the Hot Sheet

Washington State Retired Deputy Sheriffs and Police Officers Association

P.O. Box 13265 Spokane Valley, WA 99213

 Website: www.wsrdspoa.org

October 2020

President

Joe Dawson, King Co SO

Vice Presidents

West: Ronnie Johnston Tukwila PD

East: Don McCabe, Spokane Co SO

Secretary

Dawn Morrow, Spokane Co SO

Treasurer

Jim Hill, Spokane Co SO

 Members at Large

West Members At Large:  Zbig Kasprzyk, King Co SO; Brent Beden, King Co SO

East Members At Large: Dennis Hooper, Spokane PD; Doug Partlow, Tukwila PD

Meeting Schedules

Puget Sound Area 1st Tuesday of the Month

Johnny’s At Fife Restaurant

5211 20 ST. E.

Fife, WA. 98424

11:00 AM

Spokane County

Retired Sheriff Deputies, Employees and Spouses Association

1st Monday of the Month at 11:30AM 

 Darcy’s Restaurant

10502 E Sprague Ave.

Spokane Valley, WA 99206

WSRDSPOA ANNUAL CONVENTION

Columbia Sun RV Park

Kennewick, WA.

September 16-18, 2021

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Here we are stuck in our homes or eating on a sidewalk. Good Grief! What’s Next? Locked in our homes to avoid smoke. Who would have guessed these events? No matter which side of the subject you believe please stay safe.

This is a good time to do the things you’ve wished you had the time to do. For me it’s been a time to read those amateur radio manuals to increase my capability of emergency operation or learning about the GPS operation I use in the truck or getting those peeling decals off of the fifth wheel. Of course, the decals will be on pause until the smoke dissipates.

Then it’s on to cutting those blackberries down that continue to invade parts of the property. Hopefully, you also have things to occupy your time. If not take on a new interest.

There are several efforts taking place to increase the way your LEOFF I benefits are being administered. One started by the Retired Firefighters of Washington will shorten the way our medical bills will be paid. As I understand it, instead of a LEOFF I patient being billed by his/her doctor and then submitting a request to be reimbursed, the bill will be sent directly to the employer. I believe several employers have been doing this as part of their procedures. It will cause the physician to be paid in a timely manner.

One last request. If you call my phones and have blocked your name or are not in my telephone directory I will not answer.  Please leave a message. I am receiving so many robo calls or calls for donations that I am not answering unknown numbers. Sorry. My email address is enclosed in this newsletter. Use it or text me.

Joe Dawson

President

THE OLYMPIA REPORT

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

The legislature is not in session for several more months but the committee meetings continue during the off-season.  I sat through nearly 4 hours of the Select Committee on Pension Policy meeting today (09-15-2020).  Typically held in Olympia, the meetings are currently being held via internet.  Most of the agenda was not applicable to LEOFF 1 with the exception of a discussion held in regards to LEOFF 1 medical benefits.  Dick Warbrouck, president of the Retired Fire Fighters of Washington has identified an issue involving the reimbursement procedures for covered LEOFF 1 medical claims.  We have discovered that the various disability boards and the affected employers don’t all work in the same way.  Some boards provide insurance which helps avoid those situations where a claimant is required to pay their medical costs up front.  Without insurance, the retiree has to pay the bills and after paying those costs, make a claim for reimbursement to their disability board who then sends it to the employer following approval.  This latter process is particularly difficult for LEOFF 1 members if the medical bill is extremely high and they may or may not have the funds to cover the bill and then wait for reimbursement at a later time.  Further, some of our retirees have disabilities that make it even harder for them to make their claims only to await reimbursement.  It seems this out-of-pocket payment situation has not been all that problematic and a majority of disability boards work well to accommodate their retirees.  However, there are some circumstances and employers out there where that accommodation does not happen.  In order to seek a consistent approach for handling LEOFF 1 medical bills across the state, Dick presented a  letter to the Select Committee on Pension Policy suggesting that we need a WAC (Washington Administrative Code) or else a revision to the LEOFF 1 law which would ask employers to pay the bills directly once approved by the disability board.  This would have the effect of removing the need for the retiree to pay the bill and wait for eventual reimbursement.  I discussed this issue with Dick and Ken Crowder who is a disability board member in Snohomish County.  We have somewhat different views but I agreed with Dick that it makes no sense for a member to pay a bill only to be reimbursed later when the employer could simply pay the bill directly to begin with.  This would save a lot of paperwork while greatly easing the process and financial burden on our retirees.  We all agreed that the preferred method to accomplish this would be through a WAC generated by DRS.  DRS testified that they do not want to generate such a WAC without a bill directing them to do so.  The Associations of Cities and Counties testified they are opposed to such a tool but could not really give a good reason for objecting since they still have to pay the bills.  It would not cost them anymore or any less, but it would certainly make the system simpler and much better for the retirees.  Dick and I have both provided input to the Committee in favor of this proposal but at this point it remains a discussion item that is undecided by the Committee.

LEOFF 2 NEWS

The following message is reprinted from the LEOFF 2 Dual Response Newsletter. The message is from Dennis Lawson committee chair of the LEOFF Plan 2 Retirement Board. For those of you that panicked last year, when the legislature voted on the LEOFF 2 Benefit Improvement Account, Dennis addresses the status of this account in his message.

SOME THINGS CHANGE, SOME REMAIN THE SAME

A lot has changed since our last newsletter. COVID-19 has changed the way we work and live. The historic stock market run-up that began in 2009 has come to an end. Local government employers facing budget challenges are considering layoffs. But, some very important things have not changed.

Last year we were considering what to do with the Benefit Improvement Account. The police and fire stakeholder groups were working cooperatively and had come to a consensus that any benefit improvement should apply to everyone including retirees even though that meant the benefit improvement would be more modest. The LEOFF 2 Board had priced a number of potential benefit improvements and planned to narrow down possible options for consideration as we move forward. Even with the current situation we find ourselves still working on this issue, however, it is highly likely that plan has probably been pushed back a year by the current economic climate but it hasn’t been derailed.

This pandemic has also caused us to look at our current presumptive coverage and found that the COVID-19 virus is not considered a presumptive disease. Both Police and Fire representatives will be exploring options to expand the presumptive language as a job-related illness. We are thankful that Governor Inslee has issued proclamations to consider COVID-19 to be work- related for first responders and we will work with the Legislature next session to ensure this protection continues.

The financial solvency of your LEOFF 2 pension has not been put at risk in any way by the stock market volatility. Benefits are not in jeopardy of being reduced and contributions required from plan members and employers are not expected to increase. A year ago LEOFF 2 was one of the healthiest pension plans in the entire country and that hasn’t changed.

Another thing that hasn’t changed is the cooperation between fire fighters, law enforcement officers and local government employers on the LEOFF 2 Board. The Board has continued to meet this interim, although we do it electronically now, and work together to address the new issues that the pandemic and economic turmoil have created. The Board’s prudent long-term policies and mutual interest by all stakeholders in the health of LEOFF 2 may even be stronger now than a year ago.

LEOFF 2 RETIREMENT BOARD

All LEOFF 2 retirees should know that the LEOFF 2 Retirement Board exists and is here to fight for our benefits. The board is made up of 11 Trustees. The following representatives are on the board at this time:

Fire Fighter Representatives

Dennis Lawson

Central Pierce Fire & Rescue

Mark Johnston

Vancouver Fire Department

Al Johnson

Snohomish Fire

Law Enforcement Representatives

Jason Granneman

Clark County Sheriff’s Office

Tarina Rose-Watson

Spokane Int’l Airport Police Department

Sen. Jeff Holy

Spokane Police Department (Ret)

Employer Representatives

Pat McElligott

Pierce County Fire & Rescue

Wolf Opitz

Pierce County

Ade’ Ariwoola

City of Federal Way

Legislative Representatives

Sen. Ann Rivers

WA State Senator

Rep. Steve Bergquist

WA State Representative

The board meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month and all meetings are open to the public. Due to COVID all meetings are online until further notice. For more information you can go to www.leoff.wa.gov.

There should be no excuse for LEOFF 2 retirees not to know what is going on with your retirement. If you have any questions or comments you can either contact the board or attend one of their meetings.

BRUCE’S BOOK REVIEW

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

With Christmas just around the corner, I thought I would review something a little different, at least different for me, this time.

John Grisham is best known for his ‘legal thrillers’ such as The Firm, A time to Kill, and The Rainmaker and these can be some pretty intense reading.  But he also occasionally writes short, light, entertaining books like Playing for Pizza, and Bleachers. Skipping Christmas is, I think, one of his best.

I can’t tell you too much about it or I would spoil it for you.  Let me just say that if you have ever made plans that didn’t quite work out the way you thought they would then you will get a kick out of this book.  For those of us still living in the northern climes, it will be easy to identify with the main theme that is presented.  You folks in Arizona, well, use your imagination.  That’s all I’m going to say about it, you will just have to read it to find out what I mean.

Hint for you late Christmas shoppers: This would make a nice stocking stuffer.

RBO

HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES

The following article is reprinted from a Fox News article by Adam Shaw & Bill Mears.

1. Note: There is still hope for the Ninth Circuit.

Federal appeals court strikes down California’s ban on high-capacity magazines, says restrictions violate 2nd Amendment

“It criminalizes the possession of half of all magazines in America today,” court majority says in ruling

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday struck down California’s ban on high-capacity magazines on the basis that its restrictions violate the Second Amendment — noting that it would criminalize half the magazines in the U.S.

“California’s near-categorical ban of LCMs infringes on the fundamental right to self-defense. It criminalizes the possession of half of all magazines in America today,” the majority in the 2-1 ruling stated.

“It makes unlawful magazines that are commonly used in handguns by law abiding citizens for self-defense. And it substantially burdens the core right of self-defense guaranteed to the people under the Second Amendment,” Judge Kenneth Lee wrote in the majority opinion. “It cannot stand.”

Lee said that while the law was passed “in the wake of heart-wrenching and highly publicized mass shootings” the law was too sweeping.

It upholds a 2017 ruling by San Diego-based U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez, who blocked a new law that would have barred gun owners from possessing magazines holding more than 10 bullets.

But the and the appeals court went further by declaring unconstitutional a state law that had prohibited buying or selling such magazines since 2000. That law had let those who had the magazines before then keep them, but barred new sales or imports.

California now has the option of asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision. It may also seek a delay on implementation of the decision to prevent a surge in purchases

The ruling may also have implications for other states that have similar laws — although it only applies to Western states due to the court’s jurisdiction.

Gun rights groups have been keen to get such a case before the Supreme Court, where there is currently a conservative majority.

WSRDSPOA

*Election notification*

Dear Members of the WSRDSPOA –

We are approaching election time for the Association, not to be confused with the National Presidential Elections, although they are occurring at exactly the same time.

The timeline for this process is:

–      September 1, to Oct. 31; accept nominations for offices.

–      November 1, to November 30; voting occurs.

–      December 1, to December 5; ballots are tabulated and the results will be announced.

If you are interested in running for one of the following offices, please submit an e-mail nomination to WSRDSPOA-Secretary@gmail.com.

Offices to be voted on:

President

Vice-President Eastside                                             Vice-President Westside

Secretary

Treasurer

Member-At-Large (1) Eastside                                  Member-At-Large (2) Eastside

Member-At-Large (1) Westside                                 Member-At-Large (2) Westside

The distinction between Eastside & Westside is the Cascade Crest. Those positions must be filled by someone living in the corresponding area. All other offices are open statewide.

When it comes time to vote; we will be doing so electronically, using “Election Buddy.” We used this same procedure last year and it worked out well. Each eligible voter will receive an email from “Election Buddy” after November 1^st. Additional information will be sent to you prior to the ballots being available on “Election Buddy.” Remember, both the Member & Spouse each have the right to vote.

If you have any questions about this email, please feel free to contact me at WSRDSPOA.Secretary@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Brent Beden

Secretary

(206) 550-2809

AROUND THE BEAT

Deaths

Jonathan Shoop, Bothell Police Department, EOW 13 July 2020

Shoop, a U.S. Coast Guard sailor who responded to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, gave up a second career at Amazon to become a Bothell police officer in 2019. He was on July 13, 2020 downtown in a brief shootout with a suspect. He was 32.

“Jonathan gave zero time to what others thought about him,” said his brother, Jared Shoop, a Duvall firefighter. “He was above the influence of others, and always authentic.”

He graduated from Ballard High School and the University of Washington. His 30s were supposed to be his time to buy a home, to embark on a new career and to “receive endless pressure from us brothers to have kids,” said his second-oldest sibling, Evan Shoop.

“I’ve never been more angry, it’s scary, and I’m sure some of you feel the same way,” his brother said. “But anger’s only going to get me so far. It’s not going to assist me to be the man that I need to be going forward, the man my brother would want me to be, for those that he left behind and loved.”

Reginald Thomas, King County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy, EOW 07 September 2020 

King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Deputy Reginald “Reggie” Thomas died in the line of duty on Monday morning, over a week after he suffered a stroke and crashed his patrol SUV into another vehicle.

The 56-year-old deputy was driving along Airport Way South when the medical emergency struck. Deputy Thomas lost control of his patrol SUV and slammed into a parked vehicle, which then collided with two other cars. Deputy Thomas was extricated from his vehicle and rushed to Harborview Medical Center. Doctors soon determined that Deputy Thomas suffered massive brain damage due to a large blood clot, and that he would never be able to walk or speak again.

Deputy Thomas was a two-time All-American basketball player and served as a Korean linguist in the U.S. Army prior to joining the KCSO 30 years ago, he planned to retire from the force in the spring of 2021.

Police K9 Ronja, Tacoma Police Department, EOW 13 August 2020

K9 Ronja was shot and killed while tracking a murder suspect in the 3600 block of South M Street at about 1:30 am.
Another officer had spotted the man in a vehicle and recognized him as being wanted in connection to a murder that had occurred the previous night. The subject led officers on a vehicle pursuit until crashing and bailing out on foot. K9 Ronja and her handler arrived at the scene and began a track for the subject. The man opened fire on officers when he was located in the 3600 block of M Street and struck K9 Ronja.
One of the officers on scene returned fire and wounded the subject, who was taken into custody.
K9 Ronja was taken to a veterinary hospital where she died later in the morning.
K9 Ronja had served with the Tacoma Police Department for only eight months.

Dan D. Berry. Dan retired as Sheriff of Lincoln County, he passed away on August 31, 2020. Dan started his Law Enforcement career in the early 1970’s as a Lincoln County sheriff’s reserve and a communications officer. He then went to work for the city of Davenport as a patrolman and eventually was promoted to Chief of Police.

Dan then was appointed as Sheriff of Lincoln County and then was reelected for three more terms. Dan leaves behind his wife, Eddie, four children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Dan loved fast cars, especially Mopars and was a regular at the Spokane Raceway in late 1980’s and early 1990’s.

Mary Ellen Maine. Mary was the wife of retired King County Deputy Jerry Maine. Mary passed away on April 7, 2020 after battling a very painful brain cancer. Mary and Jerry were married 56 years.

Lori Clark. Lori Clark, wife of retired KCSO Roger Clark passed away peacefully in hospice on August 7th. Lori and Roger were married nearly 54 years and enjoyed wintering in Apache Junction, Arizona for 16 years. Lori enjoyed attending the retired officers party in Yuma Arizona and knew many of the retired officers. Lori suddenly developed stage 4 lung cancer last march, which spread to her brain and her bones and quickly took her life. Lori and Roger had recently moved to Crescent Bar near Wenatchee and lived there for 2 years while being treated for cancer however they moved back to Enumclaw where Lori eventually passed. Thank you to all that have expressed their sympathies and prayers.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Joe Dawson, President: jsdawson@comcast.net (425) 392-4361 (C) (206) 817-8376

Ronnie Johnston, West Side Vice President: ronjohnston2009@gmail.com (206) 595-6819

Don McCabe, VP East Side & Website Administrator: don.mccabe41@gmail.com  (509) 951-0399

Brent Beden, Secretary: wsrdspoa.secretary@gmail.com (C) (206) 550-2809

Jim Hill, Treasurer: wsrdspoa@gmail.com  (509) 362-2025

Zbig Kasprzyk, West Side Executive Board Member: zkkasprzyk@gmail.com (206) 818-7476

Brent Beden, West Side Executive Board Member: brent.beden@comcast.net (C) (206) 550-2809

Dennis Hooper, East Side Executive Board Member: derickson024@gmail.com (C) (509) 496-0110

Doug Partlow, East  Side Executive Board Member: dougpart@aol.com (C) (509) 406-1017

Zbig Kasprzyk, Hot Sheet Editor: zkkasprzyk@gmail.com (206) 818-7476