Hello my readers. What a relief, the kids are back to school! Give yourself more time in the morning and comply with the school zone speed limits.

CONGRATULATIONS! WE DID IT!

As you probably knew already, we had an amnesty period from May 14 to August 4, 2010. The goal was to get a least 300 approved applications by August 4. We got 320 approved applications by the deadline. Welcome to our PBA family and thanks for taking advantage of this great opportunity. Do not forget to keep your contact numbers and addresses up to date with our records. This amnesty was truly a team effort. Thanks to our PBA President John Rivera and the Board of Directors for allowing me to have this amnesty. A big and sincere thank you to the following members for making this amnesty a total success: Ofc. Victor Rodriguez, Women's Annex; Sgt. S. Garcia at D.C.J.; Ofc. R. Davis at the Stockade; Ofc. D. Amengual at Ward-D.; Officers F. Pajon and R. Crisman from the Transportation Unit;  Cpl. R. Washington and Ofc. M. Medina at T.G.K.; Officers L. Mateo and E.Pico at Metro West. Also, thanks to MDPD Dispatchers Olga Lopez and Douglas Melendez, and Court Services Specialist Willie Garcia for practically signing up 100% of his unit; and Hialeah P.D. Lt. Rick Fernandez. And last, but certainly not least, our own MDPD  Sgt. Steadman Stahl.

On July 29, the North Miami Police Department elected the PBA as their collective bargaining unit. I want to express my gratitude to North Miami PD Sergeants, C. Grant and A. Rivera for their hard work and recruiting efforts, despite the misleading information spread by the former union board members (IUPA who?). Welcome to the MAC DADDY OF THE UNIONS!

WHAT DOES THE PBA DO FOR ME?

I am really enjoying writing this section. I think it is going to become a permanent feature of my column and I guess the freeloaders and PBA haters might get to enjoy it too. On July 14, our legal counsel, Carlos Santiesteban, had  an appearance in front of the Complaint Review Board of the City of Miami Gardens. PBA Staff Counsel Santiesteban was representing Miami Gardens police Officer J. Romaguera, who was facing several  sustained allegations against him. After his flawless legal representation, Mr. Santiesteban had all the allegations thrown out, except one which was reduced to a record of counseling. Even the Miami Gardens investigators congratulated Carlos for a job well done. This victory was sweeter than a "mamey" (sapodilla) shake from El Palacio de los Jugos. This is what the PBA does for you.

Why don't you ask Sgt. Cockfield what the PBA did for him? Another overzealous  prosecutor named Isis Perez charged Sgt. Cockfield with a felony charge of killing a police dog and a misdemeanor of  animal cruelty. According to the S.A.O. Sgt. Cockfield kicked his 80-pound Belgian Melanois named Duke so hard that it provoked his heart to fail, resulting in the death of his dog. Sgt. Cockfield is a 27-year veteran of the MDPD and  a K-9 trainer and  handler for more than 20 of those years. Since 2006, Sgt. Cockfield's  life was put on hold. I cannot imagine the anxiety and sleepless nights that this man had to suffer because of a tragic accident. (Because that it is exactly what it was, a tragic accident!).

It almost made me puke when I heard  that a 40-year veteran of the U.S. House of Representative by  the name of Charles Rangel is facing tax evasion charges of more than $650,000 of unreported income and using his office for personal gain was only facing an “ethics violation investigation,” while a seasoned police officer is facing jail time for a tragic accident. This stinks more than a pound of rotten shrimp.

On July 29, 2010, S.A.O. Isis Perez dropped the felony charge of killing a police dog and, on July 30, a jury of his peers found Sgt. Cockfield  NOT GUILTY of the misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty. It was a very emotional moment for all of us who were present. After more than 4 years, Sgt. Cockfield got his life back. Thank you, Douglas Hartman for your brilliant defense and for making sure that  justice  prevailed. Thanks to the family and friends that supported Sgt. Cockfield unconditionally all these years. Thanks to the PBA for providing Sgt. Cockfield with the legal and moral support that is going to allow him to retire with dignity and peace. Thank you, Sgt Cockfield, for not taking any pleas and having the pair of COJONES (balls) to fight until the end. SHAME on the S.A.O. and Isis Perez for filing this case and more SHAME for taking more than 4 years to realize that you made a “mistake.”

WELCOME COT CLASS  116!!!

On July 22, 2010, twenty-four new trainees graduated from the academy. C.O.T. #116 is the first corrections academy class with a 100% passing rate of the F.D.L.E. exam. Congratulations! And, to all twenty-four new officers and members: welcome to the ONLY AUTHORIZED BARGAINING UNIT, THE PBA!

During the ceremony, I was pleased to see that a new award was named after our “coach” Harry Everett. I talked to his widow, MDPD Officer Everett,  about the award and she was very grateful. To be fair and honest, she  also told me about her gratitude for the love and support from the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department and Director Tim Ryan. Officer Everett told me that Director Ryan invited her to command staff meetings  and called her frequently. I found out recently that Mrs. Ryan, Director Ryan’s wife, went through a serious medical procedure  and she is recovering satisfactorily. I, along with the PBA, wish her a prompt and healthy recovery.

WHAT A RIPOFF!!

Can somebody tell me why the family and friends of the Miami-Dade County inmates have to pay a $9.00 fee to place money in their accounts? At the A.T.M. located inside the lobby of the Pre-Trial Detention Facility, you pay a fee of $9.00 regardless of the amount you deposit. That is ridiculous! I can understand a fee of $3.00 or $4.00 for the convenience of the A.T.M., but NINE DOLLARS!! There are a lot of struggling, law-abiding citizens with loved ones and friends incarcerated in our system. They do not deserve to be ROBBED in the lobby of our jails.   

ARE YOU HUNGRY?

If you work or happen to pass by the City of Doral, why don't you stop at a Mexican restaurant called ‘Aguacates,’ located at 2600 NW 87th Avenue in the Westend Commercial Center. This place was recently rated ‘worth a trip’ by the Miami Herald in the Neighbors section. Try the Burrito or the "three amigos" (three soft tortilla tacos) with any combination you want. The chimichanga is VERY GOOD. The fajitas platter is enough for two and a bargain at $9.99. Aguacates  is also open for breakfast too. They prepare your order in front of you, then you pay and get your own soda. Very fresh and clean. And you save on tips.