Have you ever known a situation where there was something amiss and when things finally blew up, a lot of people already knew about it and didn’t do anything about it?  Nothing.  In my opinion, a lot of mishaps could be avoided, if people would speak up about things. We experience unnecessary discord because people allow things to go on that shouldn’t.  Allowing things to go unchecked means:  There is too much corroboration. There is no accountability. There is no correction. That being said, let’s talk about the challenges. Yes, those election challenges which were due (in a sealed envelope) to the organization on March 21, 2012. The email said, .. “Let us use this opportunity to move forward and accomplish the goals this organization was set to fulfill.”

Black Police Association Dallas Chapter Election Results

Dear Pamela,  All Challenges Must be presented to the CNLI in WRITING and brought to the office by 5:00PM, Wednesday, March 21, 2012. All Challenges must be in a Sealed Envelope and will only be opened by the CNLI Committee. IT MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE OFFICE. NO EXCEPTIONS. Thank you to everyone that participated in the Special Elections. Let us use this opportunity to move forward and accomplish the goals that this organizations was set out to fulfill. Co-Chairmans Alvin Ball 214.680.8170 and D’Vonyotto Noye 469.223.5225 CNLI Committee

 Here it is, in black and white.  This email was sent to our members exactly one month ago.  Who corroborated  and decided not to answer these challenges?  Somebody.   Obviously, no one is being held accountable to investigate and answer.  At least 3 challenges were submitted, one prior to the election and two afterwards.   There may be more, but the challenges I am aware of were all submitted within the specified deadline.  To my knowledge, none of the members I know has received an answer.

 What?

 Is someone sitting back eating Bon Bons and smiling?  One of the CNLI Committee Chairmen told me a specific board member was in charge of the election challenges.  I am not surprised.  He told me I should have received an answer weeks ago.  Dang.   Is this how we roll?   These are the types of things that are threatening our success.  I guess I should rephrase that:  These are the types of people that are threatening our success.  If you sent in an election challenge and received and answer, let us all know.

 I believe this type of thing, this blatant lack of action, is destroying our organization from the inside out.  I can certainly feel the President’s pain, being surrounded by a group of people who are doing little to nothing to contribute to our success.  Freaking Naysayers…

Willie P…, tell me a joke.  Make me smile through this pain.  You always make a sister laugh and smile.  I know, even your hands are tied.  For the record, I’m all for democracy.   If  Willie P is the true victor, so be it.   He’s a joker, but not a cheater, by any means.

So what happens next?  Probably nothing.

How long must we wait on this nothingness?  Probably until the next election.

When is the next election?  September 2013, probably.

What will we do until then?  What are our goals?  Why, I don’t know.  I’m at a loss for words, really.

Can we meet up and talk about this?  Ask.  Ask who?  Somebody in charge.

Who’s that?   Send an email to bpaMemberAlert@yahoo.com so we can get together as members and figure it out.

What’s the alternative?   No accountability.  No correction.  Nothing.

Taking personal stabs at the blogger isn’t going to change the issue.  

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“People have a right to their own opinions, but not to their own facts. Evidence must be located, not created, and opinions not backed by evidence cannot be given much weight” – James W. Loewen

I took this quote straight from the website of the infamous, George Zimmerman.  That being said, let’s just try to get to the facts.

Fact 1:  BPA blog posting was disabled due to a board member’s fear that something ——– might be said to our members during the election campaign. I don’t know what word to use to fill in the blank.  I just know the best defense for defaming a person’s character is to tell the TRUTH.

In my opinion, someone should have informed the President and the person posting the blogs (that would be me).  Is there someone other than the members and the President in charge of this organization?  Maybe so…  Surely a member wouldn’t use the organizational blog to forward their own election campaign.  Who would do such a sneaky thing?

Fact 2:  According to the bylaws, the Absentee Voting process is to be completed by members making an application, the application being reviewed and approved and mailing their vote in to the BPA office. Absentee voting and early voting are not synonymous (the same).

I don’t think there were any absentee votes actually mailed in.  Were most of them were carried in? By whom?  But then again, I wasn’t there.  Who was there? The office manager.  Whew, I was worried for a moment that NOBODY was there to regulate the election process…

Fact 3:  There were NO members of the election committee at the office when then absentee votes were turned in. If a member was out of town and unable to vote during the election, how did those votes arrive at the office securely?  Your guess is as good as mine.

The Office Manager is not a member of the election committee and therefore, cannot secure the election polling place.  I learned this the hard way, during the election last fall.

Fact 4:  This election had one of the largest turnouts for a particular candidate.  Hmmm. How does such an unpopular candidate prevail?  The type of candidate that makes people leave the organization angry?  Maybe those of us that are truly interested in the progression of this (our) organization should do some things differently. How so?  That’s a good question.

How about:

• Use profanity during a meeting and belittle some of the board members.  Why, that could get you thrown off the board. Really?  You could be deemed a Member Not in Good Standing.  Really, what are the consequences of being deemed a Member Not in Good Standing?  I’m still waiting to hear something from the election committee.  Still waiting…

• Try some sneaky polling place antics, including whispering from the bushes near the front door of the loft: “Hey sister, you got me?” I can’t make all this up, seriously…

• Go around collecting blank ballots and stuffing the ballot box when NOBODY is looking.  Well, at least nobody from the election committee.

• Be appointed Head of the Bylaws Committee and never show up at either of the meetings to ratify those bylaws.

If you don’t like my opinions or what I blog about, GOOD!  That’s what blogs are for, to get members talking and hopefully precipitate some action.

All that being said, it’s due time that we have a special meeting to address these and other concerns of our members.  We must have at least 60 members to call a special meeting.  Those of you interested in this special meeting, please email bpamemberalert@yahoo.com, as soon as possible.  Please indicate your preference for a weekend or an evening meeting.  This is a special email address for members who are interested in holding our board members accountable for their actions, or lack thereof.

This blog is strictly my opinion and member comments are always welcome.

March to honor civil rights leader to commence on Monday in Dallas, Texas.

What a headline!   Let’s take it a little further… 

The morning of Monday, January 16, 2012, set a citywide precedence in Dallas, Texas.  At eight this morning, well over 100 members of the Black Police Association of Greater Dallas were waiting outside the doors of the police association’s office at 1409 South Lamar Street, near downtown Dallas.  Once inside the association loft, members, friends and families shared a continental style breakfast.  Each member courteously inspected the uniform of another, just before a review of the parade route was explained.  Shortly thereafter, with each member standing tall, a charter bus awaited the massive group of uniformed police officers and employees to drive them the short distance to the parade route.  The weather was sunny and breezy, exceptional for mid-January.  Members marched proudly as media outlets snapped photos and captured video footage.  Each year, BPA attendance in the parade honoring Dr. Marting Luther King, Jr. increases exponentially.

 Now… Let’s make it happen!

The Black Police Association of Greater Dallas is pleased to announce the election of President Cletus E. Judge.  An election was held the week of November 14, 2011. 

Sergeant Cletus Judge is a 24 year veteran of the Dallas Police Department.  He holds a bachelors degree from the University of South Alabama, an MBA from the University of Dallas and is a 2007 graduate of the Dallas Center for Nonprofit Management’s Blueprint for Leadership program.

 The BPA of Greater Dallas is a 501c(4) corporation; mainly focused on promoting equality in hiring, retention and discipline for Dallas Police Department and Dallas Independent School District Police Department employees.  The BPA was originally established in 1975 as the Texas Peace Officer’s Association. It was during a secret meeting that founding members like incumbent President, Preston Gilstrap, decided to openly challenge the race and gender biased policies of the Dallas Police Department. 

 The BPA currently offers its members continuing education for police officers, (report writing, warrant writing & apprehension procedures, interviewing techniques, promotional testing exam study groups), legal representation for police related incidents, peer counseling, discounted services, and will soon offer a fund to assist officers during catastrophic events.

 The Black Police Association is an active organization in the community, providing philanthropy and support to various community organizations including Youth Village Resources of Dallas, the American Cancer Society, the Bethlehem Foundation and the American Red Cross.

                                                         Actress Viola Davis in The Help      

                                                         Courtesy of Bing Images and collider.com

Many of you saw the recent movie or read Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling book, The Help. Last weekend, I had the pleasure of reading all about the antagonistic character, Hilly Holbrook.   Some of you commented on a plethora of uneasy feelings about working in the south. Thankfully, our family had their own, self-sustaining farm in Mississippi during the civil rights era.   A few of us are old enough to remember those times.

Let us fast-forward to 2011. There are bossy, influential, and insipid, Hilly Holbrooks out there everywhere. Lord knows, people like this make some jobs a real challenge. There’s a Hilly Holbrook character in just about every workplace.

The question is: What motivates such meanness and disdain for persons opposite one another? Mean people must be just plain miserable human beings deep down inside.  How do they sleep at night, much less look at themselves in the mirror every day? They’re probably in a sad state of denial, like the character, Elizabeth Leefolt.  She never even realized she was one of the ladies in the book until Hilly gave her a clue.

How does someone else come into your own house and mess with (or fire) your help? How does one allow another person to become so influential as to run your business instead of you?

I suppose, the denial comes from not taking inventory on a regular basis.  Being so busy trying to satisfy others, chasing that promotion, illustrious dream or just not having a clue about what’s going on around us.

Taking inventory means remembering and putting into practice that campaign speech, those interview answers and all those motivational ideas about change we started with. I’m pretty sure, none of that involved being (or looking) too busy to speak to subordinates, falsely accusing those opposite your position of inappropriate actions (stealing,in the character, Minny’s case) or keeping those deserving, hard workers oppressed so you can feel better in your position.

In taking inventory, are you treating members, subordinates or those opposite you with respect, the way you want to be treated? Or, are you the number one subscriber to inappropriate gossip and innuendo? We all listen to gossip. We are only human. If I didn’t hear it or see it myself, it’s pretty hard to believe it. We are certainly not in high school, anymore.  We are in the real world… at work!  Quit giving in to such pettiness and being a follower!

In taking inventory, are we doing anything at all to help someone move upwards, to a better position or forward with a worthwhile project?  Or are they just ignored, unappreciated, simply the help?

I’m just the messenger. –Pam Hampton

Who’s kids am I speaking of? Your kids… all of them!

Everyone brags about their kids. Some are straight A students, some have good conduct. Many of you have been heard boasting about your kids’ participating in track, football or cheerleading.  Some of us have great debate team kids or outstanding orators. Even still, some of our kids volunteer or hold down part time jobs while maintaining good grades. It makes us smile, just thinking about our great kids.

What about their parents? Are the parents of these exemplary students willing to take a few hours out of their busy schedule to ensure their kids are recognized for their efforts?

What do I need to do?  I’m so glad you asked.

• You must be employed by the department AND the natural, step parent or adoptive parent of an ethical kid.  Sorry, no grandchildren, neices, nephews, cousins, etc. 
• Gather all awards, letters, certificates, trophies, programs, articles, report cards or photos related to your child’s accomplishments during the 2010 – 2011 school year.

• Complete the single page Chief’s Ethics Award for Police Kids nomination form and attach any related documents.

What’s in it for my kid? That’s a great question. Your smarts must have rubbed off on the children! Depending on your documents, your kid could win a cash award.  Imagine that.  Spend a few hours gathering those documents, submit them me by Monday, July 18, 2011 and see what happens.  I dare you!

For more information, contact me by departmental email.

Pam Hampton

We are pleased to announce  the August 2010 Officer of the Month is BPA’s own, Police Officer Vana Hammond-Powell,#8600.  Officer Hammond-Powell was nominated by Sergeant Danny Robinson of  Central Division.  Sergeant Robinson submitted a  sparkling nomination memo that undoubtedly took much time and consideration.  Robinson’s nomination memo discussed Officer Hammond-Powell’s level of enthusiasm, top performance and productivity within her sector, and her volunteerism.  The Town North Optimist Club sponsors the August Officer of the Month breakfast each year.

Officer Hammond-Powell is cited for conducting numerous arrests, conducted with the utmost  respect and professionalism.  She is well respected for her work as an outstanding beat officer and liaison for the homeless.  Officer Hammond-Powell is an active member in her community and church.  She voluteers weekly, providing legal advice regarding child custody.  She is both the Youth Director at her church and a Praise and Worship Leader.

Officer Hammond-Powell has served on the department for  more than five years.   She is married and is the mother of a little boy.  Officer Hammond-Powell recently graduated Texas Wesleyan University School of Law.   Impressive, to say the least!

Officer of the Month winners each receive an engraved plaque, a check for $500, a luxury hotel voucher for a weekend stay, pen and pencil set and more.  Nomination memos should be submitted to SC Hampton in the Personnel Division.  For more information, call (214) 671-3023.

Aren’t you proud of our organization?  You should be.  Our leaders and board members never blasted their personal opinions as an outcry for the entire organization.  It was this type of ostracizing of officers of color that led to the very formation of our union.

Keeping things positive, lets turn this organization and this city around to reflect the true nature of our jobs..to serve the citizens of Dallas.  That being said, welcome back, Chief Brown.  Agree or disagree?  Members log in and post your comments below.

This is the new BPA blog.  Feel free to post your comments concerning BPA matters here.  Please keep the text clean and try not to deviate from your original subject matter.  I would like to say ‘keep it positive’, but your honesty will be appreciated most. 

If you have a question we cannot answer immediately, we have to get a response from board members.  Happy blogging!  

                                                                    – Pam Ham