Call Box

Steve Chubb - 02/24/10
Tony Cruz - 11/01/09

Lansing Police Historical Preservation Association Website:
www.lansingpolicehistory.org

The next meeting for the Lansing PD Historical Society will be at 1:00 pm on Monday April 26, 2010 at the South Precinct located at S. Cedar & Holmes Rd. ALL LPD RETIREES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.

Nicholas Jay Nedow Our loving husband, father, son, brother, friend, and Ingham County Sheriff's Deputy, badge number 5454 born November 5, 1979, died March 5, 2010. Nick fought a courageous battle with leukemia for the last 11 months. Nick was born in Petoskey, Michigan to Richard and Robbin Nedow. He married the love of his life, Megan Savage on August 12, 2006 and she survives him along with their daughter, Ava, of whom he was the proudest papa. Nick is also survived by his brother, Eric and his wife Angie and their two children Cole and Corrine, of Gilbert, Arizona. Also surviving are his parents-in-law Tom and Debbie Savage, sisters-in-law, Jessica, and Sarah and her son, Thomas all of Laingsburg. Also surviving Nick are his grandmothers, Mary Nedow and Marie Stevens, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins and his brothers and sisters of the Ingham County Sheriff's Office. Nick was a graduate of Ferris State University. Nick served as a police officer in the city of Owosso and Cambridge Township before becoming a Deputy with the Ingham County Sheriff's Office in 2007. In 2005, Nick received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Michigan State Police. Nick also received a Lifesaving Award from the Ingham County Sheriff's Office. Nick was a respected and devoted law enforcement officer. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Monday and 2-4, 6-8 p.m. Tuesday with a 7:00 p.m. Tuesday Vigil Service in the Tiffany Funeral Home, 3232 W. Saginaw, Lansing. Funeral Liturgy is 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 10, at St. Gerard Catholic Church, 4437 W. Willow, Lansing with Fr. John P. Klein presiding. Rite of committal Maple Grove Cemetery in Mason, MI. Viewing will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the MSUFCU for Ava's college fund. Friends may visit the guest book at www.tiffanyfuneralhome.com. We never met a braver man, who fought a more valiant fight. He changed our lives forever and we will never forget him. He was a hero to us all. God will hold you in the palm of His hand until we meet again.

Once upon a time...click here.

The Blue Mass recognizes public service personnel that lay their lives on the line each day. It will be held on Sunday, March 14th, at St. Gerard Church in Delta Township, located at 4437 W. Willow Hwy, Lansing. This is very nice event and is open to families. See the flyer here.

Police Officer Mac J. Donnelly Jr.
Lansing Police Department
Michigan
End of Watch: Thursday, June 16, 1977

http://www.odmp.org/officer/4186-police-officer-mac-j.-donnelly-jr.

Cotton Correctional Facility
3500 North Elm Avenue
Jackson, MI 49201-8887
(517) 780-5000

LPD Det. Brad St. Aubin
[517] 272-7483

03/05/10 - I did some checking and it's not Bella (the shooter) up for parole, it's Gregory Allen Lawrence. He was one of the guys in the get away car. - Brad

Brad is requesting any LPD Retirees who were working at the time of Mac's shooting and involved in the case - come to the shooter's parole hearing on Thursday, April 8. The goal being to stop him being paroled out. For time and further details, please call Brad at his work number above.

Active Shooter Incident Response - see the events page for more details

Special Olympics Luncheon - Thursday April 22, 2010 see the flyer

Update - Pension Board - 03/04/10

Several people have inquired about any updates to the current pending IRS legislation, which would require public safety employees to work until the age of 50 before being eligible for retirement. The pension board was updated with a legal opinion by the law firm hired to represent the concerns of the board.

The IRS has postponed any action until at least Jan, 2013. It is the belief of our legal counsel the IRS legislation is attempting to "fix" a problem with In-Service distributions of retirement systems. This type of distribution allows an employee to retire after a set amount of years (i.e. 25) and then continue to work for the agency AND draw a retirement pension. This type of retirement system is prevalent on the west coast (mainly California, which is getting help from the federal government). This system IS NOT the type of retirement pension system LPD has in place.

With that being said, no one knows the direction the IRS legislation will continue to proceed but it does not appear it will effect our retirement system or the ability to retire at 25 years of service, regardless of age.

Chief Mark E. Alley’s Retirement! see the events page for details.

Daryl A. "Zeke" Zuk Springport Age 59, passed away February 28, 2010, after a 21-month battle with cancer. He was born July 14, 1950, in Lansing, where he lived most of his life. Daryl joined the Lansing Police Department in 1972. In 1973, he joined the Special Tactics And Rescue Team (START). He was commander of START during part of his time, leaving the team in 1996. Daryl became Sergeant in 1986, and retired from LPD in 1997, after 25 years of service. He was an avid outdoorsman, and especially enjoyed time spent hunting and fishing. Surviving are: his wife of 40 years, Yvonne; 2 sons, Anthony (Kathy) Zuk of Highland and Jason (Michelle) Zuk of New Haven; and 7 grandchildren, Justin, Garret, Ethan, Brendan, Hunter, Kaylee and Erin. He is also survived by his mother, Clara Zuk; sister, Nancy (Dennis) Donohue of Portland, and her sons, Sean and Ryan; sister-in-law, Paula VanDerzee, and her son, Scott; and special friends, Leith and Beth Curtis. He was preceded in death by his father, Felix Zuk. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 4, 2010, at the Estes-Leadley Holt/Delhi Chapel, with Rev. Edgar Owens officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to MI-COPS, P.O. Box 508, DeWitt, MI 48820, in memory of Daryl Zuk.

Well wishes may be sent to:

Daryl and Yvonne Zuk
12911 Pope Church Rd.
Springport, MI 49284

1909

1910

Florida Get-together - Friday, March 19 @ Finns in Zephyrhills

Bring a dish to pass, own beverage & lawn chairs - come anytime after 11am - we'll eat at 1pm
We'll provide brats and hot dogs
RSVP: Finnville@gmail.com

Police And Fire Retirement System Board Meeting Minutes, January, 2010

Note from Dick Miles on 02/22/10

Just thought I would let you know that Kathy has cancer. She starts her second round of chemotherapy this morning. She had a tumor removed the 28 th of Dec. She has a rare cancer. neuroendocrine most of what we read says it's fast growing. We can only hope they got all of it during the surgery.

Dick & Kathy Miles
Lot 17
7204 E. Grand River Ave
Portland MI 48875

On Saturday, Feb 13, 2010, LPD retired employee Dave Ceccanese had a house fire and lost everything. Dave and his wife are currently staying in a local hotel. We are taking donations to help them get back on their feet. Please consider giving, even if you never knew Dave, to help one our own out.

Make checks out to David Ceccanese.
There will be a collection envelope at both Precincts or donations may be sent to:
Chief Whipple
1420 Johnson
PO Box 293
Dansville, MI 48819

All safe after Dansville blaze - Lansing State Journal, February 14, 2010

INGHAM TWP. -- Fire Chief Tim Whipple personally escorted a wheelchair-reliant man from his burning home in the 1200 block of Mason Street in Dansville on Saturday afternoon, assuring the homeowner's safety. "I didn't really play hero," the township chief said. "I just went in and helped the gentleman out of the house. He was standing. We got in and got him out." Whipple said the homeowner, whose name the chief didn't provide, called to report the fire at around 4:30 p.m. Whipple, who lives around the corner, was home when he learned of the fire. Whipple said the electrical fire started in the attic, damaged an upstairs bedroom and caused minor damage overall. The homeowner's wife and three dogs also got out of the burning home safely.

2/22/10 update: Dave called to let us know that his insurance company had provided him with a temporary unlimited minutes cell phone while he and his family are out of their home. He says short of calling him at two in the morning, feel free to call him at any time.

Cell phone: [517] 525-0218

He asked that I thank all of you for your many prayers, and requests that you continue to hold them up in your prayers. He also thanks those of you that have helped him financially. He was humbled by your generosity and cannot thank you enough. If you are trying to contact him through his email account, he lost his laptop in the fire and only has access to the internet through the library, in thirty minute increments. But he will try to get back to you as he can. Currently he is struggling with his insurance adjustor over whether to replace or dry out his drywall. Not going too well so far. - Denise

FOP Retiree Association? - 02/18/10

I made a recommendation to Tom Krug for the FOP to organized a FOP Retiree Association to PROTECT retiree benefits...... not negotiate (such as health care), so that we would have ONE spoke person, instead of many. If had known, there was going to be a discussion based on my recommendation , I would have attended the FOP meeting (and probably many other retiree's too), and that is an example of what I am concerned about.

The potential for the City to change and reduce our health benefits is growing with the possibility of losing PHP coverage and being replaced by the Blue Care Network.
With many difference coverages under many different contacts for the retirees, having a spokes person who represents all the retirees (LPD & LFD) will be extremely important. Getting the same health benefit that you retired with, could be an issue.

The seed has been planted over the last couple of years for a Retiree Association, like Detroit has (with fees) and the concept has not gone any place. Rick Wotysiak suggested the other day, at least having a representative on the Pension Board (non-voting), to protect us all. I realize retiree's do attend the Pension Board meetings, but there is no coordination of information to all the retiree's that is pro-active as a group. We would be much stronger as a group when dealing with the City on any issues pertaining to our contractual benefits.

I thinking time is running out, and if we wait until after the City does something, (example PHP change to Blue Care Network) the cost will even be greater for us all and legal action would be difficult, because retiree's really are not organized.

Since you both have a lot of experience in these matters, do you have any suggestions and you see a lot of retiree's and I do not.

Thank you for your time,

Jim aka Webby
Office (517) 676-7286

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T. Krug, Lodge Executive Director Response

Jim: The executive board discussed your idea last night and do not want to be involved in this issue. They made their decision based on the following.

The Union cannot negotiate for retiree's

Then Union cannot change any healthcare or retirement benefit already in effect for those that have retired.

Many of the retirees are not FOP members.

Police and Fire retirement board meetings are open to the public.

There already is a LPD retiree association.

I have always answered many questions of retiree's or pointed them in the right direction at the city and I will continue to do that. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.
T. Krug, Lodge Executive Director

Bill Skinner’s wife Pat passed away during the evening hours Tuesday 02/16/10 after fighting cancer. The only info I have at this time is the Funeral is set for Saturday in Lansing. Full funeral arrangements are pending. - Jim Mills, Ret. ICSO

Patricia Ann (Dillon) Skinner Mason Died on February 16, 2010 at home following a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Pat was welcomed to her Eternal Home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was predeceased by her parents, Thomas and Leona Dillon, her son, Thomas William Skinner and her brother, Thomas Dillon Jr; Pat was born in Cadillac, MI. on February 5, 1937, she attended Cadillac High School, Central Michigan University and received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Michigan State University. Pat married her college sweetheart, William J. Skinner in 1957. After retiring from the Okemos School System as a reading specialist, Pat began her second and most cherished career as a United Methodist Church, local pastor serving from 1993 to 2002 as Pastor of the Crossroads (formerly Williamston Center) United Methodist Church. Whether teaching students or counseling and teaching the love of God, Pat was the epitome of a great and caring teacher. In addition to her husband of 53 years, survivors include her daughter, Julia Lynn Skinner, her granddaughter, Sarah Marie Mortensen who brought abundant joy and pride to Pat's life; sisters, Betty (Ray) Nelson of Cadillac and Susanne (Richard) Thomsen of Corunna, and brother, Jack (Barbara) Dillon of Cadillac, MI. Memories of Pat will be cherished by her in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends and church families. Special thanks are extended to Joan and Missy with McLaren Hospice for the care and support they provided to Pat and her family. The Celebration of Life, lead by Pastor Chuck Grauer will take place at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Christ United Methodist Church, 517 West Jolly, Lansing, MI. The family will greet friends at the church two hours before the service. Any former choir members from Pat's church families are welcome to join the Christ UMC Choir for the service, and should arrive one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers those desiring may make memorial contributions to Christ UMC; Crossroads UMC or to the charity of choice in memory of Pat.

1969, Doug Williams and daughter Heather

Michigan Week Celebration in Florida, March 22 - 28, 2010. Visit the following for more details:
http://www.springlakegolf.com/html/michagan_week.html