Brother and Sisters,

The Washington State FOP has determined that it will support the efforts in Olympia and support HB 2907. We stand side by side with our brothers from the Washington State Council of Firefighters. There are a number of E-mails below worth reading that explains the reasons behind this endorsement and support.

The LEOFF 1 system is currently underfunded as a result of the recent "recession" where as LEOFF 2 continues to be fully funded because of the I-790 Initiative and the creation of the LEOFF 2 Board.

Our forefathers of LEOFF 1 WILL NOT LOSE ANY BENEFIT(S). In fact if they come under the governance of the LEOFF 2 Board as a result of HB 2097 they will have a voice in their retirement that they currently do not have.

The benefit to the members of LEOFF 2 is that it will allow us to avoid losing control of our contribution rates set through the year 2015 by your LEOFF 2 Retirement Board.

There is no guarantee that this bill will pass but we will work towards that goal and if it does both the LEOFF 1 and LEOFF 2 systems will be in better financial shape.

If you have any questions please forward them to the FOP Legislative Liasion Carl Burke @ backbouncecb@comcast.net  

Thanks,
Jack L. Simington, National Trustee
Washington State Fraternal Order of Police
2839 W Kennewick Ave #356
Kennewick, WA 99336
Office: 509.736.2079
Cell: 509.539.3778
proud2bfop@aol.com  

 

Sergeant Jack Simington, National Trustee Washington FOP

My name is Donald L. Rutherford. I am a retired Sergeant (on-the-job disability: retired April 1989 injured while arresting an armed gang-banger) with the King County Sheriff's Office and a member of WSRDSPOA (the Washington State Retired Deputy Sheriffs and Police Officers Association).

Now...just where is it that you get your information that LEOFF 1 is underfunded [sic]. LEOFF 1 is a closed system and is fully funded unlike many state retirement systems? LEOFF 1 members have no desire to be represented by a LEOFF 2 Board; and further, nowhere does this bill guarantee "a voice" by any LEOFF 1 representatives on the combined board. This bill is very unfair to LEOFF 1 members who unanimously oppose it. Why should our retirement funds be used to bail out LEOFF 2 which will likely become underfunded if its contributions by both its members and the State are reduced as this bill calls for. We (LEOFF 1 members) had absolutely no input on the drafting of this bill and only learned of its existence through diligent work by officers of the LEOFF 1 Coalition. In fact, it would appear that we were intentionally excluded while this attempt to balance the budget with our retirement monies was being written. Have you bothered to even speak to anyone from the LEOFF 1 Coalition? Mark Curtis perhaps?

The Washington State Council of Firefighters which represents mainly LEOFF 2 Firefighters is the only organization with LEOFF 1 members that is supporting this bill. You need to speak with Dick Warbrouck of RFFOW (Retire Fire Fighters of Washington) who does actually represent LEOFF 1 Fire Fighters.

If this bill passes it threatens to result in both LEOFF 1 and LEOFF 2 systems becoming under funded much like the TERS and PERS systems.

By backing this bill you threaten to alienate thousands of LEOFF 1 Police Officers, Sheriff's Deputies and Fire Fighters, both active and retired, from their LEOFF 2 brothers. Why do you think that the LEOFF 2 retirement funds won't be targeted next. Please reconsider your efforts in supporting this poorly thought out, unfair and likely illegal bill, which if passed, will definitely result in extended and expensive litigation.

Thank you,
Don Rutherford
360-432-8857

Jack L. Simington, National Trustee
Washington State Fraternal Order of Police

Carl Burke, FOP Legislative Liason

The several organizations of LEOFF 1 Plan one retirement organizations are firmly set against HB 2097.

You may not know that the LEOFF Plan 1 retirement system is fully funded. There is a lot of misinformation regarding this fact. Anyone who has taken the time to see for themselves the actual facts of this law or who have checked into the fund balances would know this fact.

The LEOFF Plan 1 system has its own organizations for representation of their retirement system. It has nothing to do with the LEOFF Plan 2 system or its funding. It also has nothing to do with the Plan 2 contribution rates. It never has.

This is merely an attempt to short-circuit a very sound retirement system in an effort to cause the LEOFF Plan 1 funds to be removed from the leoff 1 retirement board's control of those funds.

Please reconsider supporting this bad piece of legislation. In an effort to save state funds I fear that this bill will cost a significant amount more in litigation.

I'm sure that if you take the time to speak with members of any LEOFF Plan 1 organization Representative you will come away with a better understanding. If by chance you don't know who the LEOFF 1 Retirement systems organization happem to be, I'd be happy to let you know.

Many LEOFF Plan 1 Retirees have family members and friends that are in LEOFF Plan 2 positions. Let us both try to assist these Plan 2 members without ruining the retirements of the previous system. There will come a time when LEOFF Plan 2 funding will be up for grabs by the legislature. Some of your members may need the support of our voter base.

Joe Dawson, President
Washington State Retired Deputy Sheriffs and Police Officers Association (WSRDSPOA).
(A LEOFF Plan 1 Organization of 595 active families -spouses are full
voting members).

206-817-8376
425-392-4361