December 10, 2009

To:       District Representatives,

             Indiana State Police Alliance

From:    Wayne Flick, President

Subject: Informational letter                                                                

I spoke with Superintendent Whitesell this evening and he spoke candidly about what has happened this past week and what the future may hold. At this time the executive staff has implemented all mandates they have been tasked with. The Superintendent stated there are no more mandates on his desk at this time. He wants everyone to know that presently the department is stable and he looks ahead with guarded optimism. He appreciates the effort and commitment put forth by everyone during these trying times. There has been no talk of trooper layoffs and presently no talk of losing the off duty use of our commissions 

Other state agencies have lost a total of 2500 cars. Our department has lost none. The Alliance would like to remind everyone that when we drive down the highway all eyes are on us. Due to the fact we have retained the off duty use of our commissions, which others have lost, please be cognizant of the fact that any abuse of this privilege while operating your commission could cause a complaint from the public. These types of complaints could bring an end to one of our benefits. Please drive accordingly.

One of the reasons we have been allowed the privilege of continuing off duty use is the off duty activity log. We ask that you be vigilant in calling in all off duty activity. This simple log assists the executive staff in explaining and justifying our off duty use.

The actions that have been taken the past week were mandated by the state budget agency. The executive staff of the department did not agree with all the cuts that had to be made, but in light of the current economic conditions, they had no other options.

Another issue the Alliance would like to speak to would be members complaining to the public. If you have issues or concerns pertaining to the department, call the Alliance office. Please do not complain to the public. Those complaints have a way of ending up in the wrong place and causing problems for the Alliance and the department.

The Alliance has a very good rapport with the executive staff and the lines of communication are always open. When a concern is brought to the attention of the Alliance, we can take that concern to the department and they will listen with respect. Being able to talk openly with the department benefits all Alliance members. The trust that has grown between the Alliance and the executive staff is the reason for the open lines of communication.

The last week has been a very difficult and trying time for all members of the department. For the first time in our history, members of the department were let go due to budget issues. The matrix was suspended for a year and the immediate future is unknown. Troopers are on edge and worried about layoffs. The executive board of the Alliance would like to remind all members how fortunate we are in these tough economic times. We would remind you that we were the only state employees to receive a pay increase in the year 2009. We still have very affordable health insurance and we are still employed. Please keep in your thoughts, those employees whose positions were eliminated this week.

In closing, the Alliance would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. If anyone has any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call the office.

Respectfully,

Wayne Flick

March 27, 2008

As you all know there is great concern within the department related to the gas prices we are facing today. Having talked with Superintendent Whitesell last week, it was apparent to me that he is extremely stressed over this situation. At the present time, the price of gas is just one of many budget issues Superintendent Whitesell is facing.  He does not want to have to make any drastic changes in the way the Indiana State Police conducts its business. This letter is asking that each and every member of the department take great pains to lessen gas consumption as much as possible, yet at the same time still provide the same professional services that we as a department are known for. I know that sounds impossible to do, provide the same service but do it with less, but I also know that as a collective group we are very creative and can find many ways to do the same job only by different means. If we, as members of the Indiana State Police, take a proactive approach to this problem we can accomplish two things. One, we may be able to stave off any drastic measures that the Superintendent may have to take and two, we can show the Superintendent that we appreciate all that he does and we are trying to do our part to help alleviate the problem.

When driving off duty if you provide any type of assistance please log this through the district you are in. If we can show that even when we are off duty we are providing services, it will be much easier to justify the fact we drive our cars off duty.  

In closing, please give some serious thought to the benefit we receive from the State of Indiana, which is a car and gas. If you are using your car for personal use, please consider paying for the gas out of your own pocket. I don’t think it is asking too much to help this department and this Superintendent by paying for a tank of gas a week to be able to keep the privilege of using this state owned car.

God speed,

Wayne Flick, President

Indiana State Police Alliance

March 6, 2008

Members,

An update on Alliance activities from the winter of 2008:

Members of the Alliance staff worked with the legislators again this year even though we had only one initiative in the process. At least two days a week our staff members were in the Capitol Building visiting and working with our legislators on our present and future initiatives.

Senate Bill 33, which corrected some administrative issues in the pension from last session, was passed by both the Senate and the House unanimously. The bill was sent to the Governor for his signature and he did so on Friday, February 22^nd.

As previously mentioned, we have already had some meetings with legislators regarding the initiatives we will be working on in the long session which will begin next January. A couple of those initiatives have been assigned to summer study committees, which is a good thing. This gives us a jump start on getting these things done.

Due to the recent membership drive and the success of this endeavor, the Executive Board has made some changes to the time line of being able to file for member benefits. Any member who has joined or does join before May 1^st, 2008 will be immediately eligible to file for the member benefit pertaining to the college scholarship program for the school year beginning in the fall of 2008. Another change in the time line issue is that any future member will be immediately eligible for these benefits if the member joins the Alliance within their first year of employment (probationary year) with the Indiana State Police. If a member joins AFTER the first year, the time line has been changed to require five (5) years consecutive membership before being eligible to file for this benefit.  The Executive Board put a lot of time and thought into this matter and felt this was the best possible solution for all involved.  Members already receiving the benefit will be grandfathered.

Plans are moving ahead for the ISPA motorcycle raffle and our people will be traveling to Montgomery, New York on March 20^th & 21^st to take possession of the bike. On the Alliance website we have an icon dedicated to the motorcycle and all the information we have is listed on this site. There is a schedule of when and where the bike will be during the summer for display and ticket sales. If you have a weekend when you might want the bike somewhere, please call the office and see if we can get it on the schedule. The staff will be contacting members around the state to assist when the bike is taken to these different locations. ISPA members may purchase one raffle ticket for $40 and all other tickets will cost $50 and you may start purchasing them April 1, 2008.

If you wish to purchase tickets, you have different options to choose from.  You may stop by the Alliance office and see any of the staff or you will also be able to purchase a ticket at any location on the schedule where the bike will be on display. Or you may mail a check with a stamped addressed return envelope to the Alliance office and we will mail your ticket to you.  Please try to purchase your ticket in person at one of the many locations so we do not have to worry about tickets being lost in the mail if possible.  

Also be looking for the Toyota Tundra truck which Toyota of Indiana is donating to the Alliance to use for the year 2008 during the departments 75^th anniversary. This truck will be used to haul the bike around the state to all the events.

The ISPA staff is working hard to keep our website updated, please continue to check into the site often and if you have any information you wish us to place on this site please give us a call at the office.   

Also included with this mailing is the information for the 11^th Annual Andrew Winzenread Golf Outing, the ISPA Golf Outing and the 2^nd Annual Gary Dudley Memorial Golf Outing.  The Winzenread Outing again returns to the North Branch Golf Course, the Alliance and the Gary Dudley Outings will be held at the Saddlebrook Golf Course in Indianapolis. 

Please get these forms turned back into the proper location as soon as possible, as you know it takes a lot of planning to put one of these events on. 

God Speed,

Wayne Flick

February 4, 2008

A Letter from the ISPA President:

Once again the Indiana State Police family has suffered the loss of another Hoosier Hero.  Trooper Daniel Roy Barrett, assigned to the Peru District, was killed in an automobile crash while patrolling U.S. 31.  Joining many of his brother Troopers in the ranks of the Alliance, was one of the first things Dan did in his young career.  Now once again, as Alliance members, we have had the misfortune of coming together for the purpose of providing assistance to the family of a member who in the performance and commitment to duty has lost his life.  It is always with great pride, but bitter sweet, on these occasions when I see Alliance members volunteering to assist whenever and wherever needed.

Trooper Barrett’s family members were overwhelmed when the monetary benefit entitlement, of the Indiana State Police Alliance, was presented to them.  I felt almost helpless when attempting to find words of comfort from the devastating grief of such a loss.  Dan understood and accepted the risks of the job, as do we all, and he knew that his fellow ISPA members would surround his family with support and comfort should the unthinkable happen.  Beyond that, he knew that our ISPA membership places us in a much larger organization, the National Trooper Coalition.  The family was equally overwhelmed with the messages of condolences and sympathies sent to them by member states of the NTC.  The Barretts had no idea of the brotherhood we share within law enforcement, and the devotion of officers from around the country that stopped, and took the time to travel here and honor their brother and son who had recently become one of Indiana’s Finest.

From the time an out of state trooper arrives, until the time they depart, our Alliance members show them what Hoosier Hospitality really means.  It is well known among the states of the NTC, that the Indiana State Police Alliance appreciates and commends the tributes of respect that are laid upon a brother officer who has made the ultimate sacrifice. California State Police Sergeant Andy Williams told me, “I am going to check when I get home and make sure our association treats the out of state officers with the same treatment I received from your Alliance.  You guys do it right”.  It must be done right, and the Alliance will continue to do it right, with the hope that much time will pass before we come together in this arena again.  One of our own officers said it best, “being an Alliance member means that you are a Trooper or MCI willing to contribute to help other Troopers and MCIs ”.  This tragic event certainly bears witness to that statement.

Thanks to all Alliance members who assisted in honoring Trooper Daniel Roy Barrett, our fallen brother.  Your time and effort will never be forgotten by his family.  As I have stated before, when things aren’t going exactly the way you would want, remember the events of this cold January week, and reflect on the things in life that are most important and that really do make a difference.

Please keep the Barrett family in your thoughts and prayers, and remain safe while performing your duties of providing our citizens with a safe and secure Indiana.

God Speed,

Wayne Flick, President

Indiana State Police Alliance.

July 12, 2007

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT:

Members, I would like to thank all Alliance members who took the time to help honor our FALLEN HERO, Master Trooper David E. Rich, by attending his viewing or his funeral or both. For those of you who were unable to attend, what a wonderful and glorious ceremony you missed. The Troopers who came from out of state were awed by the response and participation from the members of our department and the members of the Alliance. Those out of state Troopers told everyone they spoke to how special it was for them to be here, how honored they felt, and how well they were treated by the INDIANA STATE POLICE.  Times like these, when we all pull together, are what make me proud to be a member of the INDIANA STATE POLICE. That is the reason we are called INDIANA’S FINEST. When our department experiences a tragedy such as this, it tests what we are made of. We pass the test every time. It is a shame that it sometimes takes a tragedy such as this to make us feel this way. A week from now, a month from now, a year from now when you get upset about your schedule, how many miles are on your car, having to work over, or any other event or situation that we may complain about, remember the week of July 5^th, 2007 and you will see what is most important. That is, all members of the department putting their petty differences aside and pulling together to get a job done and doing it the right way. Good job to all!

God Speed,

Wayne Flick

President, Indiana State Police Alliance

July3, 2007

President’s Letter

 It is with a feeling of great honor that I take the reins of the Indiana State Police Alliance. The past eight months have been a whirlwind of activity and success for the Alliance and its members. Through the hard work and dedication of the President, Vice-President, Executive

Director, and Lobbyist along with working hand in hand with the Executive Staff and the Governor’s Office there were many great accomplishments in the 2007 Legislative session. I would like to personally thank Greg Oeth for the great leadership he provided during this time and Kenny Davis for the many extra hours he worked. Also, the members who made the Legislative reception in January such a success deserve a great big thank you. You will never know what an impression this made on the Legislators. This last spring also has shown what can be done when all work together as we did with the Executive Staff. We, as the executive officers of the Alliance, will strive to continue to work hand in hand with the Executive Staff and the Governor’s Office to help better the Indiana State Police and the benefits we receive. The Alliance also ask all members to get out and actively recruit new members. If you know of your peers who do not belong, please ask them to join. There is strength in numbers and we need all Indiana State Police Officers to become members of the Alliance.

In closing, the Alliance will continue working very hard for its members. We have some unfinished business in the Legislature and we will be back there working hard in the short session. If you have any suggestions please feel free to call the Alliance office and talk to Kenny or contact me directly. Again. thanks for all of your support.

God Speed,

E.W.Flick