Senator Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) has proposed legislation that would merge the Sheriffs' Co-Ordinating and Training Council (SCTC) to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). The proposed legislation would abolish the SCTC but keep the Local Corrections Officers Advisory Board in place. The Advisory Board would report to MCOLES. Under the proposed legislation, MCOLES would have oversite of Local Corrections Officer training and training monies. Another proposed bill by Senator Richardville would give DSAM representation on the MCOLES.

The legislation is designed to address Michigan Sheriffs failure to provide statutorily mandated training to Local Corrections Officers. Statistics published by the Training Council show that in 2006, 35.8% of sheriffs complied with training standards: 2007 saw 42% in compliance, and in 2008, 65.4%. This lack of compliance calls into question what the book in fee training monies are being spent on. Freedom of Information Act requests on Sheriffs and County Boards reveal that there are sheriffs who are non compliant with either the mandatory recertification requirements of Local Correction Officers and/or expenditure of local book in fee monies.  

To learn more about this download and read the letters below:

• Letter to DSAM Members from Executive Director Larry Orlowski
• Letter to Michigan Sheriffs from SCTC Executive Secretary James Reed

The Grand Rapids Press has an article today regarding Mike Bishop's new reform initiative outling some of the argument for and against Bishop's massive proposed cuts to public employees.

Punctuating this are statements from Kent County Administrator Daryl Delabbio who states in the article he sees public employees as “easy targets,” and many (legislators) don’t realize the reason behind the compensation packages they receive.

Grand Rapids City Manager Greg Sundstrom is quoted in the article as saying:

“A debate on the topic is reasonable, as long as people remember that we have very valuable public employees who deserve a fair wage.”

Click here to read the article from the Grand Rapids press

Republican Senator Mike Bishop has put together a "reform" proposal that would alter P.A. 312, reduce your healthcare benefits, lower your pay by 5% AND freeze it at that rate for 3 years through a constitutional ammendment that he hopes to put on the ballot next year.

Bishop has put together a bi-partisan panel of legislators to review his initiatives and bills based on them will be hitting the legislature soon.

Click here to download Bishop's "Year of Reform" Proposals.

The members of Bishop's panel are:

• Senator Majority Leader Mike Bishop (Rep - Oakland Co.)
• Senator Jud Gilbert (Rep - St. Clair Co.)
• Senator Wayne Kuipers (Rep - Ottawa Co.)
• Senator Tom George (Rep - Kalamazoo)
• Senator Mike Prusi (Dem - Ishpeming )
• Senator Tupac Hunter (Dem - Detroit)
• Senator Deborah Cherry (Dem - Genesse Co.)

 Feel free to let them know how you feel about the proposal via the email links above.