AZCOPS NEWS SERVICE

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In This Issue:
Pinal County DA gains meet and confer
AZCOPS meets with Brewer
Biggs will sponsor Due Process
Memorial Fund created to help Villa family

The Arizona Probation Officers Association is seeking donations for the family of AZPOA member Ramon Villa. He and his wife, Margaret, were killed in a motorcycle accident Dec. 6 in Phoenix. 

An account has been created at the MariSol Federal Credit Union, account #355037, in the name of the Ramon and Margaret Villa Memorial Fund. Anyone can make a donation in their name.  Donations can also be made at any other credit union branch, but you must have the account #355037 with you to make a deposit. Deposits can also be made after hours in the night drop at the Marisol Federal Credit Union with the account number and name of Ramon and Margaret Villa Memorial Fund.   
 
Personal checks deposited to any branch outside of MariSol Federal Credit Union will be automatically held and funds won't be available to the family immediately.

 
For more information, contact AZCOPS Vice President John Stair.

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NEWS BULLETIN

December 16, 2008
Pinal County Deputies Association gains Meet and Confer Rights
AZCOPS Badge At a meeting December 10th, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance allowing Meet and Confer for county deputies, detention officers, dispatchers, I.D. techs and evidence techs.
 
"After 11 years of working on this issue, we are extremely happy," said Association Treasurer Aubrey Keck. "While in recent years we've had a MOU with the Sheriff, this puts us in a better position to represent employees."
 
Keck, who helped create the Association in 1997, said achieving Meet and Confer has been the top goal of the group since day one. He credited Sheriff Chris Vasquez, AZCOPS and former NCPSO Director John Burpo for helping the group achieve the goal.
 
AZCOPS meets with new Governor
Brewer, Lopez
 
AZCOPS President Larry Lopez with Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer. Brewer will become Governor in January.  
Representatives of AZCOPS met with incoming Gov. Jan Brewer on Dec. 9th to discuss the broad issues facing AZCOPS members.
 
AZCOPS President Larry Lopez, AZCOPS Chief of Staff Tim Clark, AZCPOA President Tixoc Munoz and AZCOPS Director of Government Relations Luis Ebratt participated in the meeting.
 
When queried by AZCOPS as to the state's budgetary crisis specifically as it impacts the state's probation departments, Brewer, who currently serves as Secretary of State, affirmed her commitment to public safety. She said public safety would be a top priority in her new administration. 
 
She also acknowledged her understanding of the role of Probation and Surveillance Officers in keeping Arizona communities safe.
 
On behalf of AZCPOA, President Munoz requested  Brewer continue the commitment for the existing DOC Meet and Confer order signed by Gov. Janet Napolitano in early 2008. Brewer assured the group that although specific policies would not be addressed until she assumed her office in January, Meet and Confer would remain on the table. 
 

 
 
Rep. Biggs will sponsor Due Process bill for AZCOPS

 

State Rep. Andy Biggs, LD 22, met with AZCOPS General Counsel Martin Bihn and Director of Government Relations Luis Ebratt on Dec. 4th to discuss proposed legislation for the 2009 session.  
 
AZCOPS BadgeRep. Biggs agreed to sponsor a Due Process bill similar to Senate Bill 1265, which was held in the Senate during the  2008 legislative session, despite having passed the House 59-0. The bill holds employers accountable when union representation is not provided during the initial stages of a personnel  investigation.
 
Rep. Biggs said he believes this legislation is "sensible," and he supports Rep. Eddie Farnsworth's assertion in 2008 that the bill should not have opposition when officer rights are at issue. 
 
Representative Biggs has long supported public safety officers and was endorsed by AZCOPS in his 2008 re-election campaign.