Police officers union to move forward under new leadership

McALLEN ? The McAllen Police Officers Union, which spent much of 2010 and 2011 locked in bruising contract negotiations with City Hall, will replace its president this month.

It?s more of a shuffle than a shakeup.

Sgt. Joe Garcia, the union?s president since 2009, will be replaced by his vice president, Officer David Alvarado.

They helped negotiate the union?s four-year collective bargaining agreement, which runs until Sept. 30, 2015. The agreement, inked July 18 after negotiations failed and the union unsuccessfully sued McAllen, was widely seen as a victory for City Hall.

?One thing I?ve learned is you?ve got to pick your fights with the city,? Garcia said, referencing the contentious negotiations.

The contract phased out a health insurance subsidy for some retired officers and eliminated a union information session for police cadets, an important recruiting opportunity. Union officials had pushed for an across-the-board raise and permission to work security at downtown bars while off duty, but city officials rejected those proposals.

With the contract behind them, Garcia decided to step down, and Alvarado ran unopposed to succeed him. Alvarado will be officially sworn in later this month.

While the union doesn?t attract much attention when there isn?t a contract to be negotiated, it?s a major player within the Rio Grande Valley?s largest police department, which has 275 certified police positions. The union?s contract sets pay and benefits, and the union provides work-related legal services to members.

Alvarado, a 39-year-old San Juan resident who works as a warrant officer, has helped organize many of the union?s charity events.

He also spearheaded the union?s campaign to help Harold Taylor, an officer who received bad advice when he retired and subsequently lost his health insurance subsidy. With the union?s help, that subsidy was restored as part of the current contract.

Alvarado said he wants to build closer ties between the police union and the public, in part to improve the image of public employee unions, which have been under attack nationwide.

?This organization is not about greed,? Alvarado said, adding that he?d like to see the next round of contract negotiations broadcast on the city?s TV station, MCN 12, and streamed online. ?We have nothing to hide. Open it up to everyone.?

One of the department?s major problems, Alvarado said, is that many officers now treat it as a stepping-stone to a federal job, not a career. Officers don?t feel appreciated by city leaders, Alvarado said, describing the city?s response to most complaints as: ?If you don?t like it, leave.?

City Manager Mike Perez said the relationship between the police union and city leaders has been ?rough at best.?

?I think the approach they take is: City Hall is the enemy,? Perez said. ?The fact that they?ve gotten involved in politics and supported candidates hasn?t helped the relationship.?

Perez said he?s heard second- and third-hand reports that officers thought Garcia wasn?t tough enough on City Hall, and backed Alvarado because he?d take a harder stance.

Alvarado said he aims to improve the union?s relationship with city leaders, but he?s a straight shooter, not a politician.

?I don?t tell you what you want to hear, I tell you what you need to hear,? Alvarado said.

Alvarado pledged to keep open lines of communication with City Hall and the department?s smaller union, the McAllen Professional Law Enforcement Association.

?He?s dedicated to the organization and to the welfare of the officers,? said attorney Roberto ?Bobby? Garcia, who worked with Alvarado before taking a job with the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas. ?He does a good job, and he?s well informed about what?s going on.?

?I guess the only defect he?s got is he?s in the wrong union,? Garcia quipped.

The McAllen Professional Law Enforcement Association is affiliated with the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, while the McAllen Police Officers Union is affiliated with the Texas Municipal Police Association. The rival unions and their state-level backers have jockeyed for control of McAllen?s police department for years.

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Dave Hendricks covers McAllen and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at dhendricks@themonitor.com and at (956) 683-4452.

Source: http://www.themonitor.com/news/move-57810-new-officers.html

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