Great Day for the PBA!
Workshop and Plaque Presentations Creates Excitement
and Energy for Leaders of the PBA
 

On February 20, 2010, chapter leaders and Executive Director John Midgette gathered in Winston-Salem for a workshop and to present plaques to several legislators who had worked on PBA bills. Terry Nowell the Director of Training and Research for Southern States PBA was also on hand to present exciting information about the future of PBA recruiting.

 
The workshop started with Narley Cashwell. Cashwell serves as the chapter President for the Raleigh Chapter and Sr. Vice-President for the division. He also serves as the division legislative chair. Cashwell gave an overview of our legislative agenda and our upcoming candidate interview and endorsement process. Those in attendance also agreed on the legislative agenda that the PBA will look to pursue in the 2011-2012 legislative session. (25 year retirement, due process for municipal officers, remove restriction for law enforcement officer’s disability benefits, change  definition  of  NC Correct-

Rep. Larry Womble thanks the PBA

           ions/Probation  Parole  officers  to
 law enforcement officers, enhancement of the State Personnel Act, and revisions to the NC Training and Standards Commission F-5B form that would require professionally recognized standards of verification and accountability concerning information submitted by employers to the commission).



Rep. Nelson Dollar thanks the PBA


During the lunch break appreciation plaques were presented to Senator Pete Brunstetter, Senator Linda Garrou, Rep. Larry Womble and Tracy Ingram (received plaque on behalf of her mother Rep. Earline Parmon) for their work in passing SB 411 into law. SB 411, Amend Survivor's Alternate Benefit, provides that the survivor of an officer killed in the line of duty may choose a life-time pension benefit rather than a onetime withdrawal of the funds that the officer contributed to the state retirement system. The bill also sets the required time in service of the officer at 15 years for the survivor to receive this benefit. Before the introduction of this bill, contributions by the officer and earned interest were simply returned to the beneficiary.

 

This bill was introduced at the request of the PBA and filed in honor of Winston-Salem Police Sergeant and PBA member Howard Plouff. Sgt. Plouff was shot and killed in the line of duty after responding to assist fellow officers on February 23, 2007. Sgt. Plouff was a 17 and 1/2 year veteran officer who left behind his wife and high school sweetheart, Ms. Joyce Plouff and two daughters.

 
Representative Nelson Dollar was also in attendance to receive a plaque for his efforts in passing HB 816 (Clarify the Local Separation Allowance) into law. HB 816 was introduced at the request of the PBA by Rep. Tricia Cotham. The PBA requested that Rep. Dollar also join the bill as a primary sponsor along with Rep. Jennifer Weiss and Rep. Marian McLawhorn. HB 816 is legislationthat clarifies the law regarding the special separation allowance provided to law enforcement officers under the local governmental employees’ retirement system. Officers or deputies retiring from local government, who otherwise meet the  eligibility  requirements,  will now  be


Senator Brunstetter offers appreciation
to the PBA

able to work in any full time capacity for state government and receive the separation allowance. In addition, a local government employer may employ retired officers in a public safety position that doesn’t require participation in the local governmental employees’ retirement system, and doing so shall not forfeit the officer’s separation allowance. HB 816 was passed into law on July 31, 2009.
 


NC Division President Randy Byrd with Senator Linda Garrou


In the afternoon session, Jon MacBride led a discussion about various initiatives to grow the PBA membership. MacBride is the Wake County chapter president and also serves as the division membership chair. Terry Nowell also presented some exciting news about the SSPBA's new directive to enhance recruiting efforts.   Nowell explained that the PBA has started the process of professional recruiting and has hired several folks with a professional sales background.  These recruiters are going to be recruiting full time for the PBA and working throughout the southern state region including North Carolina. He introduced Doug Cook, Tommy McCoon, and Jason O'Brien to those in attendance. These folks will be working hand in hand with chapter Presidents and membership chairs to develop leads and contacts to recruit new members.

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