suffolk county police contract 2019 suffolk county police contract 2019

Working weekly. He touts a new district attorney who set up a conviction integrity bureau to investigate wrongful convictions. Click "Download Contract" to view the contract in PDF format. It seems the P.B.A. Instead, it got a police chief, James Burke, who went to prison in 2016 for running the department like a mafia boss. But they talked to him for three hours anyway. Legislators approved an emergency resolution to restore $25 million to a sewer stabilization fund. Department of Human Resources, Personnel and Civil Service, https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Civil-Service, If this is your first visit be sure to check out the frequently asked questions by clicking here. Emergency Housing Services Program, A Performance Audit of Ryhan's Center of Hope, Inc. The officers who saw the beating were too afraid to talk. Thats one reason police reform so often gets announced at news conferences but so rarely seems to occur in the real world. He was one of just two county legislators, both Republicans, who took no police money. That base pay does not include other pay benefits, such as overtime and longevity pay, which are expected to add thousands of dollars to salaries.The deal approved by the County Legislatures government operations committee Wednesday would ensure that superior officers are paid between 3.59% and 17.97% more than police officers, whom they supervise, documents show. Fiscal conservatives and liberal activists both want to curb the power of police unions in Suffolk County. Ive never heard that being a problem before for this exam. I can investigate the Police Department.. Mr. Spota was once a police union lawyer. Thank you toLegislator Caracappa for rebuking bully Legislator Rob Trotta who has repeatedly made fraudulent claims against the men and women of the Suffolk PBA. A task force set up to produce the reform plan held community listening sessions through video chats. 0000000960 00000 n AME is the exclusive representative of about 5,000 workers, with whom the county has agreed not to bargain directly, or to let any other union bargain on their behalf. Departments > Public Works > Bids and Contracts. Historically, in Suffolk County, you cant win a major office without the police unions endorsement, said Gus Garcia-Roberts, a journalist with The Washington Post who is writing a book about Mr. Burke. Base salary: Base salaries shall be increased as follows: Effective January I, 2019 Effective January I, 2020 Effective January 1, 2021 . The Hochul Administration published a pair of documents concerning the Micron Megafab deal that raise more questions than they answer. Emergency Housing Services Program, A Performance Audit of Brighter Tomorrows, Inc. Dec. 12, 2019| NewsdayHigh-ranking Suffolk County policeare set to get 11.25% raises over six years under a tentative $53 million deal reached with the Superior Officers Association, officials said Wednesday.Sergeants, lieutenants, captains and other senior officersat top step would have base salaries ranging from $183,000 to$273,000 a year by 2024, officials said. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/26/opinion/police-suffolk-county-unions.html, Illustration by Erik Carter. But its not getting at this, he declared, holding up printouts about the unions political donations. Ms. Kaufman felt hopeful about the mention of a three-tiered mental health crisis response and a 911 Call Diversion, although the plan contained few specifics. On March 11, the county unveiled its long-awaited plan for police reform. It never made it out of committee. Sign up to receive updates about Empire Center research, news and events in your email. Yet Mr. Trotta has railed for years about the political influence of police unions in Suffolk County, Long Island, a place where the cops are known to wield exceptional clout. For years, the feds couldnt prove it. For all other offerings (Bids, RFQs, RFEIs, RFIs, Solicitation of Quotes): Please click here for access to Suffolk Countys Procurement Announcement System: https://dpw.suffolkcountyny.gov/rfp/Login.aspx, Copyright 2023, Suffolk County Government, Business Accommodations for Customers with Disabilities, https://dpw.suffolkcountyny.gov/rfp/Login.aspx. From breaking news to special features and documentaries, the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you. Transcripts of the public safety meetings in that era are full of county legislators praising the chief. Backed by the union, the district attorney and the county executive, Mr. Burke seemed untouchable. `H VY. Legis. The six-year PBA deal will result in the lowest police raises in decades, averaging at 1.8%. Still waiting. The revelation that officers lied shocked many on Long Island. Copyright 2023, Suffolk County Government, A Compilation and Analysis of Contract Agency Disclosure Form Data for the 2023 Budget Evaluation Process, Department of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services, Suffolk County Department of Social Services, A Performance Audit of Mercy Center Ministries, Inc.s Emergency Housing Services Program, A Performance Audit of United Veterans Beacon House, Inc.'s Emergency Housing Services Program, Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, A Performance Audit of the District Attorneys Office Forfeiture Funds, A Performance Audit of SCO Family of Services, Inc. Help support the men and women of the Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs PBA!! They even have their own version of the American flag its black with a blue line running down the center, representing the idea that the thin blue line they embody is all that separates civilization from anarchy. Anyone know what day in January theyre going to release our grades? The Suffolk County Department of Human Resources, Personnel and Civil Service is responsible for overseeing personnel actions taken by some 241 employing jurisdictions including towns, school districts, villages, library districts, water districts, etc. They also approved a healthcare cost-sharing agreement with the Suffolk County Organization of Public Employees (SCOPE), a consortium of all 11 county employee unions. Police Officers will receive average raises of 1.875% per year over the term of the contract. The PBA MOA modified a. . (Mr. Bellone argued that an arbitrator would have given them more.) James Burke escorted by F.B.I. In other news, both the PBA and AME will soon issue endorsements in upcoming races for county executive and county legislature. In 2013, the department agreed to oversight from the Justice Department over its treatment of Latinos, which mandated the department to collect data on racial disparities in traffic stops, forcing the department to admit it had a problem. Police reform had become a thing, even in Suffolk County. Really curious how the scores will play out on this exam compared to others, Copyright 1996-2021, Officer Media Group, Endeavor Business Media - Public Safety Interactive. 0000001286 00000 n The cards allow residents access to county parks and reduced fees for park activities. Adding up the projected costs and savings of the three deals in each year (see below) show the countys expects to save more money than it pays out in raises during 2019, 2020, and 2021. Long Island University Discount . The deals were negotiated outside public view by County Executive Steve Bellonestandard practicefor New York public employers. Thus far, police benevolent associations have operated outside those restrictions. Our mission is to make New York a better place to live and work by promoting public policy reforms grounded in free-market principles, personal responsibility, and the ideals of effective and accountable government. You do not have permission to view this gallery. Brownwill be paid $145,560 in the new role, down from $173,226. Curious to hear some of your weekly routines to stay sharp for the PAT, It was said on another forum it would be 2 weeks prior to Christmas we would be mailed results. Emergency Housing Services Program, A Performance Audit of Never Alone Never Afraid, Inc. Privacy Policy |Terms of service |Subscription terms |Your ad choices |Cookie Settings |California Privacy Rights |About Us |Contact Newsday |Reprints & permissions |Advertise with Newsday |Help. Photographs by Getty Images. I was reading the county charter about what a legislator does. Questions though; my test didn't say Spanish speaking or indicate it was different but I know when I signed up I out Spanish speaking. The Suffolk County Legislature approved a new police detectives contract Tuesday that will cost the county an additional $40 million while giving 11.25% raises over six years. In the 1960s, a series of debilitating public sector strikes across New York persuaded lawmakers to pass the Taylor Law, which outlawed strikes but granted access to a labor-friendly board that resolved disputes. This is a good thing, he said, gesturing at the meeting on his screen. Unless legislators were presented with all four documents, they had no way of seeing what they were actually committing to. Now, as city schools close -- once more at the unions' behest -- the city is left with thousands of extra teachers hi, In light of the state governments extremely precarious financial position, New Yorks state lawmakers, judges, statewide elected officials and certain gubernatorial appointees should not receive pay raises in the. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. For the first time, Suffolk County employees will contribute toward their health care plan under a new agreement reached with County Executive Steve Bellone last week. Other politicians, particularly those allied with Mr. Bellone, call Mr. Trotta a toxic character, a bomb-thrower, a hypocrite or a loon. The police union spoke out against the bill. *The final vote count has not yet been posted but at least 16 of the 18 legislators voted for the three measures. Wright has served as acting commissioner since July after Commissioner Theresa Ward resigned. But there are also far too many cases of police officers who abuse their positions and are protected by powerful police unions. But that same logic beat back an attempt to unionize the American military. 0000004340 00000 n The system works, but very slowly.. Terms of the 2019-2024 contract for the Suffolk County Detective Investigators Police Benevolent Association, which represents 51 detectives assigned to the county district attorneys office, mirror those of other law enforcement contracts, officials said. As a detective, he uncovered drug dealers in places others didnt think to look. A big heartfelt thank you to Congressman Garbarino, Assemblyman Gandolfo and students from all the schools in Congressional District 2 and Assembly District 7. With so much money at stake, the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association doesnt leave elections to chance. Phone: 631-853-5040 Email: douglas.sutherland@suffolkcountyny.gov, H. Lee Dennison Building 100 Veterans Memorial Highway Hauppauge, NY 11788, Douglas Sutherland Plattsburgh, New York. Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm. Mr. Trotta watched the rollout on Zoom at his office desk in Smithtown. Most users ever online was 158,966 at 05:57 AM on 01-16-2021. My program includes push ups and sit ups every class and tons of upper body strength training. Unless legislators were presented with all four documents, they had no way of seeing what they were actually committing to. James Tomarken, who served as commissioner since 2009, is retiring this month. The Contracts section allows users to search collective bargaining agreements between public employers and public employees, including teachers' unions, school superindents, police departments, fire departments, and public authorities. But I dug around and found articles about the power of the Suffolk County police unions from the . I can't speak to exactly what grades they take, but they typically jump a few points lower than what the county is processing IF you have residency. The justification for this sweetheart deal for the police and firefighters is that they are so essential to safety that communities cant risk a strike. At the time, those costs represented 15% of the total county budget. Please help support the brave men and women of the Deputy Sheriffs PBA and the great work they do for the people of Suffolk County! While every contract is the result of negotiation that will leave either side wanting more, this is a fair contract and moves our county forward, Suffolk AME president Dan Levler said in a statement. Mr. Trotta had loved being a cop. 0000003124 00000 n Amongst his other reprehensible conduct, Legislator Trotta threatened the Suffolk County Police Commissioner with a secret recording he made. The new contract will provide a 2.25% retroactive raise for 2020, followed by 1% raises twice a year through 2023, according to the legislature's Budget Review Office. Just giving my best advice for anyone that will take it, Civil Service has removed the old eligible list from their websiteexpect the new one soon, They usually post it before Christmas. . Previously, there was a second tier of top pay that Mr. Kaiman said likely would not have made it through arbitration. Legis. Isle of Wight County. We will prob hear late November/December hopefully! In June 2019, while in office, the prior presiding officer of the Suffolk Co. legislature claimed that he was threatened by corrupt individuals, that he spoke with the FBI about corruption in Suffolk Co. and that the FBI acknowledged it. The activists mostly ignored him. The Empire Center is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank located in Albany, New York. Building Design & Construction. Everybody else voted for it. Who We Represent Under section 17 of the AME MOA, the county has committed to pay into a union trust that would provide retiree health benefits only to members in good standing. Under the states exclusive representation rules, a public employer cannot confer a special benefit specifically on those workers who choose to pay union dues. What began as national calls for reform last summer are now in the hands of local communities to bring about. Ms. Kaufman called him. %PDF-1.3 % Ms. Kaufman was a clinical social worker who joined a Black-led community coalition called LI United to Transform Policing and Community Safety, which was helping to put together an alternative police reform called The Peoples Plan. Suffolk CO to NYPD is pretty dumb unless you had to be a cop. One got voted out, but the other, James Gaughran, survived. (383p00Ue@Aa#CS#in=`i L#" endstream endobj 42 0 obj <> endobj 43 0 obj <> endobj 44 0 obj <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC]/XObject<>>> endobj 45 0 obj <> endobj 46 0 obj <> endobj 47 0 obj <>stream Hes full of praise for the rank and file. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Chief Deputy County AttorneyLynne Bizzarro will become acting county attorney. The idea that the PSC would artificially drive electricity costs higher to benefit a political constituency represents a new low. Their union just reached a deal with County Executive Steve Bellone for a new, six-year contract that requires all county employees, including police, to contribute to their health care. Yet the police union still holds great sway. No academy, most hire residents primarily some go alphabetically ie lloyd harbor. Theres some truth to that. CreditIllustration by Erik Carter. It has not only a PAC, but also a super PAC that spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on local elections. That means the winners of the next two general elections for county legislature will already be committed to the terms. That leaves a lot of questions yet to to be answered. 0000003668 00000 n He couldnt get assigned to the public safety committee, even as a former police officer. Copyright 2023 Newsday. In 1976, an A.F.L.-C.I.O.-affiliated union voted to admit military personnel, prompting a freakout at the Pentagon, according to Jennifer Mittelstadt, a history professor at Rutgers who wrote The Rise of the Military Welfare State. Congress swiftly outlawed union membership for soldiers. The county will also save money on overtime costs by requiring new police officers to work additional days, requiring all officers to complete their annual firearms qualification training on an off-duty day and cutting sick days in half from 26 to 13. Suffolk County Legislature Evans K. Griffing Building 300 Center Drive Riverhead, New York 11901 Phone: 631-852-1700 Fax: 631-852-1707 Directions The problem is, if you make $40,000, thats 10% of your entire salary, he said. All rights reserved. Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), who abstained on Tuesday'svote along with Legis. Detectives willreach that top step sooner, according toBudget Review'sreport. Catching thieves who stole copper pipes out of abandoned homes. Suffolk County Police Memorial Service: 11 AM on Friday, May 10th at SCPD HQ, Yaphank. Without that extra spending, Mr. Trotta said, We could have done the roads. His new job? Additional provisions of the contract include: The Suffolk County Legislature approved a new police detectives contract Tuesday that will cost the county an additional $40 million whilegiving 11.25% raises over six years. The PBA MOA modified a2012 MOA, which modified terms set in a2010 arbitration award, which were based on a2004 contract. The 10-to-12-step pay scale for detectives promoted after 2013 will be reduced to nine steps. We strive to keep Suffolk County a safe and thriving place to live and work by aiding our members in their vocation as Suffolk County Police . Gerard McCarthy, who recently retired as chief of operations for the Suffolk County Police Department, lauded Mr. Trotta for being the sole person willing to raise the issue of the police unions political donations. In 2012, he flew to Costa Rica to testify in court in a money-laundering case. Anyone know the estimated time frame it usually takes to hear back with your score? They helped organize and create the making of over 3,000 Valentine cards for our heroes who serve and protect us. Top-step base pay is $181,969 and will rise at least once a year, according to a copy of the contract. In 1974, police officers and firefighters in New York got an additional boost from a new provision in the Civil Service Law that gave them compulsory binding arbitration if they reached an impasse in a contract dispute. A sheet of paper in his office hangs above his desk with the number 62 on it, showing that Suffolk County ranks 62 out of 62 New York counties in fiscal stability. He was convicted in 2019 and sentenced to a year in confinement. because he didnt want them prying into his own misconduct. What scores do they usually go for? That produces an immediate reduction in costs for the county, but still leaves taxpayers absorbing future cost increases. The fee may also be waivedif you are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support of a household and for recipients of Medicaid, SSI, Public Assistance or those in a training program under the Job Training But it didnt shock the loved ones of Kenny Lazo, a Black man who got pulled over by Suffolk County officers in 2008 and wound up beaten to death in a case the medical examiner ruled a homicide. A Performance Audit of Hope for Youth, Inc. A Performance Audit of H.E.L.P. task force. The County negotiated a six-year agreement with the Suffolk County PBA that would result in the lowest level of raises for Police Officers in decades. One of New York Citys largest public-sector unions has been effectively taken over by its national parent after an audit revealed extensive financial mismanagement. Im not against people getting a cost-of-living increase, but they were getting three times the cost of living, Mr. Trotta told them of the raise that Mr. Bellones contract gave the police. Suffolk County Government > Departments > Public Works > Bids and Contracts. The newest contract followsthe Police Benevolence Association and Superior Officers Association contracts, union president David Gallagher said. They also approved a healthcare cost-sharing agreement with the Suffolk County Organization of Public Employees (SCOPE), a consortium of all 11 county employee unions. Theyre still processing candidates on the old lists for upcoming class. The annual minimum contribution will be $1,500 and the maximum will be $3,750, increasing to $4,000 after five years. In 2011, the Suffolk Police Benevolent Association backed Steve Bellone. We needed to rein that in, said Deputy County Executive Jon Kaiman in an interview Tuesday. In every conversation, he found a way to bring it back to Jimmy Burke, one told me. H[k0 /Pd]ABG}X&JqN%g$efYEysMKQD2,HCa8Zdhv4A]_(;8("ZaNshHT9;2n:]o(GApuQ_sqH,|-%Ti$8oDB0HpmTg9KMq`. It was true. The lengths of the deals are themselves problematic. Everyone should be able to breathe freely in their own home.. New York State Police Memorial Service: 1 PM on Tuesday, May 7th at the Empire State Plaza, Albany. Their payroll for active employees cost the county $7.4 million in 2020. Gonzalez said he is working on amending the bill, which failed to pass in the legislature last year, with Legis. They also approved a healthcare cost-sharing agreement with the Suffolk County Organization of Public Employees (SCOPE), a consortium of all 11 county employee unions. A fiscal conservative in a deep-red district, Mr. Trotta won handily, even though the union hated him. These agreements represent a major milestone that protect the taxpayer and are fair to the hardworking men and women who ensure our public safety and help operate county government, Mr. Bellone said in a statement. Those figures do not include other pay benefits, such as overtime and longevity pay. Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda on a variety of family and criminal law topics, including custody and visitation, neglect . 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil - 8 PM on May 13th at the National Mall between 4th and 7th Streets, NW. Follow-up on Previous Payroll Procedures Audit, A Special Investigative Audit of the Time Reporting Practices and Related Payroll Payments of a Selected Employee of the Department of Probation. Suffolk is an extreme version of the same problems that are elsewhere.. Copkiller Invited to Speak at Suny Brockport. Until they post the scores from the 2019 exam the other list is still active, Anyone else bursting at the seams to find out their grade? Villages hire anyone with a passing grade 75 or better; but must be a resident of that area.. The County Legislature released a single-page analysis of top-line costs for each of the three deals, without providing a cost breakdown for specific provisions. The legislature voted to allow Long Island University to use part of the Suffolk County Farm in Yaphank for raising livestock and for agricultural education for students and the public. Officials estimate the health care agreement will save taxpayers $40 million next year, with the potential to save more in the future. Emergency Housing Services Program, A Performance Audit of Penates, Inc.s Emergency Housing Services Program, A Performance Audit of Resurrection House, Inc.s Emergency Housing Services Program, A Compilation and Analysis of Contract Agency Disclosure Form Data For the 2022 Budget Evaluation Process, A Performance Audit of the Probation Departments Federal Forfeiture Funds, A Performance Audit of Penates, Inc. The Suffolk AME, which had been without a contract since January 2017, will receive an average raise of 1.5% each year through 2024, officials said. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney's Social Media. But that raisewill cumulatively cost the county an additional $19 million, plus increased costs for benefits and overtime, according to the legislatures Budget Review Office. Photographs by Getty Images. 0000007066 00000 n When he talks about race, he sounds like hes stuck in the 1980s. 0000001156 00000 n The activists behind The Peoples Plan put out a statement that lauded parts of the countys plan, but criticized the lack of a civilian review board or outside investigators for complaints against the police. On November 20, 2012, the Highway Patrol Bureau resumed patrolling and answering all 911 calls for service . In 2008, when the county executive tried to cut costs by having the sheriffs department patrol the Long Island Expressway instead of the police, who earned more, about 2,000 police officers and their relatives joined a local political party to try to oust the sheriff. Press@EmpireCenter.org. Mr. Trotta thought it was because they lived in communities with more crime. In 2019, more than 1,200 officers nearly half the force took home over $200,000 a year. There are currently 34310 users online. You never know. Unlike the anticipated healthcare savings, the new costs from raises areguaranteedto materialize. CO make more than a nypd cop..safer and just a better job (done both) corrections out suffolk is a great job,,easy work if you can even call it work 97k without OT and bonus's is around 110k with new contract(12 years) downfall vs NYPD is 25 years to retire instead of 20. Before he was appointed chief, members of the police force wrote an anonymous letter to Mr. Bellone warning him that Mr. Burke was known to frequent prostitutes, interfered with an officer-assault investigation and used information obtained from a wiretap as leverage against a politician. Mr. Trotta was skeptical: What if a mentally ill person turns violent on a dime?. personnel in 2015. a union official coaching officers to lie. As soon as he returned, he got reassigned. 41 0 obj <> endobj xref They cited political donations from the police union as the reason. . from the Suffolk County Park Police Department pursuant to the September 30, 2014 memorandum suffolk county police contract 2019. gemini and scorpio parents gabi wilson net worth 2021. suffolk county police contract 2019. Thank you to Congressman Garbarino, Assemblyman Gandolfo and Students! On the other hand, maybe they hire lower scores. The very first bill Mr. Trotta presented required all officers above the rank of captain to have a bachelors degree and be free of complaints about civilian abuse or moral turpitude requirements that Chief Burke, who did not have a college degree, did not meet. The root of the evil is the money.. We have to negotiate contracts or arbitrate them.. Mr. Trotta opposed the police contract, calling it unsustainable at a time of fiscal crisis. Spoke with my trainer he knows I need to stay in shape to do the PAT. Steve Bellone, the Suffolk County executive who appointed Mr. Burke, says he was fooled by Mr. Burke and Mr. Spota and turned against them when he discovered their criminal enterprise. He vows that a new day has dawned. Emergency Housing Services Program, A Performance Audit of the Police Departments Forfeiture Funds, A Performance Audit of Payroll Procedures, Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency (TPVA), A Performance Audit of TPVA's Revenues Reported to the County, A Performance Audit of the Resurrection House, Inc. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney's press office, CENTRAL ISLIP WOMAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER, MANHATTAN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO STEALING MONEY FROM TWO VICTIMS IN ELDER SCAM, COMMACK WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO EMBEZZLING MORE THAN $250K FROM SUMMER CAMP, BABYLON MAN SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, Alleged Bloods Gang Member Floyd McNeil Was Out on Bail on an Attempted Murder Charge When He Was Caught with a Loaded and Defaced Firearm, District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the retirement of Mega, Dionicio Calderon Faces Up To 75 Years to Life in Prison, District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of Jaquan Casserly, 34, of Holbrook, who is accused of selling fentanyl, District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that Michael Gonzalez of Brentwood was sentenced to 7 years in prison, QUARTERMASTER SECTION CLOSURE AND PROMOTION PROCEDURE 3.3.23, ANTICIPATED POLICE OFFICER VACANCY-PROPERTY SECTION 3.3.23, ANTICIPATED POLICE OFFICER VACANCY-IMPOUND SECTION 3.3.23, PROPERTY-EVIDENCE ROOM MANAGEMENT COURSE 3.3.23, BODY-WORN CAMERA END USER COURSE AND INVESTIGATOR-SUPERVISOR COURSE 3.3.23, IN CAR VIDEO CAMERA-ALPR LIVE DATE-FIRST, FOURTH, FIFTH PRECINCT 3.3.23, SENIOR OFFICE ASSISTANT VACANCY-APPLICANT INVESTIGATION SECTION 3.3.23, BODY-WORN CAMERA LIVE DATE-THIRD PRECINCT 3.3.23, DEPARTMENT RECOGNITIONS-FEBRUARY 2023 3.3.23. This lottery was done in 2019 for people who took the Spanish speaking test in 2016 and scored an 85. Then another. The phrase defund the police makes his skin crawl. The DSPBA is asking for your support so that we may continue to provide many community based programs and events. At Suffolk County's widest point the distance from the Long Island Sound to the Southern shore is only 26 miles. In 2019, when a local paper asked Mr. Trotta what he had accomplished as a legislator, he replied: The chief of police went to jail and the district attorney has been indicted. Mr. Burke was still a powerful police chief that year when Mr. Trotta decided to run for office. Bellone administration officials said the county ended up not needing the money. We have no choice, said Jennifer McNamara, the countys director of labor relations. Under the agreement, county employees will pay 2% of their salaries toward health coverage, which will increase incrementally until reaching 2.5%, county officials said. Click the graphic above for the full interview. The Suffolk County Legislature on Tuesday nightratified* new contractswith the countys Association of Municipal Employees (AME) and Police Benevolent Association (PBA), which together represent more than half of the county workforce. He made me realize it was even worse than Id thought, one of the Democratic Socialists, a 25-year-old from Setauket named Hannah Erhart, told me. In 1983, police unions in New York successfully lobbied to amend a law that barred them from donating to politicians.