renovation or collegefunding expenses because you’ll

Pre-Approval Is Best BetFor Mortgages

know how much cash will beavailable to you.· You’ll know in advance whatall of the associated costs will be,so you’ll avoid negative surprisesat closing.

Courtesy of Exceptional MortgageCorp

Exceptional MortgageCorp is a licensedcorrespondent lenderheadquartered inPompano Beach. You

can reach them at 954-784-1175.

april 2004The Broward Centurion 2121212121

L.E.A.P. PROGRAM(Law Enforcement Assistance Program)

1-800-680-LEAP954-327-0396

A No Cost Benefit toPBA Members & Family Members

John A. LaPointe, PH.D.Clinical and Consulting Psychologist

Director, L.E.A.P

Prepaid Legal Services PlanFor Broward PBA Members

Michael Braverman, P.A.2650 West State Road 84

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312(954) 791-2010

DISCRIMINATION?WHEN EXPERIENCE COUNTS...

PANZA, MAURER,MAYNARD & NEEL, P.A.Attorneys and Counselors at Law

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION

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FREE CONSULTATION(954) 390-01003600 N. Federal Highway

Bank of America Building, 3rd FloorFort Lauderdale, FL 33308

The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be basedsolely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free

written information about our quaulifications16853 N.E. 2nd Ave., Suite 102 • North Miami Beach, FL 33162(305) 653-7141 • (800) 486-7141

www.tui.edu • e-mail: [email protected]

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We’re Union Institute & University, the nation’s premier university foradults. All of our programs are designed with you—the working personin mind. We offer accredited BA/BS, MA, and PH.D. degree programs, aswell as an accelerated degree completion program. Our individualizedand flexible scheduling can accommodate even the busiest professional.

In addition, in our undergraduate program, take advantage of up to 96hours of college credit awarded for BLE training, in-service training(CJSTC/FDLE coursework) or life experience. Enjoy individualizedinstruction and mentoring with faculty,and participate in designing yourown degree program. Financial aid is always available for qualifiedapplicants. UI&U is approved by the Veterans’ Administration toadminister GI Montgomery Bill benefits.

Discover why Union Institute & University is ranked one of the nation’sbest universities by US News & World Report. Call today or visitwww.tui.edu to find out more about our bachelor's and master'sdegree programs.

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©2004 Broward County PBA

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