2023 Meeting Minutes

RETIRED SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
Minutes of Monthly Meeting
January 11, 2023

President Taylor called the meeting to order at 1145 hours in the Red Room of the Nile Country Club January 11th, 2023. Frank Kampsen led the Pledge of Allegiance and all remained standing for a moment of remembrance for the following:

• Michael Severance #2866, SPD Patrol Officer passing December 14th at 76 years of age
• Steve Redmond #5763 Active SPD Officer passing December 30th at 54 years of age
• Hentry Vanderlaan #3134 SPD Detective passing at 79 years of age
• John Mason #2884 Assistant Chief of Police passing January 1st at 79 years of age
• Richard Rovig #1920 SPD Detective passing January 1st at 88 years of age
• Dennis Hossfeld #4401 SPD Detective passing January 10th at 76 years of age

Roll Call of board members showed Taylor, John Nordlund, Nick Bulpin, Rich O'Neill, Dan Melton, Joe Bouffiou, and Dan Oliver present with Terri MacMilllan, Jeff Caldwell and John Sullivan excused.

Riley Bryce was present celebrating his 91st birthday. M/M Joe Tolliver, John Gray, and several others were welcomed for not being to recent meetings.

President Taylor directed attention to the minutes of the December meeting that have been distributed and asked for any corrections, additions or deletions. There being none a motion was made and passed to accept the meeting minutes as written. Nick Bulpin gave a financial report and will submit to audit.

Frank Kampsen, from the Behind the Badge Foundation reported in 2022 the State of Washington had four law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Frank continued with FBI's Line of Duty deaths nationwide for 2022 along with the number of serious assaults requiring hospitalizations that never get reported outside of FBI statistics.

President Taylor reminded everyone the City of Seattle will have seven of nine council seats open in the 2023 elections. Attention and support should be given to those who may help the SPD.

Myrle Carner introduced Sheriff Adam Fortney, elected as 32nd Snohomish County Sheriff in December 2019. Adam spoke of his background in Law Enforcement coming from street patrol to command his department including the jail. The transformation was a challenge trying to balance effective policing while answering the demands of the public and elected officials. He feels he has set goals and visions in keeping with the requirements of being Sheriff and hopefully will succeed. He provided a power point presentation displaying support from across the state from other police agencies.

John Guich and Joe Sanford conducted the door prize raffle. There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 1230 hours and 55 folks enjoyed a very nice lunch.

RETIRED SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
Minutes of Monthly Meeting
February 8, 2023

President Taylor called the meeting to order in the Red Room of the Nile Country Club at 1150 hours February 8, 2023. Joe Bouffiou led the Pledge of Allegiance and Taylor asked all to remain standing for a moment of remembrance for

• Gary Fowler, passing away January 15th at 80 years of age following 25 years of service and retiring June 1, 1993.

Roll call of Board members showed Taylor, John Nordlund, Nick Bulpin, Joe Bouffiou, Dan Melton and Dan Oliver present with John Sullivan, Rich O’Neill, Terri MacMillan excused, and Jeff Caldwell absent.

President Taylor directed attention to the minutes of the January 11th meeting that have been distributed and asked for any corrections, deletions or additions. There being none, Joe Bouffiou moved the minutes be accepted as written with a Riley Brice second and passed. Nick Bulpin gave the financial report and stated it will be submitted for audit.

President Taylor reported the 2023 Seattle elections will see seven of nine seats of the City Council decided. He urged all to pay attention and support those candidates you think will help SPD President Taylor introduced Seattle Police Guild President, Mike Solan. Mike began by reporting the membership is currently working on contract negotiations. SPOG members are working the second year without a valid contract and negotiations are at a standstill. Mike reported the department is working with insufficient staffing at present with more reductions projected as members are leaving for various reasons. Efforts are being made to reduce the patrol schedules to a 4-10 workweek that will provide for 3 days off. This will not be achievable with current staffing levels.

With help from a visual presentation Mike was able to display footage from recent encounters with organized groups aimed at disruptions, demonstrations and assaults on Law Enforcement.

Mike introduced newly elected SPOA Secretary/Treasurer, Ben Hughey on hand to answer several questions. Both appreciated the opportunity to participate and be present at the RSPOA lunch.

John Guich conducted the door prize drawing. There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 1245 hours and 44 folks enjoyed a fine buffet lunch.

Nick Bulpin, Secretary

RETIRED SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
Minutes of Monthly Meeting
March 8, 2023

President Taylor called the meeting to order in the Red Room of the Nile Country Club at 1145 hours March 8, 2023. Mike Ward led the Pledge of Allegiance and Taylor asked all to remain standing for a moment of remembrance:

Richard Hume #2223 retired detective sergeant passing away February 10, at 90 years of age.
Dan Cameron #2192 retired patrol/harbor sergeant passing February 11th at 89 years of age.

Roll call of board showed Taylor, John Nordlund, Nick Bulpin, and Dan Oliver present with John Sullivan, Rich O’Neill, Terri MacMillan, Dan Melton and Joe Bouffiou excused and Jeff Caldwell absent.

President Taylor directed attention to the minutes of the February 8th meeting and asked for any corrections, additions or omissions. There being none Frank Kampsen moved the minutes be accepted as written, second by Mike Deacy and passed.

Announcements were made reminding everyone the 2023 Seattle elections will have seven of nine council seats on the ballot and urged all to support those who will be favorable to the SPD. The April checks will reflect an 8.86% COLA increase and will affect state and city retirement amounts.

Myrle Carner took the opportunity to introduce the guest speaker, Adrian Diaz, the current Seattle Chief of Police. Chief Diaz has been with Seattle for over two decades starting in Patrol, Mountain Bike Unit, Anti-Crime Team before moving to Investigations Bureau. He served as Assistant Chief of the newly created Collaborative Policing Bureau before being promoted to Deputy Chief.

Chief Diaz began by reporting the department staffing has suffered major downturn since the unrest that occurred following the George Floyd death in 2020. Two-thirds of the department officers have left following the over 100 days of unrest and repeated calls for “defunding” the police.

The Chief praised the work being done by officers even with the limited resources. The department has been working under the Federal Consent Decree for several years and has been recognized as successful in meeting the criteria set forth.

There have been 12 officer-involved shootings since 2020 all occurred without public outrage. Efforts are being made to ease individual stress by moving to 4 on-3 off 10 hour shifts. The Chief then successfully responded to many questions. He was applauded and was awarded an RSPOA badge.

John Guich and Joe Sanford conducted door prize drawing including Challenge Coins donated by Chief Diaz. Following that the meeting adjourned, and 48 folks enjoyed a nice lunch.

Nick Bulpin, Secretary

RETIRED SEATTLE POICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
Minutes of Monthly Meeting
May 10, 2023

Note: The April meeting was cancelled due to the lack of a venue.

President Taylor called the meeting to order at 1150 hours in the meeting room of the Shoreline Elks Club #1800 at 14625 15th Ave NE. Dan Oliver led the Pledge of Allegiance and Taylor asked all to remain standing for remembrance of the following:

• Thomas Bacon #5144 passing February 19th at 67 years of age.
  
• William Fenkner #2482 passing March 4th at 89 years of age.
  
• Rodney Jackson #1196 passing March 8th at 95 years of age.
  
• Kenneth Baker #2325 passing April 3rd at 83 years of age.
  
• David severance #2381 passing April 11th at 79 years of age.
  
• Doug Carlson #6121 passing April 19th at 64 years of age.
  
• Al Rasmussen #1608 passing April 27th at 94 years of age.
  
• Dix Baker #1760 passing April 28th at 89 years of age
  
• William Karban #2342 passing May 5th at 86 years of age.
  

Roll call of Board members showed Taylor, John Nordund, Nick Bulpin, Rich O’Neill, Terri MacMillan, Dan Melton, Joe Bouiffiou and Dan Oliver present with John Sullivan excused and Jeff Caldwell absent.

Taylor directed attention to the minutes of the March meeting that have been distributed. He asked for corrections additions or omissions. There being none, Joe Bouffiou moved the minutes be accepted as written, second by Dan Oliver and passed.

President Taylor welcomed everyone to the new venue, Elks Lodge 1800 and announced lunch is served He hoped all will enjoy the new surroundings. Suggestions for improvement will be greatly appreciated. 

President Taylor then introduced Alma Lara representing Aegis Living and Memory Care. She invited all to lunch May 30th dedicated to Seattle Police Pension families. She has been working with Jan in pension office who recommended the informational lunch would be worthwhile.

President Taylor asked Terri MacMillan to introduce her son, Brian the meteorologist with FOX 13 news. Brian gave a brief background of growing up in a police family with his dad, Don and Terri.  He graduated from WSU with a degree in meteorology and secured a position in Bend Oregon before moving into the larger market in Portland and eventually relocating to Seattle with FOX 13 Good Day Seattle. 

Brian outlined his morning routine with the weather news and gave insight of how the programming is done.  He responded to many questions with humor and humility. President Taylor thanked him and awarded Brian a RSPOA badge.

There being no further business, Taylor asked Joe Sanford and John Guich to conduct the door prize.

The meeting adjourned at 1245 and 43 folks enjoyed a nice buffet lunch.

Nick Bulpin, Secretary