Weekly Update December 5

Friday, December 05, 2014

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and are enjoying the holiday season.  Here are just a few things happening in the PBA this week:

In case you missed the PBA’s web posting on this, we are pleased to report that last week the Greater Buffalo Metropolitan Crimestoppers Organization honored a number of police officers and prosecutors from the Buffalo Niagara region and recognized them for their efforts to promote a safer community. Among those who were honored at this "Honoring Those Who Serve" ceremony was University at Buffalo Police Officer Michael Virchau.  Click here for the text of Officer Virchau’s award citation, and here for the Crimestoppers web site link with photos from the event.  Congratulations Officer Virchau!

Our Forest Rangers had a busy Thanksgiving Day weekend in the Adirondacks.  Rangers were called on two search and rescue missions.  One was a hunter who got lost in the town of Newcomb.  The other was a 62-year-old hiker who was overdue in the Wilmington area.  In both instances Forest Rangers were able to locate the subjects and escort them through the dark back to safety.  The Department of Environmental Conservation regularly issues press releases regarding, amongst other things, the great work of PBA members.  Those releases can be accessed by linking the DEC’s press page here.

November and December have been tumultuous months for all police officers, and the tensions between some citizens and police continue.  Never before has police work been so physically dangerous, and those perils are coupled with the microscope created by the digital/social media era combined with an unsympathetic and sometimes unprofessional media contingent.  Even the PBA offices in Albany are not immune to this trend, with subjects calling our office this week making insults and baseless allegations.

PBA members need each other more than ever before, and they need a strong union more than ever before.  We caution you to be careful in what is unfortunately the new normal, and the PBA is prepared to assist and support you should the need arise. 

We hope you noticed the most recent post regarding the SUNY Pension Option Bill.  We will continue to post updates as more information is received.

Have a save weekend!