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Officer laid off
Mayor Dean Bunkers announced tonight that, due to the three unions rejecting concessions requested by the city, an Ocean Shore police officer has received a layoff notice. He said that Paul Luck, on hearing of the layoff notice, quickly submitted a retirement letter, hoping the other position would be saved. Bunkers gave no indication that the veteran sergeant’s attempt to save a fellow officer’s job would be successful. Indeed, Bunker said that, because of $88,000 in sick leave and other pay due to Luck upon his retirement, that job may also be unfilled.
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What is down is sales, B&O and fees for building permits and other city services. The property taxes have gone up. That in fact is the only thing that went up. So, we are paying our share in the form of taxes. We are also living here and spending money on the utilities, phone, and power just like we did before. The only thing that has changed is the amount spent by visitors, building speculators, and people changing ownership of property. The land is still here and either the old owner or new owner still pay the property taxes. It is just the churning of property that existed before has stopped. That is the reality of NRPI not being here anymore. We now have to live within our means. That means that we cut back to the small town we were before the boom.
Yes we cut, too late, but we cut. Now we may have to cut more. That is all dependent on outside forces. We can only control what we can control. That means we have to control our city budget based upon the property taxes we get. If we budget based upon that and use the other taxes as windfalls to be spent on things that do not need to be sustained over the years through more expenditures, like employees, then we will be OK. That is the lesson we have to learn.
If we can not afford to maintain it, do not build it or buy it. It is like a new car. If you can not afford the payments you do not buy it. If you save up and buy it, then make sure you save enough to maintain it too.
I recall Mayor Flunkers saying cutting the police department and just contracting with the Sheriff’s Department for police services. At the rate he is going I don’t believe that is much further behind.
You are so right oscitizen. Hey Mayor Flunkers how do you afford such an expensive truck during these tight financial times especially when you are suppose to be given back 10% of your outrageous salary that you are earning.
I would like to see the North Coast News to do a survey with the registered voters of this community to see what the approval rating of Mayor Flunkers is currently. I would be totally surprised if he is lucky enough to get a 30% approval rating. I am thinking it is time for a recall vote against Mayor Flunkers. Sorry about the typos (not!)
Most of you do nothing but gripe gripe gripe, when facts are given you, you disregard them, if someone stands up for the police, he must be an officer, wow what logic, our department needs officers, we need a Fire Chief, we are getting revenue from EMS and all outside calls, they are up to date, the office staff has slimed down and I dont think any of you would volunteer to take a 10% pay cut, all citizens and all workers for the city are just that citizens, we all pay taxes for services rendered, wake up all entities are having budjet problems and no one likes to pay taxes. Yes our taxes are going up, but we are the only source of new revenue in most cases, so get use to it, at least for the moment we dont pay State, County or City Income taxes like a lot of our breathern in other states, we are one of the least taxed states for people in the US. Most of our history, the “proud individualistic streak” in our culture was balanced by a commitment to “shared sacrifice” for the common good, and taxation enabled us to build America. Today America remains the most lightly taxed nation in the developed world, but even the most sensible taxes have become anathema. Most of us think only of ourselves, what I need, what I want has become our mantra. Ocean Shores is in America, we are Americans, please let us act like we are.
Here’s some true facts; the mayor campaigned he was going to reduce employees, and reduce salaries. He claims there is no monies for Luck’s retirement, yet they had him budgeted for the yr, so there is in fact monies for his buy out. He only laid the officer off because the police union voted no. Why isnt he laying off from clerical or Public works? They voted no as well. He claims his high priorities are Fire and Police, I call bull crap!
I think he is doing whats best for him and not the city. He goes out and buys a brand new truck and drives it to work to show it off to everyone during working hours. WHat a slap in the face that is! Hey I just laid off an police officer but look I went and bought a brand new truck! I say go pack sand mayor bunkers.
Lets get someone in office that actually knows what they are doing and that actually cares about what is best!!!!
Angry, Paving the roads did not flood front yards unless you were dumping your properties water onto the street which is illegal. Each property owner has a duty to control the water their property creates due to construction or landscaping with concrete or hard surfaces that do not allow the water to perk into the soil or drainage ditch in front of the property. Only what naturally flowed from the property before building is allowed to flow to the neighbor. However, our Building Department and Code Enforcement have been lax over the years and have not required owners to remedy the situation. The road is not a drainage ditch.
The Chief did not have a say in who got laid off. Bunkers told him. Right after he went around saying that he was going to make an example out of the police department. Notice no one else has been laid off? And notice that the mayor is using Luck’s retirement as a way to continue shaving down the police dept? Looks pretty deliberate to me. But hey, what do I care? I’m looking to bail out of here too. I don’t want to continue to pay taxes and not get basic services, but flooding roads and front yards due to the stellar paving job. I bet the library is the next to go. Bunkers doesn’t seem to have a sypathetic bone in his body. This isn’t about the people of ocean shores and what they need, this is about Bunkers doing what he wants to do, regardless of the impact to the citizens.
Well since the deputy chief makes about $40,000 more a year than a the other officer, who actually generates revenue, it seems like a pretty dumb decision.
What should really make you upset is the fact that we have all of these employees, many close to retirement, and no reserves set aside to pay them their final check of accrued vacation and sick pay. Should that not have been accruing in an account insulated from the annual dance to balance the budget? Not only do we have loans from the utilities that have to be paid back, but now we have this. Do you realize the true level of liabilities we have? What else will have to be cut in order to repay the old loans and the new ones in 3 years or less? What if we have a number of employees that wish to retire? I hope they are willing to take IOUs. Gov. Arnold, could you send us the instructions?
Here’s a question that hasn’t been asked or answered:
What will it cost the city monetarily (in the short term) to lay off the most junior patrol officer vs. laying off the Dep. Chief?
I talking net of salary, benefits, unemployment, unused vacation/sick leave, severance, etc. And in the case of the exempt employee any “golden parachute” that may exist.
Do we even know what the bottom line was in dropping the Fire Chief?
Hi inyourface;
Well, I guess I touched a sore spot?
All I’m saying is that the chief could have elected to eliminate that position but he didn’t, he CHOSE to eliminate a patrol officer position, actually 4 of them so far.
If you trust the chief, you should trust his judgement. I’m sure he spent significant time deciding what to do.
I don’t know if it was a good choice or not, you sound like you have a vested interest, maybe you know better than the chief. You obviously believe you know more about this than I do and I’d be the first to agree with you.
Jon Avery,
Still thinking……here, let me help you. The Deputy Chief of Ocean Shores Police Department serves NO DIRECT PUBLIC FUNCTION. He has a hard enough time doing what he does now, which is pretty much nothing.
Hey, sorry to burst your bubble, but us laying off another officer, who does/is serving a direct public function, and could have quite possibly saved my life some day, to keep the Deputy Cheif….that’s insane. WAY TO GO MAYOR BUNKERS….I’d love to see you come out here and deal with what he have to day in and day out. You should pull your head out of the sand and think about liability, responsibility and your credibility…are you capable of doing that? Obviously not. Sam Union Charles King Ida Tom!
Jon Avery,
“How can OSLOCAL possibly know who should be laid off at the PD?”
I can tell you that OSLOCAL has a completely valid point. Now, is it possible that OSLOCAL is a Police Officer within the city who is stirring the pot? I would have to say yes. Before you go spouting off like you know what “YOU” are talking about, check your facts.
Also Jon, please enlighten us with what the Deputy Chief does for the Ocean Shores Police Department other than collect an awful high paycheck while collecting 5% surf rescue pay on top. (Ed.: PORTION OF COMMENT DELETED)
So what else does he do again? Please help me understand Jon Avery.
I totally agree. This funding should then go to support for these unsung heroes in our community. We need to show them more of the appreciation they deserve. The money we spend for their vehicles and fuel is probably the best money we spend in this town.
I am surprised they have not cut funding to Crime Watch. They use a city vehicle and city gas with volunteers to patrol at night. They actually get out of the vehicle and check places. They also drive slow enough to see what is happening around them. They even say hello and introduce themselves and new members of the team when they see citizens. That is really refreshing. Maybe we should charge a small fee when a home is registered to offset the costs involved in this program. It would help when they need that new vehicle, equipment, and uniforms.
You people in this small town are going through a case of acute paranoia because a policeman is laid off and think that next week some is going to stab you in your sleep. My opinion is that the crime watch volunteers do more good patrolling and crime prevention in this town and deserve more recognition than our police forces,and they are working for free. This is where our support really belongs and should be concentrated on. The last time I saw a police officer on my street was 4 years ago when he came to look at one of my neighbor’s garage sales. Other than that, I haven’t seen one in 12 years. Maybe this layoff will be a “heart starter” for some of our police personnel. If you have lived in a city over a million or two like I have all my life, you would see how little trouble we really have. Grow up.
I think the mayor needs to get his ducks in a row, public safety should be the first priority. He had a meeting with labor unions and didn’t get what he wanted so he immediately got back at them but laying off a police officer. Then when another police officer retires in an attempt to save the first position, the mayor says no.
There may not be a lot of major crimes in town currently, however, that will change when criminals find out we are short on public safety officers. Bring your meth labs, no one will find us, the staff is too busy.
I’ve read a lot of comments on public safety aspect of loosing two more officers but what about police safety, in lieu of the current events happening around the country. This may be a small town but so is Eatonville. It may have been OK in the past for one officer to handle a call but the climate is changing and two officers on a call will become the norm for their safety, as well as the safety of the public. A lot of people will say that’s there job to put their lives on the line for us, but that’s a bunch of crap, everyone should feel as safe as possible doing their jobs.
I don’t think you have done your job mayor, take the unselfish, magnanimous gesture of Sgt. Luck and at least save one officer position. It may be slow now, but summer and the 4th of July week are quickly coming and so are the tourists.
Paul Luck has always been a class act. I wish him all the best.
G.H. Miller is right. The RCWs and Civil Service System created by Government is what has created the problems with the system. However, the union contract makes it even worse. Time to start running government, Federal, State and Local, like a business. If revenues drop, you cut cut cut. If you need to, you offer early retirement. That way you get younger personnel at a lower cost. For the ones that say you will gut institutional knowledge, look at what managmeent is currently saying. We hear them say: ” do not look back”.
911 what is your emergency? Ya I live in Ocean Shores and someone is breaking into my house.(911 dispatcher) “Ok Mr. Johnson I would like to get you an officer but you see there is no money left in your budget and the mayor wants the city to look good soooo, just lock up and cover yourself with a blanket close your eyes and the bad man will go away enjoy your roundabout.
911 what is your emergency? Ya I live in Ocean shores and my house is on fire and I can’t get my dad out he is in a wheelchair in the bedroom please help me.(911 dispatcher) “ok Mr. Johnson I would like to get you a quick safe professional response in a timely manor but due to layoffs and critical short staffing issues the firefighters that are on duty are transporting a sick person to Aberdeen and the next fire engine company will be there in about 20 minutes. Soooo tell your dad to cover up with a blanket and close his eyes the fire will just go away and it won’t hurt a bit.
Way to go, great leaders of our city, your first priority should always be to sacrifice our safety and security. don’t blame anyone for getting the hell out of here. Way to turn things aroundabout…….
All Police and Fire Dept paid personnel with the exception of the Chief and Assistant are covered by Civil Service Rules and Regulations as required by Washington State Law ( see RCW 41.08 and 41.12.050) this transulates to rules covering layoff, hireing,firing, competitive exams and reinstatements. The Rule for layoffs is by seniority, last hired first laid off. Performance reviews (bad Ones) may be cause to fire personnel subject to being grieved to civil service. Union Contracts may add additional protections but may not undermind Civil Service Rules. Hope this clarifies things for you all, hav a good day.
OK, so if I understand this correctly, we lost two officer positions last year (and one of them was the “bald” one – in April or May), and now we are looking at losing another officer AND a Sergeant. So If I look at the numbers on what is being reported, we have a Chief, who is double dutying at the fire station, a Deputy Chief that everyone is saying doesn’t do anything, a detective, three Sergeants, and four officers. So that leaves seven people to patrol our city 24/7. The math isn’t adding up for me. It looks like we are only going to have one person on the streets some of the time, and let’s not forget that these guys have to occassionally take time off the street to write reports. You know what I see? I see a huge overtime budget. In addition to being “off the street” to do other aspects of their job, what about taking vacation time? Sick leave? Family emergencies? Training? Testifying in court? Other job duties? Wow, I see that they were already struggling to staff the department needs because of last years “trim” by our loyal mayor (and before anyone makes some crackpot comment about them taking vacation and sick leave, they have EARNED it). So it sounds like a sound plan to hack at the department, and stress out and exhaust the existing police officers, pay out a ton of overtime and then everyone will really have something to complain about. I hope that no one is seriously injured or put in jeopardy because of this, I can see it happening. That is if they can find anyone to replace the people that will throw in the towel and burn rubber to a healthier working environment and a more appreciative citizenry. This city is toxic. And guess who is going to be the next one to put up a for sale sign in front of their house? Me. I’ve had it. This city is full of a bunch of self-serving naysayers. Enjoy your roundabout and all your landscaping because that is going to be the best attraction this town has going for it, besides the fact that it’s the best place to commit a crime and not get caught. Have fun folks!!! You asked for it, you got it. And no fair complaining in the future when you’re the victim of a crime or that it takes forever for the police to respond to your call. You’re only getting exactly what you asked for. I don’t want to live in a place that is unprotected.
Everyone, are you kidding me, I can’t believe what I have been reading over the past two days! I have seen more senseless justifications for totally irrelevent facts that I have to really wonder not only who these people are who are posting, and what their true intent is as to take their time to post their baseless meanderings in the first place.
To those of you who feel it is important to quote statistics and personel issues from other entities, your point is both irrelivant to the issue at hand, and ignorant to the facts that we in this city are faced with.
The facts are that our city will be with four fewer officers than they had allocated just 2 years ago! While you might not see the significance of this, considering that there are only a handful of officers total, this loss is a major percentage that is not only starting to be felt, but will really be realized as the next couple of months follow into the busy Spring and Summer season. I will not go into the longer response times and reduced services that this city WILL have, because if those of you don’t see that as a problem than you are beyond the time taken to explain the issue to you.
To make it simple, all I can say is that the city has failed in making it a place for people to want to be a part of. Do not be fooled, those in the police and fire departments are already looking at getting out of this fiasco as soon as they can. What will be left are those are the “dead wood” that were previously mentioned, and the prospect of hiring quality replacements are next to nothing. Why would someone want to be a part of this mess that shows nothing for loyalty and appreciation, and are just pawns in a game that is in a continual downward spiral into embarassment and potential oblivion.
So everyone, stop the pointless postings, give the officers who are leaving a fond farewell for their service that was downplayed by the agendas of those in supposed positions of power, and be prepared to see others make their way out the city gates towards a stable and happy life free of this mess that we are all faced to have to watch…
Westport is smaller then Ocean Shores for one thing. City of Brookings is 2400+ acres to Ocean Shores 6000 acres spread out. My thing is how many officers to cut and one does the buck stop? Also if you have 10 our 11 officers you are close not to be able to be having 2 officers on duty 24/7.
Westport has:
William Gibson, Chief
Joe Christian, Lieutenant
Chuck Cunningham, Officer
Kevin Chaufty, Officer
Chris Burger, Officer
Matt Nelson, Officer
Kevin Tuggle, Officer
Plus two clerks
This is what the website for the city shows currently.
Judy, Assuming 11 officers (including managers acting as back-up) and three shifts, and even allowing for vacations, training, etc., how do you come up with less than two per shift? Do the math!!
Judy, feel safe, the city of Brookings Oregon, on highway 101 (not a dead end road), has a population of 6000 and does fine with 11 policemen. Guess the question should be, why did the city carry 13 policemen for 10 years with approximately 1/2 that population. I do believe that 11 is a fair amount to do a very good job, and that doesn’t include the availability of their backup counterparts to assist. I really doubt if their are 5000 permanent residents during the winter, the streets look vacant, so why do we need 2 on duty at a time? I have lived here for 16 years.
I know this was a tough decision for the Major but one that is appropriate. Don’t know if Cadets are available to help with the summer influx of people, it is obvious that the State Patrol is here more often. Don’t know of ANY business that can support a years worth of employees so they can manage 2 1/2 months of summer business. They don’t do it in other coastal communities, how about Westport or any town on the Oregon Coast?
I have lived in Ocean Shores for 12 years. We had 3200 people in 1998 with 11 officers and today 2010 we might have 10 officers for 5000 people does that make any sense? I rest my case.
There are 5000 people in this city. You need enough officers to cover the city. Also its a personal opinion. The North Beach deputies are not always on duty.
Strange, the whole North Beach has one Sheriff on duty while the other is off. Seems to work for them. As to too few, that sounds like a personal opinion.
You have to have enough officers in this city to keep 2 officers on duty 24/7 for dvr and for officer safety. WSP and county deputies are too few.
Judy, just to let you know, the Sheriff’s have two residental officers on the North Beach. They assist us and we assist them. There is also the State Patrol. They are on the roads around town too. We are not that much of an island.
As to defending ourselves, that is only common sense anywhere you live. Considering that someone can move at least 7 feet per second towards you with say a knife, you should be able to protect yourself. If that means a gun, so be it. It will take about 5 minutes for police to be on the scene anyway. That is 420 feet. If you can’t run, shoot.
I guess this means we should all stock up on guns to defend outselves. This mayor is an (Ed. OFFENSIVE COMMENT DELETED) Who leaves a small town unprotected… What an idiot.
Re the Dep. Chief: I can confirm he does go on calls. I don’t have stats, but as a quick illustration, about a year ago he was called in late at night, and assisted in taking into custody a man who had doused himself with gasoline and threatened to light himself on fire. (He and other officers on the scene put themselves at risk; the suicidal man was unharmed.)
Re the exempt contract: Yes, it is available to the public. You can ask for it at City Hall, I will also post it (and the other contracts) at some point.
I will just add we are already down 2 officers and our Mayor wants to lay off 1 more maybe 2 officers and the mayor is looking out for our pubic safety?
let me finish my letter. We live in a area with no city with in 20 miles we are on our own for police protection.
A Deputy Chief is a officer and he goes on calls like a other officer but not as many he assists the Chief. Like the Chief doesnt have more on his plate. We live in a area with no city with in
“They are covered under the separate exempt employees contract.”
Are these individual contracts, or, as I heard, a “group” contract? (If so, isn’t that kind of like a union contract?)
Are these contracts available to the public?
Rafael is correct. This has been explained to us in the past. In fact, all of our union contracts are similar. LIFO – Last in First Out is the rule. If they do something that is a for cause reason to terminate them, then that is the only reason someone out of order is removed.
This should be reviewed when we make the next contract. Performance reviews and citizen imput should assist the Chief of Public Safety in making adjustments to the department. A senority system is not an effective management too.
The Public Safety Director cannot choose which officer to lay off. It is done by seniority per the union contract. Exempt employees like the Assistant chief are not covered under this contract. They are covered under the separate exempt employees contract.
How can OSLOCAL possibly know who should be laid off at the PD?
The implication is that the deputy chief serves no function but that can’t possibly be true. There is a lot more than street patrol that has to be done there and I think you will find that the deputy chief position is an important part of the department.
It would be my beluef that the Chief of Public Safety (is that right?) is the perosn who chose who to lay off. If he doesn’t know the right position to eliminate, then who could?
Why don’t we at least try to moan about things we have a clue to.
OSLOCAL: point of clarification (this is also in this week’s paper), the Deputy Chief is one of the “exempt employees,” who have their own contract.
Next contract session we should not allow the current layoff system to dictate which officers are terminated. We should have performance reviews and citizen feedback. Luck and High are both highly regarded members of the force. By eliminating the younger officers we are left with old wood.
If the mayor lets them both go, he will have earned a gold star in my book.
Can anybody tell me why the Ocean Shores Police Department has a Deputy Chief? Why isn’t he getting laid off? I heard he’s not even union…..so why is the Officer High losing his job and the Deputy Chief is not? What public function does he serve for our community? Officer High is a patrol officer, he function is obvious. The PD doesn’t need the Deputy Chief. It’s just not fair. Also, Paul Luck who is retiring, thanks for your service!!! You will be missed!
Whatever happened to the officer with the shaved head? I haven’t seen him around anymore, was he also laid off? He was the only one I ever saw doing anything….