There was a dust up a few weeks back where a security guard at the Hollocauste Museum in D.C. was killed by a neo-nazi idiot. Shortly after the incident Mayor Gordon put out a statement asking Sherriff Arpaio to denounce his relationships with neo-Nazi groups here in Arizona. I don't know any of the details about what caused the dust up, but I know what Spencer did in response.
Spencer put out a press release denouncing the Mayor and defending Sherriff Joe. Why? How does that help the members. Spencer has forgotten that he was elected to represent the members, not Sherriff Joe.
I've put the full press release below so you can read it for yourself. I've heard that the Mayor sent him a letter after the press release and one of the members says they are going to send it to me. If they do, I'll share it with all of you.
Here's Spencers press release:
To: All Media, for immediate releaseDEPUTES LAW EN FORCEMENT ASSOCIATION, MARICOPA COUNTY ASSOCIATION OFDETENTION OFFICERS, PHOENIX LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION DECRY PHOENIX MAYORPHIL GORDON'S PERSONAL ATTACK AGAINST MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO INLIGHT OF THE MURDER AT THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON, D.C.PHOENIX, AZ--On June 10, 2009, while serving his community, a Washington DC security guard wasmurdered at the hands of a neo-Nazi suspect with a psychotic history. Even before citizens throughoutthe country were allowed to bury and mourn the loss of this brave officer, it seems as if City of PhoenixMayor Phil Gordon used this tragedy as a platform to continue his personal attacks against MaricopaCounty Sherriff Joe Arpaio. Less than a year ago Gordon was quick to communicate his lack ofconfidence in Phoenix Police officers' ability to enforce the rule of law without engaging in racialprofiling. He was wrong then and Gordon is wrong now. For additional media information, pleasecontact the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) 602 246 7869 or visit LL'WW .azdea.org Deputies Law Enforcement Association (DLEA), Maricopa County Association of Detention Officers(MCADO) and PLEA poses the question if the lack of participation in Gordon's press conference by other community leaders will bring the mayors consternation beyond Sherriff Arpaio to them? PerhapsMayor Gordon could better serve his community by disengaging in this unhealthy, accusatory, rhetoric. Gordon's public comments appear to have little value in solving immediate and pressing problems within Phoenix, Maricopa County, and Arizona.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Spencer's in Trouble
Well, it sounds like Spencer has gotten himself in deep this time. The word is that he is being investigated by the city manager because he endorsed a city council candidate. Everyone knows that PLEA isn't allowed to endorse anyone in the Phoenix City Council races, but Spencer just couldn't help himself this time. The person he endorsed happens to be the opponent to DiCiccio. I've written about their battle before. But, basically, DiCiccio called Councilman Nowakowki on the carpet for carrying Spencer's water and trying to get Harris fired. Councilmember aren't allowed to get involved in personel matters because it is a violation of the City Charter. That didn't keep Spencer from convincing Nowakowki to push for Harris to get fired. DiCiccio blew the whistle on the whole deal and nearly took down Nowakowki. All of Nowakowki's supporters left him, including the hispanic community. You see, they didn't like the idea that Nowakowki was carrying water for an Arapio cronie.
Looks like Spencer went looking for another candidate to endorse and he found one. The thing is, he's not allowed to endorse Phoenix candidates. It's a violation of the Hatch Act. So, now he is violating federal laws. You might wonder why Spencer woudl do something so dumb. Well, his buddy Arpaio endorsed the same guy, so Spencer jumped right on board. You can read about it here:
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PHXBeat/56342
Everyday is a new opportunity for Spencer to do something to embarrass himself and PLEA.
Looks like Spencer went looking for another candidate to endorse and he found one. The thing is, he's not allowed to endorse Phoenix candidates. It's a violation of the Hatch Act. So, now he is violating federal laws. You might wonder why Spencer woudl do something so dumb. Well, his buddy Arpaio endorsed the same guy, so Spencer jumped right on board. You can read about it here:
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PHXBeat/56342
Everyday is a new opportunity for Spencer to do something to embarrass himself and PLEA.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
What is Mark Up To?
The goofy legistlature is in session and that means that everyone is down there at the capital fighting about who gets what piece of the pie. There are lots of public safety bills that are introduced that could be harmful to officers and we all have faith that someone is taking care of representing us. We shouldn't be so sure.
There is a bill working it's way through the legislature that will eliminate the permit to carry a concealed weapon. The bill is making its way through the house without even a peep from PLEA. The bill would do away with the concealed carry permit program and allow ANYONE over 18 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit or a background check, or training class. Any gang-banger, meth-head, crook, creep -- absolutly anyone.
Anyone who has ever worked the streets knows this bill is bad news, so why isn't Spencer -- or anyone from PLEA down there trying to get the bill killed. Well, its not a big surprise that Arpaio loves the bill, so Spencer keeps his mouth shut like a good ho.
So what is Spencer doing with his time instead? He's trying to get the Police Pension Board to take away Jack Harris' DROP money. He sent in a letter asking them to take away his DROP money because he is still working for the city after he finished the DROP. What you should know is that Spencer already tried to get Harris' DROP taken away and was shown the door. I guess he just can't take no for an answer.
What kind of person goes after a guys pension? I mean, we work a long time looking forward to retirment. If Spencer got Harris' pension taken away -- and he won't -- then what? Does that mean he won?
The hearing in front of the Police Pension Board is on Friday, June 26, 12:00 p.m at 101 South Central Avenue, 6th Floor. If you've got the stomach for it you should stop by and watch Spencer make a fool of himself and PLEA. Nothing like seeing King Spencer in action. Heck, it would be fun to go just to watch him lose another battle.
There is a bill working it's way through the legislature that will eliminate the permit to carry a concealed weapon. The bill is making its way through the house without even a peep from PLEA. The bill would do away with the concealed carry permit program and allow ANYONE over 18 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit or a background check, or training class. Any gang-banger, meth-head, crook, creep -- absolutly anyone.
Anyone who has ever worked the streets knows this bill is bad news, so why isn't Spencer -- or anyone from PLEA down there trying to get the bill killed. Well, its not a big surprise that Arpaio loves the bill, so Spencer keeps his mouth shut like a good ho.
So what is Spencer doing with his time instead? He's trying to get the Police Pension Board to take away Jack Harris' DROP money. He sent in a letter asking them to take away his DROP money because he is still working for the city after he finished the DROP. What you should know is that Spencer already tried to get Harris' DROP taken away and was shown the door. I guess he just can't take no for an answer.
What kind of person goes after a guys pension? I mean, we work a long time looking forward to retirment. If Spencer got Harris' pension taken away -- and he won't -- then what? Does that mean he won?
The hearing in front of the Police Pension Board is on Friday, June 26, 12:00 p.m at 101 South Central Avenue, 6th Floor. If you've got the stomach for it you should stop by and watch Spencer make a fool of himself and PLEA. Nothing like seeing King Spencer in action. Heck, it would be fun to go just to watch him lose another battle.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Now Mark is Going after Frank Fairbanks. Really???
In the continuing saga that is Mark Spencer, the word is that Mark Spencer is going to try to get Frank Fairbanks fired. If you don't know Fairbanks, he has been the city manager of Phoenix for about a million years, and he is getting ready to retire anyway.
Mark couldn't get Jack Harris fired, he couldn't get the Mayor to do what he wanted, so now he has set his sights on a new target. I figure he needs to claim at least one victory so he is going to go after a guy that is getting ready to retire, then he will say that he is the reason that Fairbanks left.
Mark has sunk to a new all time low.
So, this is how I see this one playing out. Mark has a press conference, says that Fairbanks has done all kinds of stuff wrong then he says that it's time for Fairbanks to leave the city. Like I said, everyone who knows anything expects that Fairbanks will retire this year, so it's almost guaranteed that Fairbanks leaves. Mark just wants to make sure that he gets credit -- he's been impotent so far so this will be like his dose of viagra.
What I can't figure out is who does Mark have in mind to replace Fairbanks. As shortsighted as Mark has been, I doubt that he would ask for Fairbanks to resign unless he had someone in mind to replace him. Someone who likes beanies and rifles, but not Jack Harris.
What I know is that Mark is certain to embarrass himself and PLEA again as he keeps trying to maneuver himself into a position of supreme ruler.
Mark couldn't get Jack Harris fired, he couldn't get the Mayor to do what he wanted, so now he has set his sights on a new target. I figure he needs to claim at least one victory so he is going to go after a guy that is getting ready to retire, then he will say that he is the reason that Fairbanks left.
Mark has sunk to a new all time low.
So, this is how I see this one playing out. Mark has a press conference, says that Fairbanks has done all kinds of stuff wrong then he says that it's time for Fairbanks to leave the city. Like I said, everyone who knows anything expects that Fairbanks will retire this year, so it's almost guaranteed that Fairbanks leaves. Mark just wants to make sure that he gets credit -- he's been impotent so far so this will be like his dose of viagra.
What I can't figure out is who does Mark have in mind to replace Fairbanks. As shortsighted as Mark has been, I doubt that he would ask for Fairbanks to resign unless he had someone in mind to replace him. Someone who likes beanies and rifles, but not Jack Harris.
What I know is that Mark is certain to embarrass himself and PLEA again as he keeps trying to maneuver himself into a position of supreme ruler.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Mark is all that matters to Mark
This blog was sent to me. . I thought it was worth posting. Goes to the whole issue of Mark Spencer serving himself before the members.
We are all aware that sales tax revenues have continued to decline and the revenue the city receives no longer covers the costs of services currently being delivered. That’s the reason the City had to cut nearly $270 million from its budget earlier this year, including $35 million from the Police Department budget.
Recently things took another turn for the worse as in the first five months of the year Phoenix took in about $12 million less than anticipated, a shortfall that could grow to more than $14 million by the end of the fiscal year. City sales-tax receipts from January through May show that the city collected $144.5 million, $12.4 million or about 8 percent less than its number-crunchers had projected. In May, for example, Phoenix only received $27.9 million, $2.8 million less than was expected. City leaders now tell us that Phoenix will have to burn through a good chunk of its $32 million rainy-day fund to fill this unexpected mid-year budget gap.
Why then, is Mark Spencer turning his back on $20 million in federal stimulus funds to hire new officers and improve public-safety technology?
Last week a team of Phoenix officials, including Mayor Phil Gordon, Chief Jack Harris and even Fire Chief Bob Khan went to Washington D.C. to lobby for federal public safety funding for Phoenix police. Although the Mayor invited Mark Spencer to join the Phoenix team, Spencer declined to join the team.
OK. We get it. Spencer does not like Gordon and Harris. Heck, many of us don’t like the men and women in our squads or units. But when its time to get the job done we push those personal feelings aside and work together. In our line of work lives depend on the unit functioning as a team.
For Mark Spencer to thumb his nose at $20 million in resources for his members shows once again he is out only for himself, not for the rest of us.
The Mayor even offered to save some of our union dues by finding a private donor to pay for Spencer’s travel and entertainment expenses to D.C. Again, Spencer said no and decided to spend more of our union dues for his trip.
Maybe its time to ask Mark Spencer if he knows there is no “I” in Team. But the more I watch him, the more I expect that he will tell me I am right, but there is a “me” in Team.
You can read the whole article here:
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PHXBeat/55748
We are all aware that sales tax revenues have continued to decline and the revenue the city receives no longer covers the costs of services currently being delivered. That’s the reason the City had to cut nearly $270 million from its budget earlier this year, including $35 million from the Police Department budget.
Recently things took another turn for the worse as in the first five months of the year Phoenix took in about $12 million less than anticipated, a shortfall that could grow to more than $14 million by the end of the fiscal year. City sales-tax receipts from January through May show that the city collected $144.5 million, $12.4 million or about 8 percent less than its number-crunchers had projected. In May, for example, Phoenix only received $27.9 million, $2.8 million less than was expected. City leaders now tell us that Phoenix will have to burn through a good chunk of its $32 million rainy-day fund to fill this unexpected mid-year budget gap.
Why then, is Mark Spencer turning his back on $20 million in federal stimulus funds to hire new officers and improve public-safety technology?
Last week a team of Phoenix officials, including Mayor Phil Gordon, Chief Jack Harris and even Fire Chief Bob Khan went to Washington D.C. to lobby for federal public safety funding for Phoenix police. Although the Mayor invited Mark Spencer to join the Phoenix team, Spencer declined to join the team.
OK. We get it. Spencer does not like Gordon and Harris. Heck, many of us don’t like the men and women in our squads or units. But when its time to get the job done we push those personal feelings aside and work together. In our line of work lives depend on the unit functioning as a team.
For Mark Spencer to thumb his nose at $20 million in resources for his members shows once again he is out only for himself, not for the rest of us.
The Mayor even offered to save some of our union dues by finding a private donor to pay for Spencer’s travel and entertainment expenses to D.C. Again, Spencer said no and decided to spend more of our union dues for his trip.
Maybe its time to ask Mark Spencer if he knows there is no “I” in Team. But the more I watch him, the more I expect that he will tell me I am right, but there is a “me” in Team.
You can read the whole article here:
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PHXBeat/55748
Monday, June 15, 2009
Is Mark a flip flopper?
Hardly a day goes by that Mark Spencer doesn't do something else to be an embarrasment to PLEA. An article inthe Arizona Republic revealed that Phoenix Police Officers aren't asking people about their immigraiton status in spite of the change in operation order 1.4.
Mark Spencer pressure the city council and Mayor modify operation order 1.4 and even said that it didn't go far enough after the changes were made. Mark wanted police to be able to arrest illegal immigrants like ICE. I don't know any officers that wanted to be immigration police, but Mark's loyalty to Sherriff Joe and his people was more important than the members and Mark went to war with managmeent and the city council to get the order changed.
Now, Mark is saying that we don't need to check immigration status because MCSO already does that at the jail. What has changed. Nothing. This is a complete turn around from where Mark was on the issue. This was his comment in the newspaper article:
Mark Spencer, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, a police union that represents patrol officers, said he believes officers are not following the requirement because it is redundant since the immigration status of every person who is booked into the jail is automatically checked by jail officials from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office under an agreement with ICE.
Well if he had just let the issue alone, the operation order wouldn't have changed. But now that we have a new operation order, we will be criticized by the media for not asking immigration status. Thanks for the gift to the members Mark.
If Mark thinks the operation order is redundant then why doesn't he go back to the city council and ask them to change it back to what it said before? Nah, that would be the best thing for the members and that's not what Mark does.
You can read the whole article here:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2009/06/14/20090614phoenix-immig0607.html
Mark Spencer pressure the city council and Mayor modify operation order 1.4 and even said that it didn't go far enough after the changes were made. Mark wanted police to be able to arrest illegal immigrants like ICE. I don't know any officers that wanted to be immigration police, but Mark's loyalty to Sherriff Joe and his people was more important than the members and Mark went to war with managmeent and the city council to get the order changed.
Now, Mark is saying that we don't need to check immigration status because MCSO already does that at the jail. What has changed. Nothing. This is a complete turn around from where Mark was on the issue. This was his comment in the newspaper article:
Mark Spencer, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, a police union that represents patrol officers, said he believes officers are not following the requirement because it is redundant since the immigration status of every person who is booked into the jail is automatically checked by jail officials from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office under an agreement with ICE.
Well if he had just let the issue alone, the operation order wouldn't have changed. But now that we have a new operation order, we will be criticized by the media for not asking immigration status. Thanks for the gift to the members Mark.
If Mark thinks the operation order is redundant then why doesn't he go back to the city council and ask them to change it back to what it said before? Nah, that would be the best thing for the members and that's not what Mark does.
You can read the whole article here:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2009/06/14/20090614phoenix-immig0607.html
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Mark Spencer is at War with the Mayor of Phoenix
A new week and a new opportunity for Mark Spencer to do something make PLEA members look like fools. I don't understand why Mark has chosen to have an alliance with Joe Arpaio instead of supporting his members -- who think Joe is a snake in the grass. But, that's what he does and he has done it again. He and the county law enforcment organizations have taken another swipe at the Mayor.
If you've lost count, I want to remind you that Mark is trying to sue Councilman Mattox for not allowing him to speak at a subcommittee hearing. He is in a full on war with Councilman DiCiccio, and now he is denouncing the Mayor. It's hard to imagine what the rest of the city council thinks of Mark Spencer, but he has done everything to ruin PLEAs relationships with elected officials.
Take a look at this blog on AZ Central -- http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PHXBeat/55354
I've put a list of email addresses for the Mayor and City Council in the right column of this blog. We need to let them know that as PLEA members we don't support what Mark Spencer is doing. He doesn't represent us or our interests.
If you've lost count, I want to remind you that Mark is trying to sue Councilman Mattox for not allowing him to speak at a subcommittee hearing. He is in a full on war with Councilman DiCiccio, and now he is denouncing the Mayor. It's hard to imagine what the rest of the city council thinks of Mark Spencer, but he has done everything to ruin PLEAs relationships with elected officials.
Take a look at this blog on AZ Central -- http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PHXBeat/55354
I've put a list of email addresses for the Mayor and City Council in the right column of this blog. We need to let them know that as PLEA members we don't support what Mark Spencer is doing. He doesn't represent us or our interests.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
