October 2010

GUILTY AS CHARGED…On Thursday, September 23, 2010 in Department 27 in a California Superior Court, following a five-week trial, a San Francisco jury convicted Steven Pitrilli of first-degree murder for killing Officer Nick-Tomasito Birco. Officer Birco #612, a very proud and honored former United States Marine was on street patrol during the early morning hours of July 26, 2006 in the Bayview Police District keeping the streets safe for residents of the neighborhood.

In recent months the federal courts have afforded some guidance in an area of the law that remains relatively ill-defined: the parameters of public employees’ Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures by their employer, who, unlike that of their private-sector counterparts, just so happens to be the government.

ASK MIKE…THE RETIREES’ CORNER

Q. Mike, I have 27+ years of service and would like to enter DROP. But my optimal time to enter is in 2012. Will this program be extended beyond June 30, 2011?

By Greg Corrales

“He which hath no stomach for this fight, let him depart. We would not die in that man’s company.”
- William Shakespeare, “Henry V”

By Richard North Patterson

Reviewed by Dennis Bianchi

Richard North Patterson has repeatedly written books that make the nation's best-seller lists and In The Name of Honor continues his phenomenal success. Obviously Mr. Patterson knows how to pique the public reader's interest and how to put together novels. His strength has always been the legal, courtroom thriller but he has ventured a bit out of that venue on occasion. His political novels just didn't capture my attention. I'm happy to report he has returned to the courtroom.

The POA Journal was notified* of the recent deaths of the following SFPD members, non-sworn employees (n/s), or affiliated persons:

Dear Mr. Brown,

It came as a great disappointment to those of us in public sector labor and safety that you have chosen to support Proposition “B,” the rabid anti-labor legislation proposed by Jeff Adachi and several other multi-millionaires. The effects of this scapegoat measure will be most sorely felt by the working public sector families of this city that earn $50K per year or less. Think about that, Mr. Brown. Imagine trying to raise an entire family on less money than you might require for a single political endorsement.

…Thank You:

The Campaign against proposition B is in full swing. I would like to thank all those who have volunteered to walk precincts, work phone banks and address groups. A special thank you goes out to the miscellaneous City employees who have volunteered to go on “lost time” and work fulltime on the campaign. Now that is commitment!!!...Think of them every time you look at your paycheck because they are the front line that is fighting to protect that check while losing retirement time…