Pinecrest resident

I am a resideent of Pinecrest. We want to know why so many officers have left our police department and why they continue leaving.

We also want to know if the Commanders, Lts and Sgts. are the real reason for so many officers leaving our PD.

Can you tell us if you are being treated with dignity and respect?

Are you properly compensated for your efforts and are the elected officials supporting you?

There is a silent majority in our community which is not happy with the performance of the Mayor and many of the comissioners. We are currently discussing a recall initiative and we want suggestions.

why do you waste your time...things have been terrible since 97... the main problem has been the city mananger... he runs the city like a business.. your pregant and a cop you better have alot of sick time!! he would rather pay a rookie less then have experienced officer... you guys living there arent going to get rid of him because you dont work for him..
i am sick of hearing about residents trying to do something... the same guy has been running the city since the start and this cheif has been f-ing up the department for 7 years plus... i always thought well at least things cant get worse... but every year they did... thank god i got out... Happiness is being a cop away from pincrest

Yeah you can start with the village manager. He is a piece of work. When I had my exit interview, he asked "why do people like you want to leave?" So I told him one of the main reasons is- NO DEFINED PENSION PLAN. His response: Well I'm not going to put a pension plan in place. It is cheaper for me to continually hire new people and have them leave after their two year contract. Plus, cops don't want to stay here. There is not action. Last time I checked, Pinecrest PD gave back millions of dollars at the end of the year to the village funds. How about using that to start a pension and have some retention. The only cops that are still there after two years are the ones who have some BS internal affairs investigation in their file (thanks to Pinecrest) and can't leave.

Well I thought he wanted my opinion, but I guess he gave it to me. That is one example of why you have problems there. Also, why the fu%^ does the village manager (and the chief) need a plasma tv in his office to watch the GPS in the police cars? Your tax dollars are paying that fat ass to sit there and watch the police in his office. Doesn't he have anything better to do?

Second, the adminsitration doesn't have enough to do there. They fu^& around all day investigating the hell out of BS complaints. "Boo Hoo I got a ticket" Next thing you know it becomes an internal affairs investigation being investigated by a former (and still) corrupt cop.

The pay really isn't that great anymore. 7 years ago it was one of the highest in the county. Now it doesn't compare to having a take home car and a pension plan- and calling yourself a police officer.

Nuff said?

Mr. Chapman,

I'm sure your intentions are true, but nothig will ever change. Every officer that has left, gave an exit interview and said the same damn shit. Pension, take home and job security.

The administration does not care about the residents. Did you know the city generates over $15,000 a month in ticket revenue. If an officer doesn't write 40 tickets a month he gets written up. It is againist the law to have a ticket quota, but Pinecrest doesn't care. There is an ex-Hialeah LT, that is now a Pinecrest LT and he is the worse.

I now have a take home care, one of the best pensions in the state, a drop program and job security.

Good luck, but I know I am waisting my time talking to you.

the female officers leave so they can start a family because pinecrest does not have a light duty policy. in 2004, ofc. packler became pregnant and instead of letting her work behind a desk or as a dispatcher for the same pay, they made her work in city hall for half of the salary she was making. she filed a discrimination lawsuit with the EEOC but because pinecrest has no policy in place, they technically did not violate anything.

it is shamefull the way pinecrest officers are treated by their own administration. if they catch wind that an officer is looking to leave the department, they fill that officer's file full of false complaints and write ups to make that officer less desirable to the other agencies conducting background checks.

the list of pinecrest atrocities could go on and on. you should call Doral PD and ask them how many Pinecrest officers have applied there so far. But dont forget about Officer Sidki. pinecrest offered him a detective spot but told him he couldn't have it unless he called Doral and withdrew his application. how f**d up is that???

or call Gables PD or Miramar PD and ask them how many officers came from pinecrest. THERE IS A REASON EVERYONE LEAVES PINECREST...WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!

hey mr chapman,

did you notice that only former officers are replying to you? that would be because the current pinecrest officers are too scared to reply for fear of retaliation from the administration. i dont blame them. i was scared once too. but i got smart and got the hell out.

to all current officers: GET OUT!! now is the perfect time. you can go work for Doral and KEEP YOUR SENIORITY!!!

HEY JUST SO YOU YOUNG OFFICERS KNOW WE ARE HIRING AT HOLLYWOOD WE HAVE A GREAT PENSION IT IS A 22 AT 80% OF YOUR TOP 3 YEARS WE ALSO HAVE A TAKE HOME CARS AND AN 8 YEAR DROP WE ALSO ONLY PUT IN 8.5 % FOR OUR PENSION WE HAVE GREAT HEATH INSURANCE WE START OFF HI TO IF YOU COME WITH TIME ON FROM ANOTHER DEPT.

go to Doral and keep seniority! that's unbelieveable. how's that possible?

because they are a brand new department and they just started hiring officers. in fact, a former pinecrest detective is starting on monday as the senior-most road officer.

so pete, trey, robert, cooper, marrero, mckenzie, portela (and anyone else from the old crew i forgot)...you can still have your weekends off!!!!

You think they will hire me?

To All Pinecrest Officers: I have worked with many of you in the past and can tell you that you are some of the most professional and stand-up people I have ever known. We are friends, I have been to your homes (and you to mine) and I know your families, kids' names, etc. I would take a bullet for any one of you without a second thought....With that being said, if you haven't put in an application to every single decent agency in the tri-county area, then you are hurting yourself and your family by remaining at that awful, awful place.

How can you work there for more than 3 years and not think to yourself, "Boy, my family and I would sure be a lot better off with the benefits every other agency has in place already.", ???

Here are the facts about Pinecrest PD:
* No Pension or plans to ever have one.
* No Union representation/binding arbitration.
* No job security (aka "At-will employment")
* The pay is on the low end of the spectrum now.
* No take-home car program. ($3.20 a gallon now guys!)
* Medical/Dental/Insurance are subpar.
* Continual low morale across the board.
* Outside promotions.
* Constant "Witch-hunts" conducted followed by silly write-ups.
* The Chief, Admin and City Manager have all been voted several years in a row "THE WORST" by the Dade County PBA.
* How many officers have come and gone in the 10 years since incorporation? (Now compare to other agencies' turn-over rate within the same time frame) The Admin and city manager should all bow their heads down in disgrace as this statistic reflects their failure to properly administer the agency. As of two years ago, it was the HIGHEST turnover rate in all of South Florida. "Shameful" to say the least, yet they do nothing about it nor do they show they even care to address it....but hey, the tax rate for the residents is still really, really low! Woo hoo!

I can go on and on but most of you know these issues exist already. The question is my friends, WHAT DO YOU PLAN ON DOING ABOUT IT ?
You have three options:
1. Apply elsewhere and leave. (Cross your fingers your file isn't loaded)
2. Stick it out and hope the city manager leaves sometime soon (along with most of the brass) and that they are replaced by professionals.
3. Grow some cojones and start talking to some Unions.

Now the third option is a risky one, believe me I know, but if you plan on making the Village your home-away-from-home for the next 30 years (remember, you dont have a pension so you cant retire 10 years sooner) then you need to protect yourselves. Every day that goes by where you don't have a strong police union behind you is another day you risk your entire future working for people who could care less about you or your family and who will fire you without blinking an eye. (Don't think it will never happen to you.)
The absolute WORST nightmare the Admin and city manager could dream up is to have a union in place. Why? Well because their "absolute power" will be called to the carpet, made public and they will not get away with 1/10th of what they have gotten away with up to this point.

My friends, so many of us have left because of the same problems/issues I mentioned above. With the exception of one or two people that I can think of, EVERYONE is doing a whole lot better in their new agency or other line of work. That's no coincidence. This is a result of going from working at the worst agency in south Florida to working someplace else...basically, everywhere is better than there.
Please do not take this as an insult to any of you personally or professionally. It's not the rank-and-file officers at the Village that are the problem....we all know where the cancer lies.

Call a union....you can do it anonymously is you feel necessary.

Dade County PBA: 305-593-0044

FOP: Vist www.floridastatefop.org (http://www.floridastatefop.org)

IUPA: (International Union of Police) Visit www.iupa.org (http://www.iupa.org)
(North Miami Beach PD went with this union a few years back and are very happy with it!)

Teamsters Union: Visit www.teamster.org (http://www.teamster.org)

Until next time, stay safe out there! :D

way to go uncle bob, very well written. stand as one and you will be one

YEAH LETS GET THE BALL ROLLING ON THIS!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies and gents, take my advice and move on. Don't waste your time trying to convince the admin and city manager to do something they don't want to ever do. As a matter of fact, most of the residents don't want it either. The village manager and the chief have complete control over the department and the officers. Any sort of union will allow outisders to come in an take partial control and it will give the officers a voice, which is exactly what they DONT want. The PD gives back millions of dollars to the general fund every year. Don't you think that if they cared the tiniest bit about the rank/file, they would use that to increase the benefits? Take my advice as I used to work there in your position once. I have moved on to a real department, and never regret leaving. Nothing beats driving my take home car to the grocery store, and then going to fill up at the city pumps. I know that when I retire, i will have at least 20 years of service with an 80% pension. Not to mention some other really great benefits (like the drop plan) and other stuff.

If you want to experience what it's like to do real policework, come do a ride-a-long with some of your former comrades that have moved on. My advice, stay away from just as small/political departments like CG. Check out places like Miami Beach, Miramar, City of Miami, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Miami Gardens, and others.

You have absolutely nothing to lose by leaving pinecrest. I left there a few years ago and I'm only a few thousand shy of six figures last year. The money at pinecrest can really be made up in other areas (retirement, healthcare, gas in the take-home, tons of off-duties, court time for solid arrests, overtime for swat/dive team/narcotics/robbery task force and many other operations) that small departments don't utilize.

Uncle Bob;
It was nice to hear from you. I used to work in that shit hole. You hired me and gave me same great advice over the years and I am thankfull for it. I moved on to another agency outside Dade. It was the greatest thing I've ever did. If the present officers would only listen to you and leave they would be much happier, personal and professional. There is life outside Pinecrest. This is a great career field with unlimited opportunities, but so many will never learn that because of fear of leaving. Run and run fast I say.

Take care Uncle Bob and be safe.

Your city will be better off incorporating into Coral Gables.

does anyone know when DoralPD goes online.

YOU CAN APPLY ONLINE NOW

Hey guys can you post what is the deal with this guy Liotta, I have been told he was a real D!@K and LAZY when he was in the majic city?

Why don't you grow a pair and ask him yourself.

Why don't you grow a pair and ask him yourself.

LOL, THIS IS FUNNY!

Whats the big deal about Doral.......its going to be another dept. manipulated by the local politicians for their own personal gain

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Alex

SIR, I AM NOT A PINECREST OFFICER, BUT BEEN AROUND LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND CAN SAY. "YOU HAVE A PROBLEM HOUSTON" TO QUOTE A PHRASE ! POLICE OFFICERS DO ***** ALLOT, BUT THATS BECAUSE WE NEED TO VENT. WE GET BEAT UP BY THE PUBLIC QUITE A LOT AND WHEN WE GET IT FORM OUR OWN ADMIN WHO WE LOOK TO FOR GUIDENANCE AND RESPECT AND DONT GET IT , WE EITHER EXPLODE OR IMPLODE. AFTER READING ALL THE BELOW LISTED, ID SAY SIR THAT YOU NEED TO LOOK CLOSE AT THE ADMIN OVER THERE AS THEY ARE THE GUIDE AS HOW THE DEPT WILL WORK OR IN THIS CASE WONT WORK. I AM NOT SO SURE THAT ALL THE OFFICERS ARE RIGHT EITHER BUT THE TOP COP IS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AS HE IS IN CHARGE ! THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROTECTING YOU ARE LEAVING AND ARE NOT HAPPY ! :oops: YOU WANT THAT KIND OF PROTECTION, WHAT AN EMBARASSMENT. :cry: I HOPE YOUR CITY WILL FORM A BOARD TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL OPERATION OF YOUR DEPT HIRE AN OUTSIDE AGENCY TO LOOK DEEP INTO IT BEFORE YOU ARE DEEP IN THE CRAP WHICH IS CREEPING UP AROUND YOU. GOOD LUCK !

PLEASE GO TO PAGE #2

[Unregistered]

10 years later nothing has changed

[Unregistered]

Get a hole of some "Trump" stickers and past them all over the place, get a chair and watch the fireworks.
Those pseudo intellectual liberals will go totally ape-shit.